Compliments
Bloc Party Lyrics


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We sit and we sigh
And nothing gets done
So right, so clued-up
We just get old

And all the while
Been torn asunder
Nicotine
And bacteria





What are we coming to?
What are we gonna do?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bloc Party's song "Compliments" speak to the frustration of feeling stuck in life and the sense of futility that can come with it. The opening lines, "We sit and we sigh / And nothing gets done" convey a sense of inertia and lack of motivation. The singer is acutely aware of their own intelligence and awareness, having the phrase "so right, so clued-up" in the second line, which only serves to exacerbate the feeling of powerlessness.


The lines "And all the while / Been torn asunder / Nicotine / And bacteria" suggest a kind of self-destructive behavior that is contributing to their sense of disillusionment. The phrase "been torn asunder" can be interpreted as an internal conflict where the singer is battling against their own negative habits and desires, represented by the "nicotine" and "bacteria".


The repetition of the question "What are we coming to? / What are we gonna do?" at the end of the verse reinforces the sense of hopelessness and the desire for change. Overall, "Compliments" is a song about the struggle to break free from self-destructive tendencies and find purpose and meaning in life.


Line by Line Meaning

We sit and we sigh
We passively observe and express our discontent


And nothing gets done
But we take no action to remedy our situation


So right, so clued-up
We possess the knowledge and intelligence to succeed


We just get old
But we lack the motivation to follow through on our potential


And all the while
Throughout our existence


Been torn asunder
We have been severely disrupted and divided


Nicotine
We are addicted to harmful substances


And bacteria
We are susceptible to diseases and infections


What are we coming to?
What kind of future are we creating for ourselves?


What are we gonna do?
Are we going to take action to change our current path?




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Russell Lissack, Gordon Moakes, Kele Okereke, Matt Tong

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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