In their early days, Swedish indie popsters the Loveninjas really did dress… Read Full Bio ↴In their early days, Swedish indie popsters the Loveninjas really did dress like ninjas on-stage and sing tongue in cheek ninja-related love songs. But poses like that can only last so long, and by the time of this, their debut album, singer/songwriter Thor Helmstein has let that particular joke die a graceful death. Not that The Secret of the Loveninjas is lacking in a sense of humor: two of the best songs on the album are the Stone Roses-like jangle-dance hybrid "Do Me" and the manic twee pop rush of "She Broke His Penis in Two." Indeed, the band that comes to mind most often when listening to The Secret of the Loveninjas is the perpetually sardonic Sparks; not only does Helmstein regularly slip comfortably into a falsetto similar to Russell Mael's, the unexpected melodic twists and arrangements blending new wave synthesizers with bright, crisply strummed electric guitars often recall various periods of the Mael brothers' eclectic career. But Sparks have never quite managed winsomeness, and that's the quality The Secret of the Loveninjas has in spades: even on the hushed, mournful closer "My Lust Is Dead" and in the stalker-ish, semi-desperate lyrics and pulsating disco beat of the first single "I Wanna Be Like Johnny C," Helmstein simply sounds so gosh-darn genial and sweet-natured that the overall mood never turns as dark as the band perhaps wanted. Closer to the mark are tunes like the playful "Little Black Friends," a twist on the monsters-under-the-bed tale, and the wistful shoegazer pop of "Earl Grey with Honey." Relentlessly melodic in the spun-sugar fashion of the best Swedish indie pop and filled with personality, The Secret of the Loveninjas is a pure twee pop delight.

Earl Grey With Honey
Loveninjas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Never thought, never knew
How could this be
That the smell of this car
Would remind me

You make me so excited
Make me feel a special need
Please don't say you're tired

Let me taste your tea with honey
It's good to be ignited
Give me what I want
Indulge me

Don't be sad don't be sad
That's it's me who start things up
In this bed
Because i know you
You want
I know you want it

You make me so excited
Make me feel a special need
Please don't say you're tired
Let me taste your tea with honey
It's good to be ignited
Give me what I want
Indulge me

Don't you understand
The beauty of this
To search you with my hands
Embody our love

You make me so excited
Make me feel a special need
Please don't say you're tired
Let me taste your tea with honey
It's good to be ignited

Give me what I want
Indulge me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Loveninjas's song "Earl Grey With Honey" seem to be a sensual invitation to intimacy through the metaphor of having tea with honey. The first stanza describes the unexpected trigger of a memory, possibly a scent that brings back a feeling of sensuality. The singer is so excited, that he asks his partner not to reject him by saying she's tired, emphasizing that this moment has been long-awaited. In a way, these lyrics express a yearning for the simple pleasures of life and for intimacy.

The second verse is an argument to persuade the partner that they want this moment as much as the singer, assuring that she won't be sad for allowing him to pursue what they both desire. Then, the singer proceeds to make an analogy between the act of indulging in tea with honey and the pleasure of intimacy. The chorus emphasizes the desire of the singer, exemplifying how the invitation of tasting tea with honey is more of a call to take pleasure in each other than in sharing a beverage. The last stanza is perhaps a reference to how the act of touching, feeling and knowing each other makes love beautiful.

Line by Line Meaning

Never thought, never knew
I never expected or knew that this particular smell would remind me of something.

How could this be
I am surprised that the smell of this car would remind me of something.

That the smell of this car
The particular scent of this car is what triggers the memory.

Would remind me
The smell of the car brought back a past memory.

You make me so excited
You bring great feelings of anticipation and joy to me.

Make me feel a special need
Being with you creates a strong desire in me for something special.

Please don't say you're tired
I hope that you are not feeling exhausted or lacking energy right now.

Let me taste your tea with honey
Allow me to share a cup of tea with you, sweetened with honey.

It's good to be ignited
It is wonderful to feel so excited and passionate.

Give me what I want
Please fulfill my desires.

Indulge me
Treat me to something I deeply crave or desire.