Add It Up
Ethan Hawke Lyrics


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Why can't I get just one kiss?
Why can't I get just one kiss?
Believe me, Somethings I wouldn't miss
But I look at you pants and I need a kiss.

Why can't I get just one screw?
Why can't I get just one screw?
Believe me, I'd know what to do.
But something won't let me make love to you.

Why can't I get just one fk?
Why can't I get just one fk?
I guess it's got something to do with luck
But I've waited my whole life for just one

Day after day
I get angry
And I will say
That the day is in my sight
When I take a bow and say goodnight
Oh my my my my my oh my mum
Have you kept your eye
Your eye on your son?
I know you've had problems
You're not the only one
When your sugar left, he left you on the run
So Mo my my my my my mo my mum
Take a look now
Look what your boy has done
He's walking around like he's number one
You went downtown and got him a gun.
So don't shoot shoot shoot that thing at me
Don't shoot shoot shoot that thing at me
You know you got my sympathy
But don't shoot shoot shoot that thing at me
Don't shoot shoot shoot that thing at me
Don't shoot shoot shoot that thing at me
You know you got my sympathy
But don't shoot shoot shoot that thing at me
Broken down kitchen at the top of the stairs
Can I mix in with your affairs?
Share a smoke, Make a joke
Grasp and reach for a leg of hope
Words to memorize, words hypnotize
Words make my mouth exercise.
Words all fail the magic prize
Nothing I can say when I'm in your thighs
Oh my my my my my mo my mother
I would love to love you lover
City's restless
It's ready to pounce
You're here in your bed from ounce to ounce
Sayin' oh my my my my my mo my mother
I would love to love you lover
The city's restless
It's ready to pounce
You're here in your bed from ounce to ounce
I've given you a decision to make
Things to lose, things to take
Just as she's about ready to cut it up
She says
Wait a minute honey I'm gonna add it up
Add it up
Day after day
I get angry and I will say




That the day is in my sight
When I take a bow and say goodnight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ethan Hawke's song, "Add It Up," speak of longing and frustration. The singer wants a kiss, a screw, and a fk, but something is preventing him from getting what he wants. He hints that it might be bad luck, but the root of the problem is never fully explored. The lyrics then switch gears and discuss the singer's relationship with his mother, through the use of repetition and wordplay. The mother figure is at once mentioned with positive and negative associations, which perhaps speaks to the complexity of the singer's feelings towards her. The song concludes on an ambiguous note, with the singer predicting that the day when he can finally "take a bow and say goodnight" is imminent.


The repetition of the phrases "Why can't I get just one kiss?", "Why can't I get just one screw?", and "Why can't I get just one fk?", underscores the singer's sense of longing and dissatisfaction, while the obscene language used to express it speaks to the competing emotions of shame and desire. The reference to the mother figure in the lines "Oh my my my my my oh my mum/Have you kept your eye/Your eye on your son?" can be read in a number of ways, as can the portrayal of the city as restless and dangerous. Overall, the song is a poignant exploration of someone trying to make sense of their own urges and feelings, while commenting on the broader social and familial structures that shape them.


Line by Line Meaning

Why can't I get just one kiss?
I want a single kiss from you, but you're making it difficult for me.


Believe me, Somethings I wouldn't miss
I wouldn't mind if more happened, but for now, a kiss would suffice.


But I look at you pants and I need a kiss.
I see you wearing pants, and it makes me crave a kiss from you.


Why can't I get just one screw?
I desire to have sex with you, but I can't seem to make it happen.


Believe me, I'd know what to do.
If given the chance, I would know exactly what to do in bed with you.


But something won't let me make love to you.
There's some obstacle preventing us from having sex, even though I want it to happen.


Why can't I get just one fk?
I've been waiting my whole life for a single instance of sexual intercourse.


I guess it's got something to do with luck
I feel like it's just a matter of luck that I haven't had sex yet.


Day after day I get angry And I will say That the day is in my sight When I take a bow and say goodnight
I'm getting increasingly frustrated that I haven't had sex yet, and I'm about to give up on the possibility altogether.


Oh my my my my my oh my mum Have you kept your eye Your eye on your son?
Mother, have you been keeping an eye on me and my activities?


I know you've had problems You're not the only one When your sugar left, he left you on the run
I know you've had your own issues, including being left by my father.


So Mo my my my my my mo my mum Take a look now Look what your boy has done He's walking around like he's number one You went downtown and got him a gun.
Look at what I've accomplished, mother. I'm feeling confident and in control, but it was your actions that helped me get here.


So don't shoot shoot shoot that thing at me Don't shoot shoot shoot that thing at me You know you got my sympathy But don't shoot shoot shoot that thing at me
I understand why you might be upset with me, but please don't use a weapon to resolve our issues.


Broken down kitchen at the top of the stairs Can I mix in with your affairs? Share a smoke, Make a joke Grasp and reach for a leg of hope
I'm trying to get closer to you, even if it means getting involved in your personal life.


Words to memorize, words hypnotize Words make my mouth exercise. Words all fail the magic prize Nothing I can say when I'm in your thighs
Words are powerful, but ultimately they fail to capture the true magic and experience of being intimate with you.


Oh my my my my my mo my mother I would love to love you lover
Mother, I have romantic feelings for you, but that's not socially acceptable or appropriate.


City's restless It's ready to pounce You're here in your bed from ounce to ounce Sayin' oh my my my my my mo my mother I would love to love you lover
I recognize that the city is full of potential excitement, but I'm content being here with you, even if it's just resting in bed.


I've given you a decision to make Things to lose, things to take Just as she's about ready to cut it up She says Wait a minute honey I'm gonna add it up Add it up
I've presented you with options and given you a difficult decision to make, but just as you're about to do something drastic, you pause to calculate the situation and come up with a plan.




Writer(s): Gordon Gano

Contributed by Savannah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Laura Argüello

Amé esta peli! Mi parte favorita es ésta, cuando él le dedica la canción. La otra parte que me encantó fue cuando enloquecen bailando en una gasolinería ella con sus amigos..😄

Jonathan Ezequiel Palleres

También para mí la mejor parte es esa de las chicas bailando como locas en la gasolinera jajaja

fingersmaloy

Love that scene. She's all, "He's insulting me through Violent Femmes cover! Reality BITES!"

Laura Argüello

Mi película favorita. Me encanta como canta Ethan!

caceresnikolay

lo que dice al final de la escena ben stiller (que no alcanza a salir en este video), a pesar de que durante toda la película demuestra ser un completo imbécil, no deja de ser bastante razonable (le dice a ethan hawke "¿entonces a quién estás buscando aquí?") una de mis películas favoritas, de mis escenas favoritas y de mis temas rockeros favoritos ("add it up") :D

Señor S

este tema la lleva! gracias

FUCC YOU

Joyce Byers😭😭😭 who wouldve known Ethan's daughter would be acting with her in the future on Stranger things

Rae [Nolastnamegiven]

I'm gay for Winona Ryder

Matt Digz

Respect.

I'm straight for her. (I'd be gay for her, though, were the circumstances such that that were necessary).

ミラージュ

coolest

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