Hot n Cold
Katy Perry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Like a girl changes clothes
Yeah you, PMS
Like a bitch
I would know
And you over think
Always speak
Cryptically
I should know
That you're no good for me
'Cause you're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up
(You) You don't really want to stay, no
(You) But you don't really want to go
You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
We used to be
Just like twins
So in sync
The same energy
Now's a dead battery
Used to laugh 'bout nothing
Now you're plain boring
I should know
That you're not gonna change
'Cause you're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up
(You) You don't really want to stay, no
(You) But you don't really want to go
You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
Someone call the doctor
Got a case of a love bipolar
Stuck on a roller coaster
Can't get off this ride
You change your mind
Like a girl changes clothes
'Cause you're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up
You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up
(You) You don't really want to stay, no
(You) But you don't really want to go
You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
"Hot n Cold" is a song by American singer Katy Perry, from her second studio album, "One of the Boys" released in 2008. The lyrics of the song describe an unstable relationship, in which the partner keeps changing their mind and mood frequently, leading to constant tension between the two. The first line of the chorus says, "You're hot then you're cold, you're yes then you're no, you're in then you're out, you're up then you're down, you're wrong when it's right, it's black and it's white." This effectively conveys the confusing and inconsistent behavior of the partner in question.
The song also talks about the frustration and confusion of being in such a relationship, in lines like "Someone call the doctor, got a case of a love bipolar" and "Used to be just like twins, so in sync, the same energy, now's a dead battery, used to laugh 'bout nothing, now you're plain boring." The protagonist of the song acknowledges that the partner is no good for them, but they can't seem to let go of the relationship entirely. The refrain of the song repeats the phrase, "You don't really want to stay, no, but you don't really want to go," emphasizing the ambivalence of the situation.
Overall, "Hot n Cold" is a catchy pop song that effectively conveys the emotional turmoil of an unstable relationship. Through its lyrics, it describes the frustration and confusion of trying to make things work with a partner who keeps changing their behavior and attitude.
Line by Line Meaning
You change your mind
You're indecisive
Like a girl changes clothes
You change your mind frequently
Yeah you, PMS
You're moody and unpredictable
Like a bitch
You act aggressively and irrationally
I would know
I'm familiar with your behavior
And you over think
You tend to overanalyze
Always speak
You frequently communicate
Cryptically
In a way that is mysterious or difficult to understand
I should know
I have should have realized
That you're no good for me
That you're not a suitable partner for me
'Cause you're hot then you're cold
You have mood swings, changing from loving to cold frequently
You're yes then you're no
You often change your mind and opinions
You're in then you're out
You behave inconsistently
You're up then you're down
You keep changing your moods
You're wrong when it's right
You do the opposite of what's expected
It's black and it's white
Your behavior is clear but unpredictable
We fight, we break up
We argue frequently and split up often
We kiss, we make up
We make up after a fight
(You) You don't really want to stay, no
You don't really want to be with me
(You) But you don't really want to go
But you don't really want to leave me either
Someone call the doctor
I need help with this difficult relationship
Got a case of a love bipolar
Our relationship has mood swings like bipolar disorder
Stuck on a roller coaster
Can't get off this relationship ride
We used to be
We were once like
Just like twins
Very similar in behavior and attitude
So in sync
Were on the same page at all times
The same energy
Had similar emotions and personalities
Now's a dead battery
Now it's like our relationship has lost power
Used to laugh 'bout nothing
We used to be carefree in each other's company
Now you're plain boring
Now you don't seem interesting to me
That you're not gonna change
I know you won't change your behavior
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Katy Perry, Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The single reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Perry's second consecutive top three single, after her previous worldwide hit "I Kissed a Girl". The single has also become Perry's second top five single in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, and topped the charts in Finland, Germany, Canada, Norway, Spain and Denmark, and has topped the charts in 15 countries. "Hot n Cold" was nominated for the Grammy Award fo Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 52nd Grammy Awards but lost to Beyoncé's Halo.
As of September 2011, "Hot n Cold" has sold over five million digital downloads. Perry sang the song in Simlish for the soundtrack of Sims 2: Apartment Life. In 2010, Perry performed a version of the song with Elmo intended for the children's television show Sesame Street (to teach children about opposites) which was released on websites such as YouTube. However, the producers of Sesame Street decided not to air the segment on the show after receiving complaints that Perry's revealing wardrobe was not appropriate for children. Perry alluded to the controversy later that week on Saturday Night Live by wearing a low cut Elmo t-shirt with a short skirt.
Background
"Hot n Cold" was confirmed as the second single from One of the Boys by Perry in an interview with Radio 1 saying that the song would in fact be the follow-up single to her number one hit "I Kissed a Girl" in the United Kingdom and Australia. The song went for ads on the North American radios on September 9 and remained the song with one of the biggest bullets of the entire mediabase for weeks. There are currently four radio edits: in one, "bitch" is replaced with the word "chick", ("You PMS (pronounced like 'be a mess'), like a girl, I would know"); in the second, mostly used on radio program Open House Party, this version uses "girl" instead of "bitch" or "chick" (in a version once played on Ryan Seacrest's American Top 40 radio show, the lyrics are "You PMS, I would know"); in another edit, the lyrics first line of the song was repeated after the line was sung in full ("You change your mind, like a girl, I would know"), this edit can be heard in theme parks; finally, the radio edit that is used on UK music channels cuts out the word altogether. A remixed version of the track has also been released for play in the iPhone OS game Tap Tap Revenge. The song was nominated for the 52nd Grammy Awards in the category of Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, but lost for Beyoncé's "Halo" and was chosen as the theme song for Channel Ten's new show MasterChef Australia in 2009. Perry said in an interview with Open House Party that the song was about ex-boyfriend Travie McCoy in the early stages of their relationship.
Covers
Woe, Is Me version
Atlanta-based rock band, Woe, Is Me covered the track for the compilation album Punk Goes Pop 3, which was released on November 2, 2010. The song was leaked on October 6, 2010, and was officially released for digital download on October 21, 2010.
Other cover versions
-"Hot n Cold" was covered by the rockabilly coverband The Baseballs in 2009 from their debut album Strike!.
- The song was covered by British ska and indie band Kid British on their 2009 EP iTunes Live: London Festival '09.
-The Chipettes covered the song for the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and the movie's soundtrack. In this version the line "You PMS, like a bitch, I would know" is changed to "You always stress like a chick, I would know".
-Brazilian girlband Valkyrias covered the song on their Rádio VKS Tour.
-Selena Gomez & the Scene performed the song during her 2009 Selena Gomez & the Scene: Live in Concert tour.
-Taylor Swift with Katy Perry performed the song during at the Fearless Tour on April 15, 2010 (Staples Center).
- Aaron Lewis covers a stripped down acoustic version to tease the audience.
eylül
POV: You're binge watching nostalgic songs right now
Kaylee Ann
I feel attacked.
yousra nour
OMG 😳
Vincent Magnani
Duh lol
Ari. Santanna
Right!!
Quack
I do
Chill Vibes
After 14 years I still know the lyrics by heart. This is what makes music memorable ❤
itsphantomking
:) yes
parkfever
Same. As a kid I was OBSESSED with this song and I sang it all the time. I also loved the Elmo version too
Pao Asmr VLOG
It’s 2023 this song is not getting old I never get tired to play even for how many years or decade will passed such a great masterpiece ❤