Pacifier
Catfish and the Bottlemen Lyrics
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There's always someone to lead on with you
An obligatory wine
Evidently proved that I don't need you
She said, "Oh please, you're obsessed"
I said she looked overdressed
She deffo didn't like that, no
You see, I'm feeling like it's put on
When you say you don't need me
And you want nothing of me
Oh but, babe, you know I've tried and failed
But you just don't know how it feels
To lose something you never have and never will
There's always some kid too snide
They took my mother at thirteen
And pacifically I
Evidently proved that I didn't need you or no one
She said, "It's you I detest"
I said she looked under-slept
She deffo didn't like that, no
You see, I'm feeling like it's put on
When you say you don't need me
And you want nothing of me
Oh but, babe, you know I've tried and failed
But you just don't know how it feels
To lose something you never have and never will
Oh but, babe, you know I've tried and failed
But you just don't know how it feels
To lose something you never had and never will
I'm a pacifier
I'm a pacifier
I'm a pacifier
I'm a pacifier
The lyrics of Catfish And The Bottlemen's "Pacifier" paint the picture of a man who is struggling to find someone to lean on. He feels like he is constantly hiding something and is unable to be completely open with anyone. The reference to "obligatory wine" suggests that the man may be trying to fill a void or cover up his true feelings with alcohol. He is frustrated when the woman he is talking to denies needing him, but deep down he knows she doesn't want anything to do with him. The chorus repeats the idea of feeling like a pacifier- someone who is pacifying or calming someone else's anxieties, even though they are unable to do the same for themselves.
The second verse introduces the concept of trauma, with the mention of the singer's mother being taken away when he was young. The use of the word "pacifically" instead of "specifically" could be interpreted as a nod to the Pacific Ocean being a peaceful, calming force, or possibly a play on words with the slang term "to pacify" meaning to calm or soothe. Despite his past, the man insists that he doesn't need anyone, even as he longs for someone to understand his pain. He is defensive when the woman tells him she detests him, viewing her as just another obstacle in his already difficult life.
Overall, "Pacifier" is a song about the struggles of vulnerability and the desire to find someone to lean on, even when it seems impossible. The pacifier metaphor suggests that even when we feel like we are helping others by pacifying their anxieties, we ourselves still need to find someone to help us do the same.
Line by Line Meaning
There's always something to hide
There are always secrets and hidden motives.
There's always someone to lead on with you
There is always someone to take along for the ride.
An obligatory wine
A mandatory drink, pretending to care about the other person.
Evidently proved that I don't need you
The wine proved that the singer doesn't need the other person.
She said, "Oh please, you're obsessed"
The other person accused the singer of being too clingy.
I said she looked overdressed
The singer didn't appreciate the other person's fashion choices.
She deffo didn't like that, no
The other person didn't take kindly to the criticism.
You see, I'm feeling like it's put on
The singer feels like the relationship is fake and forced.
When you say you don't need me
The other person claims they don't require the singer's presence or love.
And you want nothing of me
The other person wants no part of the singer, emotionally or otherwise.
Oh but, babe, you know I've tried and failed
The singer has attempted to win the other person over, but to no avail.
But you just don't know how it feels
The other person cannot understand the pain of rejection.
To lose something you never have and never will
The singer feels like they never truly possessed the other person's affection.
There's always some kid too snide
There is always someone with a mean-spirited attitude.
They took my mother at thirteen
The singer's mother died when they were young.
And pacifically I
The singer did not let the tragedy get to them, pacifying their pain.
Evidently proved that I didn't need you or no one
The singer learned to be self-reliant and didn't need anybody's help.
She said, "It's you I detest"
The other person expressed disdain for the singer's presence.
I said she looked under-slept
The singer offered an off-handed comment about the other person's appearance.
You see, I'm feeling like it's put on
The singer feels like the relationship is fake and forced.
When you say you don't need me
The other person claims they don't require the singer's presence or love.
And you want nothing of me
The other person wants no part of the singer, emotionally or otherwise.
I'm a pacifier
The singer is content with being alone and pacifying their pain.
I'm a pacifier
The singer is at peace with their decision.
I'm a pacifier
The singer is self-reliant and doesn't need anybody.
I'm a pacifier
The singer has learned to pacify their pain and accept their circumstances.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ryan Evan McCann
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@malenafigueroa9102
Lyrics: There's always something to hide
There's always someone to lead on with you
Obligatory wine
Evidently proved that I didn't need you
She said, "Oh please, you're obsessed!"
I said she looked overdressed
She deffo didn't like that, no
She said, I'm feeling like it's put on when you say you don't need me
And you want nothing of me
Oh but, babe, you know I've tried and failed
But you just don't know how it feels
To lose something you never have and never will
There's always some kid too snide
They took my mother at thirteen
And pacifically I
Evidently proved that I didn't need you or no one
She said "It's you I detest!"
I said she looked under-slept
She deffo didn't like that, no
She said, I'm feeling like it's put on when you say you don't need me
And you want nothing of me
But, babe, you know I've tried and failed
But, you just don't know how it feels
To lose something you never have and never will
But, babe, you know I've tried and failed
But, you just don't know how it feels
To lose something you never had and never will
I'm her pacifier
I'm her pacifier
I'm her pacifier
I'm her pacifier
I'm her pacifier
I'm her pacifier
I'm her pacifier
I'm her pacifier
@bohemianlikeyou5785
This song doesn't get enough credit
@abbycap302
I KNOW
@Tommy-dz3do
The bands music is great it's just the lack of advertising/publicity it gets. It need a lot more.
@sharpyinit
+Tom Finnq catfish will eventually be playing stadiums, they're still young yet. For now enjoy it while they're still not too mainstream.
@kathydowell1970
Went to see them at the Ready Room in St. Louis which is a small club that only holds 300 people. They were INCREDIBLE live!!! Love the fact that they are still not well known.
@leoboiii1
It does from me 👍🏼
@ambarsaldivar6467
this is how that one kid who takes PE too seriously sees everything at game time.
@Michaelblake97
that's me in a nutshell hahaha brilliant comment
@owenlougher6754
that was me
@Michaelblake97
call me lena that was literally me in skl ahhh shit made me laugh