Wells creates music by blending her many influences. She is a classically-trained violinist with a penchant for hip hop production. Live, Wells creates a lush layer of "symphonies" by looping and live sampling everything from her violin and voice, to her many toys and electronics. She performs both solo, and as a trio with drummer Sam Halterman and bassist Joey Reina, who also appear on her records.
Wells was born in Amarillo, TX and now resides in and tours from Los Angeles, CA. She is, however, moving back to NYC after her upcoming tour.
No Good
Emily Wells Lyrics
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Smoke a cigarette and get in bed if you wanna have some fun
And baby, do you, do you know the stakes
Of loving somebody who only makes mistake
Cuz I’m no good at bein in love
I’m no good at gettin by by by
I’m no good at gettin by by by
Wake up in your bed
Wake in a cherry tree
Fallin’ out on the dewy ground
You know how the touch approves by me
And baby do you, do you know the cost
of loving somebody who always belongs
cuz I’m no good at bein in love
I’m no good at gettin by by by
I’m no good at bein in love
I’m no good at gettin by by by
The past is the lover you keep
Cuz I’m no good at bein in love
I’m no good at gettin by by by
I’m no good at bein in love
I’m no good at gettin by by by
The lyrics of Emily Wells's song "No Good" speak about the singer's inability to love and form meaningful relationships. She describes herself as someone who is not capable of being in love and getting by in life. The first verse talks about a transaction that took place between two people where the singer paid with the sun, possibly referencing something intangible like love, and the other person paid with currency. The chorus repeats the line "I'm no good at being in love/I'm no good at getting by by by," emphasizing the singer's incapacity for love.
In the second verse, the singer describes waking up in a cherry tree and falling to the ground. The cherry tree could be a metaphor for a relationship, and the singer's fall could mean the end of it. She then asks the listener if they know the cost of loving someone who always belongs to someone else. This suggests that the singer may have been in a situation where she was involved with someone who was already in a committed relationship. The final verse says "the past is the lover you keep," which could mean that the singer is stuck in the past and unable to move on from past relationships.
Overall, the lyrics express the singer's feelings of inadequacy in love and relationships, highlighting her struggles with forming meaningful connections.
Line by Line Meaning
You paid me with your currency, I paid you with the sun
You gave me something tangible, while I gave you something intangible and fleeting.
Smoke a cigarette and get in bed if you wanna have some fun
If you're looking for a good time, just relax and take things easy.
And baby, do you, do you know the stakes
Do you understand the potential consequences of our actions?
Of loving somebody who only makes mistake
Choosing to love someone who constantly messes up can be risky.
Cuz I’m no good at bein in love
I struggle with maintaining healthy romantic relationships.
I’m no good at gettin by by by
I have difficulty coping with everyday life and responsibilities.
Wake up in your bed
I find myself in your bed every morning.
Wake in a cherry tree
But sometimes I feel like I'm in a dreamlike state or an alternate reality.
Fallin’ out on the dewy ground
I'm not always sure what's real or imagined.
You know how the touch approves by me
You understand my physical presence or touch can validate my existence.
And baby do you, do you know the cost
Do you realize how much it can hurt to love someone who is flawed?
of loving somebody who always belongs
Loving someone who doesn't quite fit in anywhere can be challenging.
The past is the lover you keep
Some people hold onto the past as if it were a lover, unable to let go.
Cuz I’m no good at bein in love
Once again, I struggle with maintaining healthy romantic relationships.
I’m no good at gettin by by by
Once again, I have difficulty coping with everyday life and responsibilities.
I’m no good at bein in love
Once again, I struggle with maintaining healthy romantic relationships.
I’m no good at gettin by by by
Once again, I have difficulty coping with everyday life and responsibilities.
Contributed by Kaylee G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.