Frontman Chino Moreno discussed this lament about spiritual isolation with Artist Direct.
Said Moreno: “I love that one; it jumps around a lot. I was going to fix it so every verse told one cohesive story, but I decided that I really like it the way it is. It’s really fragmented. Pieces of information are in different places—under the water and in the city. It’s broad, and it feels really good. It adapts to the overall vibe. It has a night time feel to it as well. We’ve been playing it in rehearsal and I realized how much I like it now. When I first wrote it, I thought, ‘You could tell this is one of my songs. It’s probably the most Team Sleep-esque song on the record.’ I didn’t want it to be too self-indulgent right off the bat or for people to think, ‘This is Chino just being Chino.’ Really it’s not; everybody contributes on that song fairly equally. I wrote the opening riff, but the song grew from everybody building on to that. It’s more of a Deftones song than people might believe it is. Playing the song in rehearsal, it sounds mighty. For the simple fact that it doesn’t have any crush guitar, screaming or anything aggressive on it, ‘Sextape’ sounds really big.”
There are several references to a literal sex tape being made or replayed (recorded media of sexual or romantic exploits) by the album’s protagonist in "You’ve Seen the Butcher" and "Beauty School". In the song itself, it generally represents exposing oneself to another and exposing the union with their lover to many.
Sextape
Deftones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hours out from land
In tune with all our dreams
The ocean takes me in to watch you shake it
Watch you wave your powers
Tempt with hours of pleasure
Take me one more time
Take me for one last ride
I'm out of my head
Tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight
The sound of the waves collide
The sound of the waves collide
The sound of the waves collide
Tonight we ride
Cruising through the city after hours
With me fusing all our powers
Here's to all our dreams
Take me one more time
Take me one more wave
Take me for one last ride
I'm out of my head
Tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight
The sound of the waves collide
The sound of the waves collide
The sound of the waves collide
Tonight we ride
The lyrics of Deftones’ song Sextape can be interpreted in two different ways, depending on how the audience perceives them, but at the core of both interpretations is the idea of losing oneself in a moment of pure bliss. The first interpretation refers to a couple floating on the water, away from civilization, with nothing but their dreams to keep them company. They are in tune with each other, and they have given up everything else to be there with each other. The ocean’s tranquility has a mesmerizing effect on them, and the singer feels the need to surrender to these moments of pleasure, as if they were his last. He’s “out of his head,” in a state of bliss, experiencing something beyond this world.
The second interpretation of the lyrics refers to cruising through a city, late at night, the world asleep, while everything is lit up and seamlessly comes together. The couple enjoys the freedom of being alone, away from the rest of society. They’re fusing their powers, merging their energies, enjoying each other without a care in the world. They’re taking risks, and this feeling of liberation and excitement is invigorating, making them feel “out of their heads.”
Overall, Sextape is a song that speaks about the beauty of being one with another person in moments of pure enjoyment and pleasure, without the weight of the world on your shoulders.
Line by Line Meaning
Floating on the water ever changing picture
Picture is constantly changing like emotions; trying to maintain stability while being surrounded by change.
Hours out from land
Being isolated from society and the world, experiencing freedom and the unknown.
In tune with all our dreams
Being synchronized with personal desires and aspirations, seeking comfort in them.
The ocean takes me in to watch you shake it
Being engulfed by someone's wave of passion, admiring their strength and power.
Watch you wave your powers
Watching someone display their talents and abilities in a mesmerizing way.
Tempt with hours of pleasure
Being lured by the satisfaction and fulfillment of desires, hoping they never end.
Take me one more time
Requesting to experience that moment of pleasure again.
Take me one more wave
Wanting to feel that rush of emotion one last time.
Take me for one last ride
Requesting to experience the excitement and thrill of the moment one final time.
I'm out of my head
Being consumed by the moment and losing touch with reality.
Tonight, tonight
Embracing the present moment and the excitement it brings.
The sound of the waves collide
Symbolizing the intensity and dynamic of the experience; Waves crashing together like emotions.
Cruising through the city after hours
Partaking in the night life and living in the moment after dark.
With me fusing all our powers
Combining all our strengths and energies together to create something extraordinary.
Here's to all our dreams
Toasting to our ambitions and hopes for the future.
Tonight we ride
Embracing the excitement and thrill of the moment, determined to live in it fully.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ABE CUNNINGHAM, ABRAN CUNNINGHAM, CHINO MORENO, CHINO CAMILO MORENO, FRANK DELGADO, FRANK MIRELEZ DELGADO, SERGIO VEGA, STEPHEN CARPENTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ashrahman4981
Floating on the water
Ever changing
Picture hours out from that
In tune with all our dreams
The ocean takes me
Into watch you shaking
Watch you weigh your powers
Tempt with hours of pleasure
Take me one more time
Take me one more wave
Take me for one last ride
I'm out of my head
Tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight I
The sound of the waves collide
The sound of the waves collide
The sound of the waves collide
Tonight (we ride)
Cruising through the city
After hours
With me fusing all our powers
Here's to all our
Take me one more time
Take me one more wave
Take me for one last ride
I'm out of my head
Tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight I
The sound of the waves collide
The sound of the waves collide
The sound of the waves collide
Tonight (we ride)
@deftones
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@MariaMoreno-kj2zs
hi your music is timeless <3
@trevski2281
hiiii just wanted to say that your music is absolutely amazing and I'll be listening to it forever
@amanda-nj1fi
absolutely in love with your music
@Bakedlizard1763
The new people are being brought here by tik toc or something because I keep hearing this masterpiece in random videos now lol
@veronicabustos9951
found you guys over the past year, can't stop listening<3
@NMFILMPRODUCTIONS
This song is the embodiment of falling in love.
@borderlinebae4010
I'd say "Kiss Me" from Sixpence Non the Richer is the embodiment of falling in love.
This is the embodiment of making love. Not having sex. Making love. There is indeed a difference.
@EvanAM0
Hell yea
@biancateixeira4005
@@borderlinebae4010 YES