The band's debut album, Centerfold, was released in early 2016 in North America on Washington Square and worldwide on Kitsuné.
Producer Jimmy Giannopoulos (Lolawolf, Reputante) and vocalist Penn Badgley, neighborhood friends for years in New York, waited patiently for a sound to manifest beyond their bond based upon an odd pop aesthetic. Bassist Darren Will (Rathborne) was always orbiting, always an obvious partner when the time came. The three finally decided to hole up in a little Bungalow in East LA to record for eight days without anything written, without expectation. Seeking a microphone, they found in the neighborhood one-time-Brooklynite and New Zealand ex-pat Simon Oscroft, who proved to be the guitarist they weren't looking for. The spontaneous quartet recorded five songs in five days before taking a breath to see they had, in fact, started a band.
Touch
MOTHXR Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm under you
Such a little girl
A woman too
She comes cause she needs it
A dress in black stand in the back girl
Matter of fact she's a good bad girl
We're changing forms
I'm losing you
You're black and blue
Don't look back, she's just a sad girl
Matter fact man, it's a mad world
...
You're trembling, I like it, too
And we're never gonna get us enough of it
What did we uncover
Dress in black remember that one
Can't take it back like I never had fun
If only I could touch her
We're changing forms
I'm losing you
You're black and blue
Only when I touch her
Let me sink
Let me sink my teeth in
Let her sink
The song "Touch" by MOTHXR is all about the dynamic between two people who are heavily dependent on each other, even though they know that the relationship is doomed to fail. The first verse of the song paints a picture of this complex dynamic. The singer is "under" the other person, which suggests that the other person has some sort of power over them. They describe the other person as being both a "little girl" and a "woman," which shows that they have conflicting feelings about their partner. The person they are with is someone who "comes cause she needs it." It's not clear what "it" is, but it might refer to emotional support or physical intimacy.
The second verse reinforces the idea that the singer and their partner are in a volatile relationship. The female character is described as a "good bad girl," which means that she's complex and multi-faceted. She's someone who is there for the singer "when [they] need it," but they're still "losing" her. The line "you're black and blue" suggests that either the singer or their partner is experiencing some sort of physical or emotional abuse.
The chorus of the song repeats the idea that the singer and their partner are unable to resist their dysfunctional attraction to each other. They're "trembling" and never going to get enough of each other. The bridge of the song harks back to the image of the "dress in black" introduced earlier in the lyrics. The singer wishes they could reconnect with someone they had a previous relationship with, but it's impossible. The song ends with the singer letting themselves sink into this unhealthy relationship, giving into their dependence on the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
You're close to me
The singer is physically near the person they are addressing.
I'm under you
The singer feels subordinate to the person they are addressing.
Such a little girl
The person being addressed appears young or naive.
A woman too
Despite appearing young or naive, the person being addressed is also a grown woman.
She comes cause she needs it
The person being addressed seeks the attention or affection given to her by the artist.
A dress in black stand in the back girl
The singer describes a woman who is wearing a black dress and standing in the background.
Matter of fact she's a good bad girl
The woman being described has a mischievous or rebellious streak, but is still desirable to the singer.
She's there when I need it
The woman being described is available to the artist when they desire her attention.
We're changing forms
The artist and the person being addressed are undergoing a transformation or evolution in their relationship.
I'm losing you
The artist is no longer in control or dominant in the relationship.
You're black and blue
The person being addressed may be physically or emotionally hurt or damaged.
Don't look back, she's just a sad girl
The woman being described is sad, but the artist does not want to dwell on it or allow it to affect their relationship.
Matter fact man, it's a mad world
The world is chaotic and unpredictable, as demonstrated by the woman's sadness.
You're trembling, I like it too
The singer enjoys the vulnerability or fear displayed by the person being addressed.
And we're never gonna get us enough of it
Both the singer and the person being addressed are addicted to this dynamic in their relationship.
What did we uncover
The artist is reflecting on what they have learned or discovered about themselves and their relationship.
Dress in black remember that one
The artist is remembering the woman in the black dress from earlier in the song.
Can't take it back like I never had fun
The singer regrets something that happened with the woman in the black dress, but cannot change it.
If only I could touch her
The singer desires physical contact with the woman in the black dress.
Only when I touch her
The intimate or physical connection between the artist and the woman is the only time the artist feels connected to her.
Let me sink
The artist desires to immerse themselves in the experience.
Let me sink my teeth in
The artist desires to fully indulge in the experience.
Let her sink
The singer wants the woman to also fully engage in the experience.
Contributed by Emily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mitawidyastuti6181
Who knew that all of Rufus's children would follow his step and becoming a rockstar!!
@lorenafreitas5470
true
@restless_spirit94
Mita Widyastuti hahahah
@johar.2923
I’m dead. This comment is gold
@soccergirly517
Blair Waldorf too
@rufusdavies8784
Mita Widyastuti excuse me
@coreynorton4999
Penn with eyeliner and a modern day greaser does things to me.
@kelceytaylor9797
corey norton god such good things 😭😍
@meganveronica5155
Many things
@cmlott508
Me to🥵