The album was going to be called Fetch the Bolt Cutters before I had a song called “Fetch the Bolt Cutters.” When I started writing the song I was like, “Is this cheesy to write a song that’s the title?” And I think “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” is probably the theme of it. I know in the New Yorker piece it says something like, “What it’s about is not being afraid to speak.” But it’s more than that. It’s about breaking out of whatever prison you’ve allowed yourself to live in, whether you built that prison for yourself or whether it was built around you and you just accepted it. The message in the whole record is just: Fetch the fucking bolt cutters and get yourself out of the situation that you’re in — whatever it is that you don’t like.
On the dogs barking at the end:
Cara [Delevingne] and I have been text friends for years. I wanted her to sing the line [“Fetch the bolt cutters”]. She brought her dogs, Leo and Alfie. And so all of our dogs were in this room with the door closed and they’re totally silent for the whole take of the song. And then at the end of the song they erupted. It was so perfect.
Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was trying to be your friend
I thought it was then
But it wasn't
It wasn't genuine
I was just so furious
But I couldn't show you
'Cause I know you
And I don't wanna war with you
I won't afford it
You get sore even when you win
And you maim when you're on offense
But you kill when you're on defense
And you've got them all convinced
That you're the means and the end
All the VIPs and PYTs and wannabes
Afraid of not being your friend
And I've always been too smart for that
But you know what?
My heart was not
I took it like a kid, you see
The cool kids voted to get rid of me
I'm ashamed of what it did to me
What I let get done
They stole my fun
They stole my fun
Fetch the bolt cutters
I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters
I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters
I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters
I've been thinking about (you seemed so nice)
I've been thinking about (I guess you've changed)
When I was trying to be your friend
I thought it was then, but it wasn't
It wasn't genuine
Fetch the bolt cutters
I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters
I've been in here too long
Whatever happens
Whatever happens
Fetch the bolt cutters
I've been in here too long
I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters
While I had not yet found my bearings
Those it girls hit the ground
Comparing the way I was, to the way she was
Saying I'm not stylish enough and I cry too much
And I listened because I hadn't found my own voice yet
So all I could hear was the noise that
People make when they don't know shit
But I didn't know that yet
I grew up in the shoes they told me I could fill
When they came around I would stand real still
A girl can roll her eyes at me and kill
I got the idea it wasn't real
I thought being blacklisted
Would be grist for the mill
Until I realized I'm still here
I grew up in the shoes they told me I could fill
Shoes that were not made for running up that hill
And I need to run up that hill
I need to run up that hill
I will, I will, I will, I will, I will
Fetch the bolt cutters
I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters
Whatever happens
Whatever happens
Fetch the bolt cutters
I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters
Whatever happens
Whatever happens
Fetch the bolt cutters
I've been
Whatever happens
Whatever happens
Fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters
Whatever happens
Whatever happens
Whatever happens
Whatever happens
Fetch the bolt cutters
In the first verse, Fiona Apple seems to be reflecting on a past friendship that was not genuine. She admits to trying to be friends with this person but realizing that her intentions were not in the right place, as she was too angry and unable to express her true feelings. She is aware of this person's manipulative nature and the damage they can cause, and doesn't want to engage in a war with them. However, the second half of the verse suggests that this person is prone to getting aggressive even when they win, and can become violent when they feel threatened. The second verse seems to touch on Fiona's experience of being ostracized by a group of popular girls, who made her feel like she wasn't good enough. She listened to their criticisms because she hadn't yet found her own voice and believed their opinions to be true. However, she eventually realized that their judgment was baseless and that she didn't need their validation. The repetition of "fetch the bolt cutters" at the end of each verse suggests that she is ready to break free from the internalized limitations that have held her back and reclaim her power.
Overall, "Fetch The Bolt Cutters" seems to be a reflection on Fiona Apple's journey towards self-discovery and empowerment, as she navigates the obstacles and challenges that have been thrown her way. It's a song about breaking free from expectations, societal norms and toxic relationships, and finding your own voice in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been thinking about when
Reflecting on a past event
I was trying to be your friend
Attempting to establish a friendship
I thought it was then
Believing the friendship was genuine
But it wasn't
Realizing the friendship was pretense
It wasn't genuine
The friendship was not authentic
I was just so furious
Feeling strong anger or displeasure
But I couldn't show you
Unable to display emotions
'Cause I know you
Awareness of the other person's behavior
And I know what you can do
Having knowledge of the other's actions
And I don't wanna war with you
Avoiding conflict or confrontation
I won't afford it
Unable to tolerate the consequence
You get sore even when you win
Becoming upset despite victory
And you maim when you're on offense
Inflicting harm or injury when attacking
But you kill when you're on defense
Acting aggressively when protecting oneself
And you've got them all convinced
Other people strongly believe your story
That you're the means and the end
Your actions dictate the outcome
All the VIPs and PYTs and wannabes
Referring to socialites and popular people
Afraid of not being your friend
Fearful of being rejected by you
And I've always been too smart for that
Not easily influenced by others
But you know what?
