Hunger
Florence the Machine Lyrics
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Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
At seventeen, I started to starve myself
I thought that love was a kind of emptiness
And at least I understood then, the hunger I felt
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
Tell me what you need, oh, you look so free
The way you use your body, baby, come on and work it for me
Don't let it get you down, you're the best thing I've seen
We never found the answer but we knew one thing
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
And it's Friday night and it's kicking in
In that pink dress, they're gonna crucify me
Oh, and you in all your vibrant youth
How could anything bad ever happen to you?
You make a fool of death with your beauty, and for a moment
I thought that love was in the drugs
But the more I took, the more it took away
And I could never get enough
I thought that love was on the stage
You give yourself to strangers
You don't have to be afraid
And then it tries to find a home with people, or when I'm alone
Picking it apart and staring at your phone
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
Tell me what you need, oh, you look so free
The way you use your body, baby, come on and work it for me
Don't let 'em get you down, you're the best thing I've seen
We never found the answer but we knew one thing
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
And it's Friday night and it's kicking in
In that pink dress, they're gonna crucify me
Oh, and you in all your vibrant youth
How could anything bad ever happen to you?
You make a fool of death with your beauty, and for a moment
I forget to worry
"Hunger" is a song by Florence + the Machine that explores the universal experience of hunger. The lyrics delve into various types of hunger, from physical to emotional to spiritual, and how people cope with them. In the first verse, lead singer Florence Welch shares her personal struggle with an eating disorder as a teenager. She believed love was an emptiness that could be filled by starving herself, but she later realized that was actually loneliness. The chorus repeats the phrase, "We all have a hunger," reminding listeners that everyone experiences some form of hunger.
The second verse focuses on society's obsession with image and how people use their bodies to satisfy that hunger. Welch calls for people to embrace their individuality and not let society bring them down. She acknowledges the futility of trying to find satisfaction in drugs and the temporary high of being on stage performing for strangers. Finally, the song returns to the chorus and concludes with the image of the singer wearing a pink dress and bracing for judgment, but finding solace in the momentary beauty of life.
Overall, "Hunger" is a powerful statement on the human condition of longing and the various ways we try to fill that void. Through Welch's evocative lyrics and emotive vocals, she expresses a universal longing that connects listeners across all backgrounds and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Musical interlude
At seventeen, I started to starve myself
As a teenager, I intentionally deprived myself of food
I thought that love was a kind of emptiness
I believed that love was a feeling of being incomplete
And at least I understood then, the hunger I felt
At least I recognized that the feeling I had was hunger
And I didn't have to call it loneliness
I didn't have to name the emptiness I felt
Tell me what you need, oh, you look so free
Please tell me what you want, you appear to be so liberated
The way you use your body, baby, come on and work it for me
The way you move your body is impressive, please show me more
Don't let it get you down, you're the best thing I've seen
Don't be discouraged, you are the most impressive thing I have ever seen
We never found the answer but we knew one thing
We never found a solution, but we knew one thing for sure
And it's Friday night and it's kicking in
And it's Friday night and it's causing an effect on me
In that pink dress, they're gonna crucify me
Wearing that pink dress, people will judge and criticize me
Oh, and you in all your vibrant youth
You, in your lively youthfulness
How could anything bad ever happen to you?
How could anything negative ever occur to someone as perfect as you?
You make a fool of death with your beauty, and for a moment
Your beauty defies the fear of death, and briefly
I thought that love was in the drugs
I believed that love was present in the intoxicating effects of drugs
But the more I took, the more it took away
However, the more I consumed, the more it took from me
And I could never get enough
And I could never satisfy my desires
I thought that love was on the stage
I believed that love existed in the performance world
You give yourself to strangers
You offer yourself to people you don't know
You don't have to be afraid
You don't have to feel frightened
And then it tries to find a home with people, or when I'm alone
The feeling attempts to settle in with others, or when I'm by myself
Picking it apart and staring at your phone
Examining it thoroughly and focusing on your phone
We all have a hunger
We all have a yearning
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Tobias Jesso, Thomas Wayland Bartlett, Emile Haynie, Florence Welch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@elissoide96
At seventeen, I started to starve myself
I thought that love was a kind of emptiness
And at least I understood then the hunger I felt
And I didn't have to call it loneliness
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
Tell me what you need, oh, you look so free
The way you use your body, baby, come on and work it for me
Don't let it get you down, you're the best thing I've seen
We never found the answer but we knew one thing
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
And it's Friday night and it's kicking in
And I can't dress, they're gonna crucify me
Oh, but you and all your vibrant youth
How could anything bad ever happen to you?
