No Talk
Lowell Lyrics
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Swimming in the smoke is a debt that I gotta pay
It's not a war if you never agree to play
Bring another round gotta wash these tears away
And I know I'd runaway
And I drink to hide the pain
And we know we got away
But I don't wanna talk, no I don't wanna talk no more
'Cause it's getting me down, yeah it's getting me down
'Cause it's getting me down
Yeah I just want to move my wrists, wrists
Do a body roll 'cause we don't give a shit
Wanna move my wrists, wrists
Do a body roll 'cause we don't give a shit
Roh hoo hoo hoo hoo, roh hoo hoo, 'cause we feel like this
Roh hoo hoo hoo hoo, roh hoo, 'cause we feel like this
We fall in love, in a second you're out the door
Scream and shout at the people we love the most
Nine to five for the suits on the hundredth floor
Live in the basement holding onto high hopes
And people get away
And rent's a bitch to pay
I lay in bed awake
And I know I've seen better days
But I don't wanna talk, no I don't wanna talk no more
'Cause it's getting me down, yeah it's getting me down
Yeah, it's getting me down
Yeah, I just want to move my wrists, wrists
Do a body roll 'cause we don't give a shit
Wanna move my wrists, wrists
Do a body roll 'cause we don't give a shit
Roh hoo hoo hoo hoo, roh hoo, 'cause we feel like this
Roh hoo hoo hoo hoo, roh hoo, 'cause we feel like this
Lowell's "No Talk" is a song that talks about the challenges of everyday life and the struggles of trying to cope with them. The opening lines depict the feeling of coming down from a high, be it a drug-induced high or an emotional high. The line, "swimming in the smoke," implies the use of drugs and the need to pay for the toll it takes on the body. The next line, "It's not a war if you never agree to play," suggests that sometimes we can choose to stay out of situations that are not good for us.
Throughout the song, the lyrics are very straightforward and relatable. The artist takes the listener through the ups and downs of what it feels like to be trapped in society. The line "And people get away, and rent's a bitch to pay" is a clear reference to the stress of trying to make ends meet in this fast-paced world that seems to care little for its people. Despite the troubles, the artist still sees hope for better days, singing "We are fit for better days."
However, the artist chooses to avoid the reality of the issues through the repetition of the line "But I don't wanna talk, no I don't wanna talk no more. 'Cause it's getting me down." The need to avoid the reality of the situation, by not talking about it, is emphasized through the emphasis placed on the repetitive sound of the line. The chorus empowers the artist, allowing them to escape the world's burdens by doing a body roll and not giving a shit.
Overall, "No Talk" is a moving piece that speaks to the current generation's struggles of trying to fit into a world that leaves you feeling lost and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Still coming down, coming down from yesterday
I'm still feeling the effects of yesterday's actions and mistakes.
Swimming in the smoke is a debt that I gotta pay
Being caught up in drama and negativity is costing me emotionally.
It's not a war if you never agree to play
I don't want to engage in conflict or drama anymore.
Bring another round gotta wash these tears away
I'm trying to cope with my emotions by drinking and distracting myself.
And I know I'd runaway
I want to escape reality and my problems.
And I drink to hide the pain
I'm using alcohol as a coping mechanism for my emotional pain.
And we know we got away
I know I've made mistakes and escaped consequences, but that can't continue forever.
We are fit for better days
There's hope for the future and things can get better.
But I don't wanna talk, no I don't wanna talk no more
I'm tired of discussing my problems and emotions with others.
'Cause it's getting me down, yeah it's getting me down
Talking about my problems is making me feel worse.
Yeah I just want to move my wrists, wrists
I want to distract myself and have fun by dancing.
Do a body roll 'cause we don't give a shit
Let loose and have fun, without worrying about other people's opinions or judgement.
We fall in love, in a second you're out the door
Relationships can be intense and fleeting.
Scream and shout at the people we love the most
Even those closest to us can trigger strong emotions and reactions.
Nine to five for the suits on the hundredth floor
The monotony and grind of everyday life can be exhausting.
Live in the basement holding onto high hopes
Despite difficult circumstances, I'm holding onto hope for the future.
And people get away
People can escape their problems and responsibilities.
And rent's a bitch to pay
Financial struggles can add to the stress of daily life.
I lay in bed awake
I struggle to sleep because of my worries and anxieties.
And I know I've seen better days
I've experienced happier times and hope to feel that way again.
Roh hoo hoo hoo hoo, roh hoo hoo, 'cause we feel like this
The upbeat refrain expresses the desire to enjoy the moment without worrying about the future or consequences.
Roh hoo hoo hoo hoo, roh hoo, 'cause we feel like this
Repetition of the refrain reinforces the theme of living in the moment and having fun without constraints.
Writer(s): Zale Epstein, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Dave William Wayne Badiuk
Contributed by Isaiah A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.