Acknowledging the past mistake
My heart was not
Genuine feelings were absent
I took it like a kid, you see
Reacted immaturely
The cool kids voted to get rid of me
Being ostracized by popular people
I'm ashamed of what it did to me
Feeling remorseful about what happened
What I let get done
Allowing something negative to occur
They stole my fun
Preventing enjoyment or pleasure
Fetch the bolt cutters
Calling for liberation or breaking out of confinement
I've been in here too long
Feeling trapped or confined for a prolonged period
Whatever happens
Regardless of the outcome
While I had not yet found my bearings
Lacking direction or clarity in life
Those it girls hit the ground
Popular people experienced a downfall
Comparing the way I was, to the way she was
Being compared unfavorably to someone else
Saying I'm not stylish enough and I cry too much
Being criticized for not meeting societal standards
And I listened because I hadn't found my own voice yet
Being susceptible to external opinions before finding one's identity
So all I could hear was the noise that
Only able to perceive external negativity
People make when they don't know shit
The sound of people's judgmental comments
But I didn't know that yet
Lack of realization at the time
Shoes that were not made for running up that hill
Challenging oneself beyond their capability
And I need to run up that hill
Feeling the need to overcome obstacles and succeed
Fetch the bolt cutters
Calling for liberation or breaking out of confinement
Whatever happens
Regardless of the outcome
I've been
Present state of being
Fetch the bolt cutters
Calling for liberation or breaking out of confinement
Whatever happens
Regardless of the outcome
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Fiona Apple Maggart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Limits98
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I've been thinking about when I was trying to be your friend
I thought it was then, but it wasn't, it wasn't genuine
I was just so furious, but I couldn't show you
Cause I know you and I know what you can do
And I don't want a war with you, I won't afford it
You get sore, even when you win
[Verse 2]
And you maim when you're on offense
But you kill when you're on defense
And you've got them all convinced
That you're the means and the end
All the VIPs and PYTs and wannabes
Afraid of not being your friend
[Verse 3]
And I've always been too smart for that
But you know what? My heart was not
I took it like a kid, you see
The cool kids voted to get rid of me
I'm ashamed of what it did to me
What I let get done
It stole my fun, it stole my fun
[Chorus 1]
Fetch the bolt cutters, I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters, I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters, I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters
[Post-Chorus]
He sings so nice, I guess he tries (I've been thinking about when I was trying to be your friend)
(I thought it was then, but it wasn't, it wasn't genuine)
[Chorus 2]
Fetch the bolt cutters, I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters (I've been in here too long)
Whatever happens, whatever happens (Whatever happens)
Fetch the bolt cutters, I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters
[Verse 4]
While I'd not yet found my bearings
Those it girls hit the ground
Comparing the way I was to the way she was
Sayin' I'm not stylish enough and I cry too much
And I listened because I hadn't found my own voice yet
So all I could hear was the noise that
People make when they don't know shit
But I didn't know that yet
[Verse 5]
I grew up in the shoes they told me I could fill
When they came around, I would stand real still
A girl can roll her eyes at me and kill
I got the idea I wasn't real
I thought being blacklisted would be grist for the mill
Until I realized I'm still here (I'm still here)
I grew up in the shoes they told me I could fill
Shoes that were not made for running up that hill
And I need to run up that hill, I need to run up that hill
I will, I will, I will, I will, I will
[Chorus 2]
Fetch the bolt cutters, I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters, whatever happens, whatever happens
Fetch the bolt cutters, I've been in here too long
Fetch the bolt cutters, whatever happens, whatever happens
Fetch the bolt cutters (I've been in here too long)
Whatever happens, whatever happens
[Outro]
Fetch the bolt cutters, fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters, fetch the bolt cutters (I will, I will)
Fetch the bolt cutters, fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters, fetch the bolt cutters
Fetch the bolt cutters, fetch the bolt cutters
Whatever happens, whatever happens
Whatever happens, whatever happens
Fetch the bolt cutters (Whatever happens, whatever happens), fetch the bolt cutters
Rolyat Neek
"It’s about breaking out of whatever prison you’ve allowed yourself to live in, whether you built that prison for yourself or whether it was built around you and you just accepted it. The message in the whole record is just: Fetch the fucking bolt cutters and get yourself out of the situation that you’re in — whatever it is that you don’t like."
Fiona Apple via Vulture
Timmy Rivera
Nice break down
slawsome29
Pammie Time when the prison, chaos, survival mode is all you know, as fucked up as it is, you run to it cuz it's comfortable and it's all you know some people don't know how to function outside of that world... learning to function in so called normalcy or in a productive/successful/happy life is just as much an obstacle as dealing with all the chaos that causes you to continuously seek it while you simultaneously want to escape it
Rattrash
@Timmy Rivera p
Oblong Polka Dots
This album has helped me get through this pandemic without having a nervous breakdown. True story. Fiona, you're music has been part of the fabric of my life since 1996, and I'm so grateful that you chose to share your talent. Blessings.
Don't ask
The lyrics of this song and the whole composition, is genius. Especially the lyrics. So glad to find this. The lyrics are so deep about the societal game. The cool kids. And the need to not be part when realizing how empty it all really is sometimes. Which a rebellious need to fetch the bolt cutters and make your own way regardless, just to escape. Simply escape. Brilliant Fiona. Much love from here!
Thomas Nelson
I wish Fiona knew how much she means to all of us
Robert Dog
I believe that she does know. I had the pleasure of seeing her in concert and she was very gracious.
Oh, and she and her band kicked the shit out of us. They ripped the roof off of the place, one of the best shows I've ever seen.
Andrea G
She's always been my favorite singer, songwriter, poet, artist who has the courage to put it all out there...the pristine, and the raw, and the pretty and the disruptive...I will always love you and feel this crazy connection to you Fiona! Whatever happens... Whatever happens!
Jorden
... disruptive. I like that word. Yes, it's poetry. If people can't reach the highs and lows, they terms this music depressing. but, I just connect so well and feel so understood. Thank you Fiona for giving words to those who feel the depths of life but may not always have the words to express it.