“The lyrics of this song, “Jasmine,” were abou… Read Full Bio ↴Natasha Khan for NPR:
“The lyrics of this song, “Jasmine,” were about a girl — much like the heady scent of jasmine that you get in LA in the summertime that perfumes the night — but she’s a serial killer that stalks LA and kills people and buries them in iconic places, like the Hollywood Forever cemetery. So she’s one of the vampire gang, but it’s kind of a microcosmic narrative story within that idea. And she’s actually the main protagonist in the script that I’m working on at the moment. I just finished a script writing course at UCLA to work on her story.”
Khan for Independent:
“Jasmine”, with its cluttered soundscapes and sensual melody, is inspired by the sensory overload of both LA and childhood trips to Pakistan. “My impression of Pakistan was the heat hitting you when you get off the plane like a hairdryer in your face,” she recalls, “and the smell of jasmine and sewage and dogs and markets. The similarities to LA are that hot, dusty climate, the desert, the heady flower smells.”
Jasmine
Bat for Lashes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Legs for days and bones of pearl
Her love hurtling down deaths highways
The hands of a killer, the heart of a little girl
Jasmine
You come along
And take me
A woman, coming on strong
Jasmine, into the night
Ni-ni-night
Don't be seduced by those baby blues
That secret smile when it's catching you
Because little girl cuts your heart in two
Sucks the juice, 'til she turns you loose
Jasmine
You come along
And take me
To where I feel like
A woman, coming on strong
Jasmine, into the night
Ni-ni-night
Into the night
Ni-ni-night
A body bag, on eucalyptus hills
And the Hollywood forever
And the endless sleeping pills
No girl will ever kill your nighttime ills
Like Jasmine does
'Cause when she blooms, she kills
The song "Jasmine" by Bat for Lashes is a hauntingly beautiful portrayal of a woman who is both vulnerable and lethal. The lyrics describe a woman who drives confidently through a desolate and gloomy path. She has long legs and a fragile beauty that belies her heart of steel. Her love is swift and deadly, akin to a killer's hands but with the heart of a little girl. The song's protagonist defines Jasmine as a force that takes her to where she feels like a woman, one that is strong and unstoppable. However, the lyrics caution against her charms, with the little girl cutting your heart in two, and sucking the juice until she turns you loose. The song ends with the image of a body bag on eucalyptus hills, and the tragic familiarity of Hollywood forever and endless sleeping pills. Nothing can cure your nighttime woes like Jasmine, who blooms as she kills.
The song is a powerful portrayal of the duality of human emotions and the complexity of love, specifically when it is shared by two people who are vastly different from each other. Jasmine arises as the archetypal femme fatale, who is both a sweet but deadly force, leaving behind tales of heartbreak and destruction in her wake. The lyrics are replete with symbolism, using nature to highlight the beauty and brutality of human nature. The line "Legs for days and bones of pearl" is an invocation of mermaid-like beauty, and the image of a body bag and sleeping pills pointing towards the idea of death.
Line by Line Meaning
She drives hard through the doom gloom haze
She drives quickly through a dark and moody atmosphere filled with a sense of danger and uncertainty.
Legs for days and bones of pearl
She has long, beautiful legs and a delicate, precious appearance like that of a pearl.
Her love hurtling down deaths highways
Her passion and devotion are so strong and intense that they feel like they are racing down roads that lead to destruction and death.
The hands of a killer, the heart of a little girl
There is a contrast between her hands that may cause harm and her childlike heart full of innocence and vulnerability.
Jasmine
The name of a woman who embodies the qualities of femininity and strength that the singer is seeking.
You come along
The woman named Jasmine appears and enters the singer's life.
And take me
The singer feels like Jasmine is reaching out to her and bringing her to a new place emotionally.
To where I feel like
Jasmine makes the singer feel a certain way.
A woman, coming on strong
Jasmine makes the singer feel empowered and confident in her femininity.
Jasmine, into the night
The singer is following Jasmine into the unknown, into the darkness of the night.
Ni-ni-night
A way of emphasizing the sense of mystery and excitement present in the night.
Don't be seduced by those baby blues
The singer is warning herself not to be tempted or fooled by Jasmine's charming eyes.
That secret smile when it's catching you
Jasmine has a smile that is private and elusive, only revealing itself when the moment is right.
Because little girl cuts your heart in two
Jasmine's innocent exterior hides a more dangerous side that can cause emotional pain and heartache.
Sucks the juice, 'til she turns you loose
Jasmine can consume all your emotional energy like a fruit and only release you when she's done with you.
A body bag, on eucalyptus hills
A picture of death and burial, a body wrapped in a bag lying on a hill covered in eucalyptus trees.
And the Hollywood forever
The final resting place of many famous people in Hollywood where their memory lives on forever.
And the endless sleeping pills
A reference to taking pills to escape the pain of life, to find peace and rest.
No girl will ever kill your nighttime ills
There's no other woman quite like Jasmine who can heal the wounds and pains of the night.
Like Jasmine does
Jasmine has a unique ability to comfort and bring peace to the singer's heart and mind.
'Cause when she blooms, she kills
When Jasmine opens up and reveals her true self, it comes at a cost that can be both life-giving and deadly.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Charles Scott, Natasha Khan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind