"This is the only breakup song I’ve ever written. For a long time I didn’t believe expressing this sort of negativity was productive, but it’s less productive to resist the truth of a situation. It’s a hopeful song." – Lucy Dacus, NPR
Night Shift
Lucy Dacus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had a coughing fit
I mistakenly called them by your name
I was let down, it wasn't the same
I'm doing fine
Trying to derail my one track mind
Regaining my self-worth in record time
Of your other in the bed that was mine
Am I a masochist
Resisting urges to punch you in the teeth?
Call you a bitch and leave?
Why did I come here? To sit and watch you stare at your feet?
What was the plan? Absolve your guilt and shake hands?
I feel no need to forgive but I might as well
But let me kiss your lips so I know how it felt
Pay for my coffee and leave before the sun goes down
Walk for hours in the dark feeling all hell
Don't hold your breath
Forget you ever saw me at my best
You don't deserve what you don't respect
Don't deserve what you say you love and then neglect
Now bite your tongue
It's too dangerous to fall so young
Take back what you said
Can't lose what you never had
I feel no need to forgive but I might as well
But let me kiss your lips so I know how it felt
Pay for my coffee and leave before the sun goes down
Walk for hours in the dark feeling all hell
You got a nine to five, so I'll take the night shift
And I'll never see you again if I can help it
In five years I hope the songs feel like covers
Dedicated to new lovers
You got a nine to five, so I'll take the night shift
And I'll never see you again if I can help it
In five years I hope the songs feel like covers
Dedicated to new lovers
You got a nine to five, so I'll take the night shift
And I'll never see you again if I can help it
In five years I hope the songs feel like covers
Dedicated to new lovers
Lucy Dacus's song Night Shift deals with the complex emotions of a person who has just ended a relationship that devastated them. The first verse highlights the bitterness that arises from seeing someone else share an intimate moment with a person that was once exclusively theirs. The singer seems to long for her ex while simultaneously trying to move on. In the second verse, the singer struggles to come to terms with the pain they feel, wondering if acting out their anger would help their situation. The lyrics then take a turn as the singer begins to project their feelings of disappointment and betrayal towards their former lover. The singer reflects that they feel no need to forgive their partner for what they did, but will do so anyway. They then go onto to say that they hope the songs they create in the future will be a tribute to her new loves and, in effect, severing all ties with the person for good.
Overall, the song captures the pain and frustration of ending a relationship that once meant everything to the singer. The lyrics touch upon various aspects of the breakup, from anger and heartbreak to eventual acceptance, moving on, and eventually personal growth.
Line by Line Meaning
The first time I tasted somebody else's spit
The first time I kissed someone after you
I had a coughing fit
I didn't like it and felt sick
I mistakenly called them by your name
I still think of you when I'm with someone else
I was let down, it wasn't the same
Being with someone else didn't compare to being with you
I'm doing fine
I'm pretending to be okay without you
Trying to derail my one track mind
Trying to stop thinking of you
Regaining my self-worth in record time
Trying to feel good about myself again
But I can't help but think
I can't stop thinking of you
Of your other in the bed that was mine
Of you being with someone else in my bed
Am I a masochist
I must be crazy for still wanting you after what you did
Resisting urges to punch you in the teeth?
Trying not to be violent towards you
Call you a bitch and leave?
Wanting to insult you and walk away
Why did I come here? To sit and watch you stare at your feet?
Wondering why I bothered to see you and watch you act guilty
What was the plan? Absolve your guilt and shake hands?
Questioning if you just wanted to clear your conscience and move on
I feel no need to forgive but I might as well
I don't want to forgive you but I might as well try
But let me kiss your lips so I know how it felt
Wanting one last kiss before saying goodbye forever
Pay for my coffee and leave before the sun goes down
Making a quick exit after seeing you
Walk for hours in the dark feeling all hell
Feeling lost and hurt after seeing you
Don't hold your breath
Don't expect anything from me
Forget you ever saw me at my best
Trying to move on from our good times together
You don't deserve what you don't respect
You don't deserve my love if you don't respect it
Don't deserve what you say you love and then neglect
You don't deserve my love if you neglect it
Now bite your tongue
Be quiet now
It's too dangerous to fall so young
It's too risky to love again
Take back what you said
Apologize for what you did
Can't lose what you never had
You never truly had my love
You got a nine to five, so I'll take the night shift
I'll work opposite hours from you so I don't have to see you
And I'll never see you again if I can help it
I never want to see you again
In five years I hope the songs feel like covers
In five years, I hope I can write songs that don't remind me of you
Dedicated to new lovers
Dedicated to someone new in my life
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Lucy Dacus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carolineschultz9
100 reasons to stay alive:
