The band originated in Canterbury and was originally named Band Theft Auto. The name Clap Clap Riot comes from the applause machine designed by John Lydon for the show Top Of The Pops in the early 1980s.
The band released their debut EP 'TV Knows Better' through RhythMethod in February 2009, which produced two singles - 'Thief' and 'Don't Want Your Baby'. 'TV Knows Better' was produced by Jimmy Xmas. Clap Clap Riot have completed two headline tours throughout New Zealand, toured Australia twice and performed at the Big Day Out, Rhythm and Vines and Southern Amp festivals. As part of their prize from winning the 'Kick-Start your career" competition, MTV Australia televised a live performance from Clap Clap Riot when they performed at ‘The Lair’ alongside Evermore in Sydney, April 2009.
Their long-awaited debut album 'Counting Spins' was made available on June 15, 2012 through Universal Music New Zealand. The album features the singles 'Everyone's Asleep', 'Yoko Ono', 'Moss-Haired Girl' and 'So You Say'.
Lie
Clap Clap Riot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stare down the eyes of a sad face
Walk right in to the unknown,
Please don't leave me on my own.
Heads gone, chased by her demons
She said ‘well boy where have you been?'
I just left her strolling on
You know it's too late
I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie. I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie
I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie. I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie
It's late, stuck in a bad place,
Can't stop I'm chased by a head case
Didn't mean to break you no
I won't apologise and go
Street lamps can't save me today
Nothing can stop the replay
Feel I've seen this all before
She'll be tearing down my door
You know it's too late
And I can't escape
I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie. I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie
I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie. I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie
I won't say I'm sorry, I won't feel so sorry
Never have to worry, never say I'm sorry.
So where have you been? So where have you been tonight?
So where have you been? So where have you been tonight?
So where have you been? So where have you been tonight?
So where have you been? So where have you been tonight?
I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie. I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie
I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie. I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie
I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie. I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie
I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie. I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie
I won't say I'm sorry, I won't feel so sorry
Never have to worry, never say I'm sorry.
The lyrics of Clap Clap Riot's song "Lie" revolve around a relationship that has gone awry. The opening lines, "Hearts cold, hot in her headspace, Stare down the eyes of a sad face," suggest that the singer is in a strained relationship where his partner's mood swings are affecting him. He is asking her not to leave him alone in the unknown, indicating that he is willing to work things out.
The second stanza, "Heads gone, chased by her demons, She said ‘well boy where have you been?'" hints that the singer has tried to distance himself emotionally from his partner, but she still wants to know what he has been up to. The line "Crept away and now I'm gone" suggests that he has given up on the relationship and moved on.
The chorus, "I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie" suggests that the singer is hesitant to continue with the façade of their relationship and wants honesty. He is tired of pretending everything is fine when it is not.
The third stanza, "It's late, stuck in a bad place, Can't stop, I'm chased by a head case," suggests that the singer is now in a difficult spot emotionally, feeling trapped and unable to break free from his partner. He acknowledges that leaving his partner was not intentional, but apologizing and returning is not an option.
The fourth stanza is a repetition of the chorus, where the singer reiterates that he wants honesty in the relationship and does not want to continue with the lies.
The final lines, "I won't say I'm sorry, I won't feel so sorry, Never have to worry, never say I'm sorry," suggest that the singer has come to terms with the end of the relationship and is no longer apologetic or remorseful for how things have turned out.
Line by Line Meaning
Hearts cold, hot in her headspace
She's emotionally distant and struggling with inner turmoil.
Stare down the eyes of a sad face
She's confronting a heartbreaking situation and is filled with sadness.
Walk right in to the unknown,
She's facing a new and uncertain situation.
Please don't leave me on my own.
She's afraid of being alone and abandoned.
Heads gone, chased by her demons
She's mentally overwhelmed and haunted by her inner demons.
She said ‘well boy where have you been?'
She's calling out her partner for being absent in her life.
I just left her strolling on
He abandoned her in her time of need.
Crept away and now I'm gone.
He left in a sneaky and cowardly manner.
You know it's too late
The situation is irreparable.
I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie. I don't wanna lie, I wanna lie
She's struggling with the truth and wants to hide her pain.
It's late, stuck in a bad place,
She's trapped in a difficult situation.
Can't stop I'm chased by a head case
Her thoughts and emotions are overwhelming and hard to control.
Didn't mean to break you no
She didn't intend to hurt anyone.
I won't apologise and go
She won't ask for forgiveness and leave the situation.
Street lamps can't save me today
Nothing is going right for her today.
Nothing can stop the replay
She's reliving a traumatic experience over and over.
Feel I've seen this all before
She's experiencing a never-ending cycle of heartbreak.
She'll be tearing down my door
Her partner will come back and confront her.
And I can't escape
She's unable to break free from the painful situation.
I won't say I'm sorry, I won't feel so sorry
She's refusing to apologize for something she didn't intend to do.
Never have to worry, never say I'm sorry.
She's determined to not let this situation and her emotions bring her down again.
So where have you been? So where have you been tonight?
She's questioning her partner's whereabouts and absence in her life.
Contributed by Alyssa S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
AsianZee
world class hit single - got to listen to the album and see what else these guys are capable of doing
Stephanie
First discovered them when they played before the 1975. Me and my friend were so impressed and we are definitely going to the upcoming concert on March 20!
Peter Freuchen
Great song, can't stop dancing
Fifi Gigantor
you guys deserve way more hits than just 7000... <3
hamish scott-wood
I saw them as a warm up for the 1975 and they were fantastic!
Will Ryder
Needs 2 be a bigga HIT!!! Genius song and video ;)
Connor Dean
its to short