You make a fool of death with your beauty, and for a moment
I thought that love was in the drugs
But the more I took, the more it took away
And I could never get enough
I thought that love was on the stage
You give yourself to strangers
You don't have to be afraid
And then it tries to find a home with people, oh, and I'm alone
Picking it apart and staring at your phone
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
Tell me what you need, oh, you look so free
The way you use your body, baby, come on and work it for me
Don't let it get you down, you're the best thing I've seen
We never found the answer but we knew one thing
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger (we all have a hunger)
And it's Friday night and it's kicking in
And I can't dress, they're gonna crucify me
Oh, you and all your vibrant youth
How could anything bad ever happen to you?
You make a fool of death with your beauty, and for a moment
I forget to worry
@nottoday4081
[Intro]
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh
[Verse 1]
At seventeen I started to starve myself
I thought that love was a kind of emptiness
And at least I understood then the hunger I felt
And I didn't have to call it loneliness
[Chorus]
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
[Pre-Chorus]
Tell me what you need
Oh, you look so free
The way you use your body, baby
Come on and work it for me
Don't let them get you down
You're the best thing I've seen
We never found the answer
But we knew one thing
[Chorus]
We all have a hunger
(We all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger
(We all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger
(We all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger
(We all have a hunger)
[Post-Chorus]
And it's Friday night and it's kicking in
In that pink dress, they're gonna crucify me
Oh and you in all your vibrant youth
How could anything bad ever happen to you?
You make a fool of death with your beauty
And for a moment
[Verse 2]
I thought that love was in the drugs
But the more I took, the more it took away
And I could never get enough
I thought that love was on the stage, give yourself to strangers
You don't have to be afraid
Then it tries to find a home
With people or when I'm alone
Picking it apart
And staring at your phone
[Chorus]
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
[Pre-Chorus]
Tell me what you need
Oh, you look so free
The way you use your body, baby
Come on and work it for me
Don't let them get you down
You're the best thing I've seen
We never found the answer
But we knew one thing
[Chorus]
We all have a hunger
(We all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger
(We all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger
(We all have a hunger)
We all have a hunger
(We all have a hunger)
[Post-Chorus]
And it's Friday night and it's kicking in
In that pink dress, they're gonna crucify me
Oh and you in all your vibrant youth
How could anything bad ever happen to you?
You make a fool of death with your beauty
And for a moment I forget to worry
@SoniaEvanss
Lyrics🎶:
At seventeen, I started to starve myself
I thought that love was a kind of emptiness
And at least I understood then the hunger I felt
And I didn't have to call it loneliness
[Chorus]
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
[Pre-Chorus]
Tell me what you need, oh, you look so free
The way you use your body, baby, come on and work it for me
Don't let it get you down, you're the best thing I've seen
We never found the answer but we knew one thing
[Chorus]
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
[Post-Chorus]
And it's friday night and it's kicking in
And I can't trust, they're gonna crucify me
Oh, you and all your vibrant youths
How could anything bad ever happen to you?