1. to make your parents proud
2. to conquer your fears
3. to see your family again
4. to see your favourite artist live
5. to listen to music again
6. to experience a new culture
7. to make new friends
8. to inspire
9. to have your own children
10. to adopt your own pet
11. to make yourself proud
12. to meet your idols
13. to laugh until you cry
14. to feel tears of happiness
15. to eat your favourite food
16. to see your siblings grow
17. to pass school
18. to get tattoo
19. to smile until your cheeks hurt
20. to meet your internet friends
21. to find someone who loves you like you deserve
22. to eat ice cream on a hot day
23. to drink hot chocolate on a cold day
24. to see untouched snow in the morning
25. to see a sunset that sets the sky on fire
26. to see stars light up the sky
27. to read a book that changes your life
28. to see the flowers in the spring
29. to see the leaves change from green to brown
30. to travel abroad
31. to learn a new language
32. to learn to draw
33. to tell others your story in the hopes of helping them
34. Puppy kisses.
35. Baby kisses (the open mouthed kind when they smack their lips on your cheek).
36. Swear words and the release you feel when you say them.
37. Trampolines.
38. Ice cream.
39. Stargazing.
40. Cloud watching.
41. Taking a shower and then sleeping in clean sheets.
42. Receiving thoughtful gifts.
43. “I saw this and thought of you."
44. The feeling you get when someone you love says, “I love you."
45. The relief you feel after crying.
46. Sunshine.
47. The feeling you get when someone is listening to you/giving you their full attention.
48. Your future wedding.
49. Your favorite candy bar.
50. New clothes.
51. Witty puns.
52. Really good bread.
53. Holding your child in your arms for the first time.
54. Completing a milestone (aka going to college, graduating college, getting married, getting your dream job.)
55. The kind of dreams where you wake up and can’t stop smiling.
56. The smell before and after it rains
57. The sound of rain against a rooftop.
58. The feeling you get when you’re dancing.
59. The person (or people) that mean the most to you. Stay alive for them.
60. Trying out new recipes.
61. The feeling you get when your favorite song comes on the radio.
62. The rush you get when you step onto a stage.
63. You have to share your voice and talents and knowledge with the world because they are so valuable.
64.Breakfast in bed.
65. Getting a middle seat in the movie theater.
66. Breakfast for dinner (because it’s so much better at night than in the morning).
67. Pray (if you are religious)
68. Forgiveness.
69. Water balloon fights.
70. New books by your favorite authors.
71. Fireflies.
72. Birthdays.
73. Realizing that someone loves you.
74. Spending the day with someone you
85. Being wrapped up in a warm bed.
86. Someone’s skin against yours.
87. Holding hands.
88. The kind of hugs when you can feel a weight being lifted off your shoulders. The kind of hug where your breath syncs with the other person’s, and you feel like the only two people in the world.
89. Singing off key with your best friends.
90. Road trips.
91. Spontaneous adventures.
92. The feeling of sand beneath your toes.
93. The feeling when the first ocean wave rolls up and envelops your toes and ankles and knees.
94. Thunderstorms.
95. Your first (or hundredth) trip to Disneyland.
96. The taste of your favorite food.
97. The child-like feeling you get on Christmas morning.
98. The day when everything finally goes your way.
99. Compliments and praise.
100. to look on this moment in 10 years time and realise you did it.
@dayalasingh5853
You threw your books into the river
Told your Mom that you're a non-believer
She says she wasn't surprised but that doesn't make it ok
You say nobody loves a city
Nobody loves what can't love 'em back
One-way ticket in your pocket
What happened to the charm of a small town?
If you find what you're looking for
Be sure to send a postcard
You promised you'd never forget
The little ones when you got big
You deal an unspoken debt
No kindness without wanting something back
What do I owe you? What did I forget?
Are we even after all of that?
You shook my hand and said goodbye
You'll never let me see you cry again
What good has come from learning to pretend?
You said I could've been a better friend
If you find what you're looking for
Be sure to send a new address
And if you find what you're looking for
Write a letter and tell us what it is, and tell us what it is
Everybody else, everybody else looks like they've figured it out
Everybody else, everybody else looks like they've figured it out
Everybody else, everybody else looks like they've figured it out
Everybody else, everybody else looks like they've figured it out
@Otra_Chica_de_Internet
if Lucy was able to get over whatever tf was that compelled her to write this, i can get over anything
@xo_nxma_xo
real af 😭🫶
@ma_rii1680
ni9nnnnh@@xo_nxma_xo9j😊😊😊😊
@valentinahuertas5178
YOU'VE GOT A NINE TO FIVE SO I'LL TAKE THE NIIIIIGHT SHIIIIFT
@mayaaa3932
AND ILL NEVER SEE YOU AGAINNNNN IF I CAN HELLLLLP ITT
@MuddyLiger
@@mayaaa3932 IN 5 YEARS I HOPE THE SONGS FEEL LIKE COOOOOOOOVEEEEERRRRSSS
@mayaaa3932
@@MuddyLiger DEDICATED TOOOO NEW LOVERSSSSSSSSSSSSS
@yeojinsm
this song makes me cry for no reason
@ahttacca
i so hope she’s not tired of this song, 5 years later and it still hits
@zq1734
Does it feel like a cover