Helter Skelter
Beatles Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again

Do, don't you want me to love you
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you
Tell me, tell me, tell me, come on tell me the answer
Well, you may be a lover but you ain't no dancer

Helter skelter, helter skelter
Helter skelter

Will you, won't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me, tell me, tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer

Look out
Helter skelter, helter skelter
Helter skelter
Look out, 'cause here she comes

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
And I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
And I get to the bottom and I see you again, yeah, yeah

Well do you, don't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me, tell me, tell me your answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer

Look out
Helter skelter, helter skelter
Helter skelter

Look out, helter skelter
She's coming down fast
Yes, she is
Yes, she is
Coming down fast





(I've got blisters on my fingers)

Overall Meaning

The song "Helter Skelter" by the Beatles is known as their most aggressive and intense song. At first glance, the lyrics can be confusing and seem nonsensical, but upon closer inspection, it seems like the song is about the thrill of climbing to the top of a slide and the rush of sliding down, similar to a rollercoaster. The lyrics speak of going back to the top and repeating the experience again and again, with a sense of urgency and excitement. However, the song also has a more ominous undertone, as the lyrics imply a possible struggle for power and control in a relationship.


The line "Do, don't you want me to love you" can be seen as a plea for affection, while "you may be a lover but you ain't no dancer" implies that the other person may not be as skilled or powerful as they seem. The repeated phrase "helter skelter" emphasizes the chaotic and frenzied atmosphere of the song. The final line, "I've got blisters on my fingers," is said to have been shouted by Paul McCartney after an intense recording session, illustrating the energy and passion put into the song.


Overall, "Helter Skelter" can be interpreted as a song about the thrill of life and love, but also about the potential violent and dangerous nature of those experiences.


Line by Line Meaning

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
When things seem to hit rock bottom, I brace myself, knowing a new cycle will soon begin


Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
I let go of any preconceptions and expectations, embracing the ride life takes me on


Till I get to the bottom and I see you again
Until the cycle begins again, and my path crosses with someone or something familiar


Do, don't you want me to love you
Asking if the love I have to give is wanted or reciprocated


I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you
Although my world may be crashing down, my perspective and mentality are above those who aren't experiencing it


Tell me, tell me, tell me, come on tell me the answer
Desperate for clarity and direction in a confusing and chaotic situation


Well, you may be a lover but you ain't no dancer
Acknowledging the romantic interest's appeal, but realizing they lack the necessary qualities for what I need


Helter skelter, helter skelter
Chaos and confusion are descending, things are going to get intense


Will you, won't you want me to make you
Uncertainty regarding the desire for help or causing further damage


I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Despite my own rapid descent, I don't want to cause pain to others


Tell me, tell me, tell me the answer
Still searching desperately for a solution, an end to the madness


You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer
Reiterated realization that the person of interest falls short of what I need from them


Look out
Hold on tight, things are about to get wild


Helter skelter, helter skelter
Chaos and madness are here and now


Look out, 'cause here she comes
Prepare yourself, the unpredictable and intense situation isn't over yet


Well do you, don't you want me to make you
Still questioning the desire for help or intervention


Tell me, tell me, tell me your answer
Desperately seeking an end to the madness, the answer to a way out


You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer
The romantic interest falls short of what's needed to help the situation


Look out
Again reminding to hold on tight, brace yourself, be prepared


Helter skelter, helter skelter
Whirling frenzy continues, madness reigns


Look out, helter skelter
A final warning, things aren't over yet


She's coming down fast
The situation is approaching its peak, the descent is rapid


Yes, she is
Confirming the inevitable chaos and calamity


(I've got blisters on my fingers)
The madness has taken its toll, the intense situation has left its mark




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions