In 2012, Charli XCX rose to prominence with the Icona Pop collaboration "I Love It", which became an international success, reaching top 10 in North America and Europe. Her debut studio album, True Romance (2013), was released that year to critical acclaim, despite not meeting commercial expectations. In 2014, she contributed the chorus and hook to "Fancy" by rapper Iggy Azalea, which finished the year as one of the best-selling singles worldwide and was nominated for two Grammy Awards. The same year, Charli XCX released "Boom Clap", which became her first solo top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100. Her second studio album, the pop/rock-influenced Sucker, was released at the end of the year, and spawned the successful singles "Break the Rules" and "Doing It".
In 2015, Charli XCX began working with producers and artists in A. G. Cook's British collective PC Music, as well as producer Sophie. While working on her third album, she released the Vroom Vroom EP in 2016 and the mixtapes Number 1 Angel and Pop 2 in 2017, as well as a series of singles including the BPI-certified "After the Afterparty", "Boys", and "1999". In 2019, Charli XCX released her third studio album, Charli, which was followed by her fourth studio album, How I'm Feeling Now, which she recorded and released during the UK's first national lockdown in 2020. Charli's latest addition to her discography is CRASH, released on 18 March 2022, including the singles Good Ones and New Shapes.
In addition to her solo work, Charli XCX has co-written songs for other artists including Camila Cabello, Rita Ora, Selena Gomez, and many more.
Warm
Charli XCX Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why we can't fall in love
You gotta tell me the reason (no, no)
Why you won't open up
Now I'mma send you to heaven
Tequila on your tongue
You gotta tell me the reason
Why we can't fall in love
Tell me the reason (Yeah)
Why we can't fall in love
You gotta tell me the reason
Why you won't open up
Now I'mma send you to heaven
Tequila on your tongue
You gotta tell me the reason
Why we can't fall in love
Ah, why, why, why
Ah, I know you lie
What do you want?
Fall in love, ah, risk it all
Tell me what you want
Cause I know that you're lonely on your own
We're out in L.A. for a month
I don't think I can hide my emotions no, no more (uh huh)
At late night say you want me, say you're selfish
Think about my body, then two-time
Say you want her? Do you want her?
Doesn't do it like me, no
So hot, burn the place down
Give you what you need
So you gotta tell me the reason
Why we can't fall in love
You gotta tell me the reason
Why you won't open up
Now I'mma send you to heaven
Tequila on your tongue
You gotta tell me the reason
Why we can't fall in love
Ah, why, why, why
Ah, don't you lie
What do you want?
Fall in love, ah, risk it all
Make me wanna fall in love
Baby, make mistakes
Hit me with a champagne kiss
And now I'm not thinking straight
Look at the skyline high
I look up, I wish I saw your face
I wanna fall in love
Jump in the deep end
Cause deep down, you're d-dying
Tell me you're kinda nervous
Tell me you feel the same
I wish it was more than surface
I wish I could feel nothing
Come give me everything
Burn down and go again
So you gotta tell me the reason
Why we can't fall in love
You gotta tell me the reason
Why you won't open up
Now I'mma send you to heaven
Tequila on your tongue
You gotta tell me the reason
Why we can't fall in love
Oh, baby (why, why, why)
Tell me, tell me, tell me the reason (know you lie, what do you want)
Tell me, tell me, tell me the reason (fall in love, ah, risk it all)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Tell me, tell me something (tell me the reason)
Tell me the reason, oh yeah
You gotta tell me the reason, tell me the reason
Tell me the reason
Tell me the reason
Tell me the reason
Tell me the reason
Tell me the reason
Tell me the reason
Tell me the reason
Tell me the reason
In Charli XCX's song "Warm," she is pleading with her love interest to open up to her and allow them to fall in love. The chorus, which is repeated throughout the song, expresses this plea: "You gotta tell me the reason why we can't fall in love, you gotta tell me the reason why you won't open up." She is frustrated with the lack of transparency in their relationship and wants them to take a risk and "fall in love" with one another.
The first verse includes the line "Now I'mma send you to heaven, tequila on your tongue," which suggests that they are drinking and perhaps even taking drugs in an attempt to escape their feelings. Charli XCX is using this moment to confront her lover about the reasons why they can't take their relationship to the next level. The pre-chorus continues with her frustration: "At late night say you want me, say you're selfish, think about my body, then two-time, say you want her? Do you want her? Doesn't do it like me, no." Here, she is pointing out that her lover is indecisive and perhaps not fully committed to her, despite their physical attraction.
In the bridge of the song, Charli XCX makes it clear that she wants to take their relationship to the next level despite the risk: "I wanna fall in love, jump in the deep end, cause deep down, you're d-dying." She recognizes that her lover is also seeking something more meaningful, but they are both scared to admit it. Overall, the song "Warm" is an exploration of the complex and sometimes frustrating nature of romance and the desire for honesty and vulnerability in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You gotta tell me the reason
The singer wants the other person to explain why they cannot fall in love
Why we can't fall in love
The singer desires to be in a committed romantic relationship with the addressee but can't figure out why it isn't possible or happening
Why you won't open up
The singer can't understand why the other person is not being emotionally vulnerable and shutting them out
Now I'mma send you to heaven
The artist is preparing the addressee for a wild and thrilling experience
Tequila on your tongue
The artist intends to make the addressee feel excited and uninhibited with alcohol
Ah, I know you lie
The singer knows that the other person is not telling the truth or hiding something from them
What do you want?
The singer wants to know what the addressee really desires or hopes to gain from their relationship
Fall in love, ah, risk it all
The artist is willing to take a risk and fall deeply in love with the other person
Cause deep down, you're d-dying
The artist believes that the other person really wants to be in love and is lonely and unfulfilled without it
I wish it was more than surface
The artist wants to have a deeper, more meaningful relationship than just a casual or physical one
I wish I could feel nothing
The singer is overwhelmed with their emotions and wishes they could detach or not care so much
Burn down and go again
The artist is willing to take another chance at love and start fresh if necessary
Oh, baby (why, why, why)
The singer is affectionately addressing the addressee while asking for clarification
Tell me, tell me, tell me the reason (know you lie, what do you want)
The singer is pleading for honesty and the true motivation behind their actions
Tell me, tell me, tell me the reason (fall in love, ah, risk it all)
The singer wants to understand why they can't take the risk and fall in love
Tell me, tell me something (tell me the reason)
The artist is determined to find out the reason behind the addressee's behavior or attitude
Tell me the reason, oh yeah
The artist wants a straightforward and comprehensible explanation for why they can't fall in love
You gotta tell me the reason, tell me the reason
The singer is emphasizing their need for an explanation from the addressee
Tell me the reason
The singer is pleading with the addressee for an answer or explanation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alana Haim, Alexander Cook, Charlotte Aitchison, Danielle Haim, Este Haim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Vicstoryy
This song feels like smiling after a long crying session.
@Mahora.
cause of the nasal congestion she sounds cold
@jesusmanuelbritoguerra6660
Exactly 😂
@chanceForNotBeingRapper
this song really helps me go thru the Covid session, so true. It got me cryin and get calm after I lost my ability to smell, and after a week I recovered. It is a little bit sad for me to listen to it again, but this song has a soft feeling that hit right in the spot, makes me feel both fragile and powerful at the same time
@solongsuicide9
"THIS SONG IS ABOUT UNREQUITED LOVE & WANTING WHAT YOU CANT HAVE." - Charli XCX
@asa.pankeiki
The way HAIM says “tell” at 2:17 is oddly satisfying.
@anderson_ptomaz
So u gotta thelmee da reason ❤️
@itsmellofficial
That synth at the outro is magical <3
@wa2368
Yeah man, i am not usually a fan of this genre, but this song is special.
@MatthewWestberry5678
The way Charli pronounces “tequila on your tongue” is magical.