Whoops
Kate Tempest Lyrics

Well, who′s this?
Introducing a character named Pete

Staggerin' home, jabberin′
Pete is stumbling home and talking erratically

Lookin' like some street-smart arrogant gnome
Pete appears confident and wise on the street

Feet stickin' to the kerb like javelins, thrown
His feet are firmly planted, as if thrown like javelins

Gesturing wildly, having full-blown conversations with himself
He is making wild gestures and talking to himself

Saying, 'Haven′t you grown?' to his face in the windows, grimacing
He is taunting his own reflection in windows

Grappling with half a cigarette, not managin′
He struggles to hold onto a cigarette and seems incapable

This is Pete
Confirming the identity of the character

Pete grew up on this street
Pete was raised in this neighborhood

He moved away, but he's back livin′ at his dad's, so he can save
He returned to live with his father to save money

He rigs stages at live events, but every time he gets paid
He works at events setting up stages, but always ends up spending his earnings

He gets wasted and wakes up with less than he made
He wastes his money on alcohol and wakes up with less than what he earned

Then he hates it, but that′s life, right?
He despises this cycle, but accepts it as a part of life

Fast-paced, shit-faced, low maintenance
Pete lives a fast life, always drunk, and doesn't require much

And all of his mates are kind of on the same page
His friends have similar lifestyles

It's basic wages takes ages to get through the month
His low wages take a long time to cover his expenses

But then payday comes, and it′s drinks all 'round
When he gets paid, he spends it on drinks for everyone

Outrageous behaviour, livin' right now, no sense a′ later
He lives in the moment without worrying about the future

Pills by the pocketful, nights last days, and look
He carries pills with him and his nights seem to never end

Even if he never splashed out, he still couldn′t make the rent on his own place
Even if he cut back on spending, he still couldn't afford to rent a place on his own

Face it
Confronting the harsh reality of his situation

It's 4:18
Referring to the time of day

Pete′s 14 doors from home and his thoughts are like a pack of starving dogs
Pete is close to home, but his thoughts are consuming him like starving animals

Fighting over the last bone
His thoughts are in turmoil

No, no, no, no, no, no, yeah!
Expressing confusion and uncertainty

No, anyway, what was I sayin'?
Forgetting what he was talking about

Fuck it, wait, hold on, I′m comin' up, wait
Realizing he's under the influence and trying to gather his thoughts

Good night, weren′t it? Must've been
Reflecting on the night and assuming it was good

Burnt too much on the good stuff, lucky me
Spent too much money on drugs

I looked up, I saw my future unravel in the lights
He had a moment of realization about his future while looking at the lights

Funny, innit? I love that sinking feeling, any minute
He finds pleasure in the sinking feeling of uncertainty

But you can't win the race unless you′re runnin′ in it, right?
In order to succeed, you have to participate

Or you can't get a taste unless you′re takin' a bite
To experience something, you have to take action

Man, I′m climbin' up the walls, things are gettin′ difficult
He feels overwhelmed and things are becoming challenging

It's all take, take, take, and start early, work late
Life feels like constant demands and long hours

Puttin' in the hours for these drugs, tokens
He puts in the effort to earn money for drugs

Love′s a joke when your blood′s pulsin'
Love loses its meaning when you're consumed by other desires

Love is real when you start chokin′
Love becomes real when you feel suffocated

I'm double jumpin′ in the vast ocean
He feels overwhelmed and lost in his own existence

State of me, mate, blatantly the way I was made, y'see?
He acknowledges that his current state is a result of his own choices

I′ve been gettin' on it since back in the day
He has been indulging in his behavior for a long time

Good place for a bad time, if you ask me
He believes this is a suitable environment for his self-destructive behavior

Trust me, nothin' gets past me
He thinks he's observant and aware of everything

A bad place for a good time, if you know what I mean
Although it seems like a fun place, it's not a healthy environment

Never met no one like you, this feels like a dream
He is captivated by someone he has never encountered before

Whoops! Back here again
Expressing frustration about experiencing the same situation

How many times ′ave I sworn it′s the end?
Questioning the number of times he has believed it was the end

Whoops! I know this feelin'
Recognizing a familiar feeling

Shovelin′ the rubbish, then I'm starin′ at the ceilin'
Engaging in mundane activities and feeling stuck

Whoops! Dancin′ to a shit tune
Dancing to a bad song

Hands in the air when it hits you
Feeling the music and raising hands in response

Whoops! I'm lyin' in my bed
Finding oneself lying in bed

And my brain is eating my head
Feeling overwhelmed and consumed by thoughts

I got these demons that I can′t shake
Struggling with deep personal struggles

My past is a vast place, you can′t get away
His past haunts him and he can't escape it

Life got grim back then, like it does
His life became dark and hopeless in the past, just like it feels now

Do you know how it feels to lose people you love?
Asking if someone understands the pain of losing loved ones

I like talkin' to ya like this, do you wanna come back?
Enjoying the conversation and asking if the person wants to continue

Couple drinks, somethin′ like that
Suggesting having a few drinks together

I got a gram on my nightstand
Having drugs readily available

I got an eighth of squidgy black
Possessing a specific type of drug

I got this feelin' that we′re gonna be friends
Believing that a friendship could develop

I got this song, I wanna play it to you
Having a song he wants to share

I got this dream, I'm gonna make it happen
Having aspirations and determination to achieve them

I got this thing, I wanna say it to you
Having something important to express

See, I′ve been writin' poems, it's a thing that I do
Revealing a personal hobby of writing poems

And, would you mind if I shared one with you?
Asking permission to share a poem

No, course not, right, sorry, this time a′ night
Apologizing for his actions at this late hour

I always end up spoutin′ the same old tripe
Acknowledging that he often says the same things

It reminds me of this time I was tryna find my mind
Reflecting on a time when he felt lost

In the back of this rave, this kid was spillin' blood all over the place
Recalling a disturbing incident at a party

And I was lookin′ out for someone to save or be saved by
Seeking someone to connect with or be rescued by

And I found this paper plate, started writin'
Finding solace in writing on a paper plate

It felt fuckin′ great
Expressing the joy and satisfaction he felt

I knew then, me an' the pen, we were one and the same
Realizing his deep connection to writing

But, look, I can′t take this train of the days
Feeling overwhelmed by the passage of time

I'm pretty sure I'm halfway to insane
Feeling as though he is losing his sanity

You got such a nice face, and your eyes are like rain
Complimenting the person he is talking to

I′d try and kiss you if I could just remember your name
Expressing attraction but struggling to recall their name

My jaw′s gone west
Realizing the effect of drugs on his body

And I've started gettin′ pains in my chest (Is that normal?)
Experiencing physical discomfort and seeking reassurance

There goes my promise
Breaking a promise or commitment

All it took was two drinks, and I got on it
Giving in to temptation after just two drinks

I swear this person isn't me
Feeling a disconnect with his own behavior

We did have fun, though, didn't we?
Recalling the enjoyment of the experience