On September 3, 2019, she posted on Instagram a painting of an angelic figure whose hands touch a sword pierced into a planet resembling earth. This post was accompanied by the caption "A new way to die! 2 days." This caption led publications to believe it would be the name of the song. But a day later she clarified the actual song title a day later. The track features American DJ i_o as the producer of the song. She revealed that the song was originally intended for the unnamed sixth album, but Grimes decided to move it to "Miss Anthropocene" because the track "feels good". She also revealed in a 2020 interview for Pitchfork that this song was included in order to replace "Darq Souls", which according to her was theoretically the best song on the record but it became an engineering nightmare so I was not able to finish it.
Violence
Grimes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Makes you wanna party
Wanna break up
Baby, it's violence, violence
Baby, it's violence
But you can't see what I see
You can't see what I see
You feed off hurting me, hurting me, yeah, ha
I'm like begging for it, baby
Makes you wanna party, wanna wake up
Baby, it's violence, violence
Baby, it's violence
But you can't see what I see
You can't see what I see
Cause you, ha, ha
You feed off hurting me, off hurting me
Yeah, ha
You wanna make me bad
Make me bad
And I like it like that, and I like it like that
You wanna make me bad, pay me back
Said, "I like it like that," said, "I like it like that"
I'm like begging for it, baby
Makes you wanna party, wanna wake up
Baby, it's violence, violence
Baby, it's violence
But you can't see what I see
You can't see what I see
'Cause you, ha, ha
You feed off hurting me, off hurting me, oh, me, oh, me
You wanna make me bad, make me bad
And I like it like that, and I like it like that
You wanna paint me bad, pay me back
Said, "I like it like that," said, "I like it like that"
You wanna make me bad, make me bad
And I like it like that, and I like it like that
You wanna paint me bad, pay me back
Said, "I like it like that," said, "I like it like that"
You wanna, make me, make me, make me, make me, make me
And I like it like that, and I like it like that
You wanna pay me, pay me, pay me back, pay me back
Said, "I like it like that," said, "I like it like that"
(Me, oh, me, oh, me, oh, me, oh, me, oh)
And I like it like that, and I like it like that
(Me, oh, me, oh, me, oh, me, oh, me, oh)
And I like it like that
The lyrics of "Violence" by Grimes and i_o are about a toxic and violent relationship where the singer begs for her partner's abuse. She explains how her partner enjoys hurting her, and it makes her feel alive. The lyrics imply that the singer is aware of the unhealthy nature of the relationship but cannot help but enjoy the violence. The chorus repeats the phrase "Baby, it's violence," emphasizing the theme of violence in the relationship.
The line "But you can't see what I see" suggests that the singer has a unique perspective on the relationship that her partner cannot understand. She acknowledges that her partner feeds off her pain, implying that she is aware he is using her for his own pleasure. The melody and beat of the song are upbeat and high-energy, which contrasts with the darker lyrics of the song.
Overall, "Violence" is about the complexities of toxic relationships and how some people find pleasure in violence, even though they know it is not healthy. It highlights the idea of being trapped in a situation that is both harmful and addictive.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm like begging for it, baby
I am asking for an aggressive act or behaviour, my dear
Makes you wanna party
It appears appealing to you and makes you feel like celebrating
Wanna break up
I'm interested in ending our relationship
Baby, it's violence, violence
Darling, what we have here is an act of aggression
But you can't see what I see
Unfortunately, you cannot perceive what I am experiencing
You feed off hurting me, hurting me, yeah, ha
You derive enjoyment from causing me pain
You wanna make me bad
You want me to engage in immoral behaviour
And I like it like that, and I like it like that
And I find pleasure in that, and I enjoy it
Pay me back
Retaliate against me
Said, "I like it like that," said, "I like it like that"
Stated, "I enjoy this situation" more than once
You wanna paint me bad
You want to portray me negatively
You wanna, make me, make me, make me, make me, make me
You want to coerce me into engaging in certain behaviour
And I like it like that, and I like it like that
And I enjoy it in that manner, and I find happiness in it
Pay me, pay me, pay me back, pay me back
Retaliate against me, retaliate against me, get back at me, get back at me
Me, oh, me, oh, me, oh, me, oh, me, oh
I am the one being referred to in this context
And I like it like that, and I like it like that
And I enjoy it in that manner, and I find happiness in it
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Claire Boucher, Garrett Lockhart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SoopSo
Putting the lyrics out here for myself lol
I am, like, begging for you baby
Makes you wanna party
Wanna break up
Baby, it's violence, violence
Baby, it's violence
But can't see what I see
You can't see what I see
Cause you, ha, ha
You feed off hurting me, hurting me, ha
I am, like, begging for you baby
Makes you wanna party, wanna wake up
Baby, it's violence, violence
Baby, it's violence
You can't see what I see
You can't see what I see
Cause you, ha, ha
You feed on hurting me, off hurting me
Oh, ha
You wanna make me bad
Make me bad
And I like it like that, and I like it like that
You wanna make me bad, pay me back
Said I like it like that, said I like it like that
I am, like, begging for you baby
Makes you wanna party, wanna wake up
Baby, it's violence, violence
Baby, it's violence
But you can't see what I see
You can't see what I see
Cause you, ha, ha
You feed off hurting me, off hurting me, oh, me, oh, me
You wanna make me bad, make me bad
And I like it like that, and I like it like that
You wanna paint me bad, pay me back
Said I like it like that, said I like it like that
You wanna make me bad, make me bad
And I like it like that, and I like it like that
You wanna paint me bad, pay me back
Said I like it like that, said I like it like that
You wanna, make me, make me, make me, make me, make me
And I like it like that, and I like it like that
You wanna pay me, pay me, pay me back, pay me back
Said I like it like that, said I like it like that
And I like it like that, and I like it like that
(Me, oh, me, oh, me, oh, me, oh, me, oh)
And I like it like that
@grimes
I'm so hungry
@ivansorola1997
Grimes same
@_sumina
i could eat a horse 🐎
@gali3645
What do fairies eat?
@sophisticatedluna6503
@Ali g ass
@daveanddavid
Hunger is violence, violence 🎶
@sentosaco
It actually feels like a contemporary video about the future that is now. There are no weird special effects. Just Grimes wearing Iris van Herpen.
@fromTheRitztoTheRubble
Exactly. She didn't know what was all this about, but art knows everything.
@jesipohl6717
so glad she friend-zoned Musk, I can't wait to see what she produces without that bond villian keeping her down.
@lucyhanks500
There’s always a kris with a K to remake an anton sandsor le vey satanic paperback alter remake, give it a little pair of rectangular spectacles and call in Andy or Dominic bugging Belgium as the alter of materialism?
Rubén’s overtaken by when Gianni shot Versace?
When is the wisper video of the Hampstead school satanic pedofile ring coming out?
Nice to see Lady gaga in some more of my illustration costumes playing the piano, maybe feature Scary Matt as Tom, Maoi, or Michael Hutchence from inXS 👀.
I think why don’t they create something new instead of documenting what other people are doing; as the process is slightly like nihilistic containment, to reverberate unhappiness and decaying community/societal values 🤷🏻♀️