You make a fool of death with your beauty, and for a moment
[Verse 2]
I thought that love was in the drugs
But the more I took, the more it took away
And I could never get enough
I thought that love was on the stage
You give yourself to strangers, you don't have to be afraid
Then it tries to find a home with people, oh, and I'm alone
Picking it apart and staring at your phone
[Chorus]
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
[Pre-Chorus]
Tell me what you need, oh, you look so free
The way you use your body, baby, come on and work it for me
Don't let it get you down, you're the best thing I've seen
We never found the answer but we knew one thing
[Chorus]
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
[Post-Chorus]
And it's friday night and it's kicking in
And I can't trust, they're gonna crucify me
Oh, you and all your vibrant youths
How could anything bad ever happen to you?
You make a fool of death with your beauty, and for a moment
I forget to worry
@yesmaam6889
L Y R I C S
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh
At seventeen, I started to starve myself
I thought that love was a kind of emptiness
And at least I understood then the hunger I felt
And I didn't have to call it loneliness
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
Tell me what you need, oh, you look so free
The way you use your body, baby, come on and work it for me
Don't let it get you down, you're the best thing I've seen
We never found the answer but we knew one thing
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
And it's Friday night and it's kicking in
And I can't dress, they're gonna crucify me
Oh, but you and all your vibrant youth
How could anything bad ever happen to you?
You make a fool of death with your beauty, and for a moment
I thought that love was in the drugs
But the more I took, the more it took away
And I could never get enough
I thought that love was on the stage
You give yourself to strangers
You don't have to be afraid
And then it tries to find a home with people, oh, and I'm alone
Picking it apart and staring at your phone
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
Tell me what you need, oh, you look so free
The way you use your body, baby, come on and work it for me
Don't let it get you down, you're the best thing I've seen
We never found the answer but we knew one thing
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
And it's Friday night and it's kicking in
And I can't dress, they're gonna crucify me
Oh, you and all your vibrant youth
How could anything bad ever happen to you?
You make a fool of death with your beauty, and for a moment
I forget to worry
@ALIK835
Lyrics
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh
At seventeen, I started to starve myself
I thought that love was a kind of emptiness
And at least I understood then the hunger I felt
And I didn't have to call it loneliness
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
Tell me what you need, oh, you look so free
The way you use your body, baby, come on and work it for me
Don't let it get you down, you're the best thing I've seen
We never found the answer but we knew one thing
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
And it's friday night and it's kicking in
And I can't dress, they're gonna crucify me
Oh, you and all your vibrant youths
How could anything bad ever happen to you?
You make a fool of death with your beauty, and for a moment
I thought love was in the drugs and the more I took
The more I took away and I could never get enough
I thought love was on the stage
You give yourself to strangers
You don't have to be afraid
Then it tries to find a home with people and I'm alone
Picking it apart and staring at your phone
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
Tell me what you need, oh, you look so free
The way you use your body, baby, come on and work it for me
Don't let it get you down, you're the best thing I've seen
We never found the answer but we knew one thing
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
We all have a hunger
And it's friday night and it's kicking in
And I can't dress, they're gonna crucify me
Oh, you and all your vibrant youths
How could anything bad ever happen to you?
You make a fool of death with your beauty, and for a moment
I forget to worry
@deboraborges4372
"At seventeen I started to starve myself. I thought that love was a kind of emptiness"
I won't ever get over this line
@sophiemacaroni9060
same
@mariajoseramirez8936
@Anne-Marie Robinson I suffered it too and that line melt in my heart.
@rolanddonaldson271
As a former bulimic guy it really was such a powerful line I love her music it’s so poetic and beautiful
@MultiFreddy34
It can also be seen to mean she starved herself of love. It's a double entendre.
@jasmineping7606
@Calvin Michael Jonas some people aren't happy with themselves, most have an issue with their weight. They think starving will make them look better and that they'll finally be happy themselves.
It's mostly female that do it to ourselves. Ive been there and this is my favorite line
@jessicahare5910
I love how she dances, it’s not “pretty” it’s powerful.
@dilaudid1
I think it is pretty too.
@jessicahare5910
Nathan Robertson you’re right, I should have said “not just “pretty.””
@great_art_and_life_1879
I think the way she dances is what freedom looks like, it's just giving in to how the music moves you without hesitation