Tighten Up
Black Keys Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wanted love, I needed love
Most of all, most of all
Someone said true love was dead
And I'm bound to fall, bound to fall
For you
Oh, what can I do?
Yeah
Take my badge but my heart remains
Lovin' you, baby child
Tighten up on your reins
You're runnin' wild, runnin' wild
It's true

Sick for days
So many ways
I'm achin' now
I'm achin' now
It's times like these I need relief
Please show me how
Oh show me how
To get right
Yes, outta sight

When I was young and moving fast
Nothing slowed me down
Oh slowed me down
Now I let the others pass
I've come around
Oh come around
'Cause I've found

Living just to keep going
Going just to be sane
All the while live knowing
Such a shame

I don't need to get steady
I know just how I feel




Telling you to be ready
My dear

Overall Meaning

The Black Keys' song "Tighten Up" is a story of a man who is struggling to find true love. The opening lines, "I wanted love, I needed love, Most of all, most of all, Someone said true love was dead, And I'm bound to fall, bound to fall", indicate that the singer is searching for something that he may not find easily. He is hurt by the idea that true love does not exist, but he is still willing to fall in love. He is asking the person he is interested in, "Oh, what can I do? Yeah."


The singer then goes on to say, "Take my badge but my heart remains, Lovin' you, baby child, Tighten up on your reins, You're runnin' wild, runnin' wild, It's true." These lyrics are indicating that he is willing to give up his ego and everything else for the sake of love, but he still wants his partner to hold onto the reins, to keep him grounded when he is falling for her. The line "You're runnin' wild, runnin' wild, it's true" suggests that he sees his partner as a wild force that he wants to tame, keep close to him, and love.


As the song progresses, the singer mentions his pain and how he needs relief from it. "Sick for days, So many ways, I'm achin' now, I'm achin' now, It's times like these I need relief, Please show me how, Oh show me how, To get right, Yes, outta sight." He is confessing that he is physically and emotionally sick, and he needs his partner to heal him, to show him a better way of living, and to bring out the best in him.


In the last few stanzas, the singer acknowledges that he is not perfect, and he has his own ways of doing things. "When I was young and moving fast, Nothing slowed me down, Oh slowed me down, Now I let the others pass, I've come around, Oh come around, 'Cause I've found." He is expressing that he is willing to change his ways for his partner and that he has found something worth fighting for. The song ends with the line, "Telling you to be ready, My dear," which indicates that he is ready to take on this journey with his partner.


Line by Line Meaning

I wanted love, I needed love
I desired love, I required love


Most of all, most of all
Above everything else, above everything else


Someone said true love was dead
An individual claimed that true love was nonexistent


And I'm bound to fall, bound to fall
And I am certain to fall, certain to fall


For you
For you


Oh, what can I do?
Oh, what are my options?


Take my badge but my heart remains
Remove my symbol of authority but my emotions are still present


Lovin' you, baby child
Expressing my love for you, beloved child


Tighten up on your reins
Restrict yourself, baby


You're runnin' wild, runnin' wild
You're behaving recklessly, behaving recklessly


It's true
It's true


Sick for days
Unwell for days


So many ways
So many approaches


I'm achin' now
I'm in pain now


I'm achin' now
I'm in pain now


It's times like these I need relief
During occasions like these, I need relaxation


Please show me how
Please demonstrate the process


Oh show me how
Oh show me how


To get right
To become better


Yes, outta sight
Yes, remarkable


When I was young and moving fast
When I was younger and moving rapidly


Nothing slowed me down
Nothing impeded me


Oh slowed me down
Oh inhibited me


Now I let the others pass
Now I let the others go ahead


I've come around
I have changed my ways


Oh come around
Oh, I have changed my ways


'Cause I've found
'Cause I have discovered


Living just to keep going
Existing only to continue surviving


Going just to be sane
Traveling merely to maintain my sanity


All the while live knowing
All while understanding


Such a shame
Very unfortunate


I don't need to get steady
I do not require consistency


I know just how I feel
I am aware of my emotions


Telling you to be ready
Informing you to prepare yourself


My dear
My beloved




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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
Comments from YouTube:

@theblackkeys

Brothers Deluxe Remastered 10th Anniversary Edition is available in North America on December 18, 2020 & internationally on January 1, 2021.
Pre-order the 7” box set or 2-LP set or CD here: http://smarturl.it/TheBlackKeysBrothers

@Anarchy_Shark

got to love the way they combine child like inocence and girl troubles. truely a master peice.

@Badass392

Man those kids have deep voices

@haydenspears19

man buddy holly and ron weasley with a beard make some good music

@yassarout

Black Keys you're the proof that there's still some good music out there.

@MaeChristabel

I'm in love with The Black Keys. I introduced them to my boyfriend, he is now also in love with them. Our relationship has been amazing since.

@xbartndrgrl

I heard this on the radio last night while driving home super late- and I almost ran into the curb. Their sound is reminiscent of rock and old soul; something rarely heard in today's music. This song tugs at your soul. Thanks so much for making it.

@Qrocknrollfreak13

"Living just to keep going, going just to be sane" One of the best lines of the whole song

@LiamCrowley1990

I remember seeing this video when it had about 4,000 views, I'm so happy they broke through, they deserve it so much, this album is absolutely awesome.

@1luigy2

Nice Parents

More Comments

More Versions