Lover
Knifeplay Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Honey and I are in love
He taught me to play through the pain
We met when we were growing up
And making mistakes

He smiles so nice
He gets drunk at night
Honey comes home his fist is closed
He does whatever he likes

The more you chase me the more I'm gonna run
And when you hit me I'll just do what you've done
You feel power playing this game
But you're just people
We're always the same

No one can save him
He's so sweet when he lies
He says
"Deaths the cure for emptiness, and nothing is the light"

The more you chase me the more I'm gonna run
And when you hit me I'll just do what you've done
You feel power playing this game




But you're just people
We're always the same

Overall Meaning

In Knifeplay's "Lover" track, the singer contemplates a relationship fraught with abuse, oppression, and power struggles. The first line, "Honey and I are in love," suggests a romantic connection between two people who share an unusual connection. This connection proves problematic, however, with the revelation that Honey is physically abusive towards the singer. The reference to "playing through the pain" implies that the singer has endured a lot of physical hurt in the course of the relationship.


The chorus emphasizes the singer's desire to extricate themselves from the relationship but is simultaneously trapped in it despite being acutely aware of the problem. The secondary line, "And when you hit me, I'll just do what you've done," highlights the feeling that the singer's ability to retaliate or change the situation is limited. The abuser, Honey, finds power in the game of power dynamics that they play, flaunting their physical might with drunkenness, and doing as they please. The singer notes that chasing them will only make them run, and Honey will never achieve absolute control in their relationship. The final lyric, "You feel power playing this game, but you're just people, we're always the same," reinforces the idea that nobody is above anyone else, and the power dynamics in a relationship are at best misguided and at worst deeply toxic.


Line by Line Meaning

Honey and I are in love
The singer is in a romantic relationship with someone they call 'Honey.'


He taught me to play through the pain
'Honey' has instructed the singer to continue engaging in a sexual or romantic context despite experiencing physical discomfort or pain during the activity.


We met when we were growing up
The relationship between the singer and Honey began when they were younger and still developing as individuals.


And making mistakes
Emphasis is placed on both the artist and Honey having made missteps or errors in judgement in their lives.


He smiles so nice
The artist admires Honey's friendly and pleasant demeanor.


He gets drunk at night
Honey regularly consumes alcohol in the evenings.


Honey comes home his fist is closed
After returning home from being out, Honey has a hand that is clenched into a fist. This could suggest that their relationship has become physically violent.


He does whatever he likes
Honey is in control of the relationship and takes actions without considering the feelings or desires of the artist.


The more you chase me the more I'm gonna run
The artist is stating that the more that Honey pursues them or their relationship, the more the artist will distance themselves from Honey. The verb 'run' implies that the artist may be afraid of Honey or their relationship dynamic.


And when you hit me I'll just do what you've done
The artist suggests that they will mirror Honey's abusive or violent behavior in response to being physically hurt.


You feel power playing this game
The singer believes that Honey derives gratification from physically hurting or dominating them.


But you're just people
The artist is reminding Honey that, despite their manipulation and violence, they are not superior or invincible beings.


We're always the same
The singer implies that, despite their differences and unique experiences, they and Honey are essentially the same in their human nature and vulnerability.


No one can save him
The singer recognizes that they are unable to help Honey in a meaningful way and that it is ultimately up to Honey to make changes in their behavior or mentality.


He's so sweet when he lies
The singer acknowledges that Honey may use manipulative tactics, such as lying, to soften or obscure their abusive behavior.


"Deaths the cure for emptiness, and nothing is the light"
Honey expresses nihilistic beliefs or attitudes, suggesting that only death can provide release from emptiness or a lack of meaning in life. The phrase 'nothing is the light' indicates that there is no positive or hopeful aspect of life to cling to for Honey.




Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Tj Strohmer

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@spaghetti4825

my favorite part is at 2:29

@kyleology3139

goddamn who is the spoken word shit by i've scoured the fucking internet and nothing will tell me is it that serial killer lady or not god fuckng damn it all

@staceytejada7460

they are Aileen Wourno's last words

@kyleology3139

@@staceytejada7460 THANK YOU

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