Yes
Manic Street Preachers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You can buy her, you can buy her
This one's here, this one's here
This one's here, and this one's here
Everything's for sale

For sale?
Dumb cunt's same dumb questions
Virgins?
Listen, all virgins are liars honey
And I don't know what I'm scared of or what I even enjoy
Dulling, get money, but nothing turns out like you want it to

And in these plagued streets of pity you can buy anything
For £200 anyone can conceive a God on video
He's a boy, you want a girl so chop off his cock
Tie his hair in bunches, fuck him, call him Rita if you want
I eat and I dress and I wash and I still can say thank you
Puking, shaking, sinking I still stand for old ladies
Can't shout, can't scream, hurt myself to get pain out

I 'T' them, 24/7, all year long
Purgatory's circle, drowning here, someone will always say yes
Funny place for the social, for the insects to start caring
Just an ambulance at the bottom of a cliff

In these plagued streets of pity you can buy anything
For 200 pounds anyone can conceive a God on video
He's a boy, you want a girl so chop off his cock
Tie his hair in bunches, fuck him, call him Rita if you want, if you want
I eat and I dress and I wash and I can still say thank you
Puking, shaking, sinking I still stand for old ladies
Can't shout, can't scream, I hurt myself to get pain out

Power produces desire, the weak have none
There's no lust in this coma even for a fifty
Solitude, solitude, the 11th commandment
The only certain thing that is left about me
There's no part of my body that has not been used
Pity or pain, to show displeasure's shame
Everyone I've loved or hated always seems to leave

And in these plagued streets of pity you can buy anything
For 200 pounds anyone can conceive a God on video
He's a boy, you want a girl so chop off his cock
Tie his hair in bunches, fuck him, call him Rita if you want, if you want
Power produces desire, the weak have none
There's no lust in this coma even for a fifty
Solitude, solitude, the 11th commandment
Don't hurt, just obey, lie down, do as they say




May as well be heaven this hell, smells the same
These sunless afternoons I can't find myself

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Yes" by Manic Street Preachers offer a harsh critique of consumerism and exploitation. The chorus, "You can buy her, you can buy her," suggests that women are commodities that can be purchased, and the verses that follow dive deeper into the dark reality of what is for sale in society. The singer of the song is lost and uncertain about what they enjoy or fear, and they turn to making money as a way of dulling their feelings. However, this pursuit of material wealth does not satisfy them, and they express their disgust with the idea that for just £200, one can create a fake God on video. The lyrics go even further to describe a scenario where someone is willing to mutilate and exploit another person for their own pleasure, demonstrating the grotesque nature of the society being portrayed.


The sense of despair and disillusionment in the lyrics is palpable, as the singer describes how everyone they have loved or hated has left them. They are left feeling alone and disconnected from society, and while they try to maintain their dignity by thanking others and helping old ladies, they are also struggling with self-harm as a coping mechanism. The reference to "the insects" suggests that those with money and power do not care about the suffering of those who are weaker, and that society is in a state of decline where anything can be bought or sold. The final line of the song, "These sunless afternoons I can't find myself," encapsulates the overall theme of searching for identity and meaning in a world that has lost its way.


Line by Line Meaning

You can buy her, you can buy her
The lyrics speak of a world in which everything, including human beings, is available for purchase.


This one's here, this one's here
The repetition of this line emphasizes the idea that human beings are being commoditized and are readily available for purchase.


Everything's for sale
Every aspect of life, from identity to religion, can be sold and consumed for a price.


For sale? Dumb cunt's same dumb questions Virgins?
The artist is annoyed by society's obsession with selling and buying, particularly when it comes to virginity.


Listen, all virgins are liars honey And I don't know what I'm scared of or what I even enjoy
The lyricist challenges the construct of virginity, suggesting that everyone has secrets and societal expectations can be oppressive. The artist is unsure of their own desires and fears.


Dulling, get money, but nothing turns out like you want it to
The singer suggests that although people may seek to dull their pain with material possessions, ultimately these things will not bring happiness or fulfillment.


And in these plagued streets of pity you can buy anything
The song describes a society in which desperation and poverty have led to a marketplace where anything can be bought or sold.


For £200 anyone can conceive a God on video
The line portrays how even religious belief has become commercialized and can be bought and sold for a price.


He's a boy, you want a girl so chop off his cock Tie his hair in bunches, fuck him, call him Rita if you want
The song depicts a world where gender norms are being challenged and some individuals are willing to engage in extreme behavior to satisfy their desires.


I eat and I dress and I wash and I still can say thank you Puking, shaking, sinking I still stand for old ladies
The song suggests that even in times of hardship, there are aspects of life to appreciate and individuals to protect and respect.


Can't shout, can't scream, hurt myself to get pain out
The singer suggests that the only way they know how to deal with emotional pain is through self-harm and internalization.


Purgatory's circle, drowning here, someone will always say yes Funny place for the social, for the insects to start caring
The song speaks to the idea of individuals being trapped in an endless cycle of despair, reaching out for help, only to receive superficial responses from society.


Just an ambulance at the bottom of a cliff
The line implies that societal responses to despair are often too little, too late, or entirely inadequate to stop destructive cycles.


Power produces desire, the weak have none
The song discusses how powerless individuals may feel after being commoditized or exploited by those with greater power and resources.


There's no lust in this coma even for a fifty Solitude, solitude, the 11th commandment The only certain thing that is left about me
The singer expresses a profound sense of loneliness and detachment from the world around them.


There's no part of my body that has not been used
The song suggests a deep sense of violation and exploitation, where the artist feels that they have no control over their own body or identity.


Pity or pain, to show displeasure's shame Everyone I've loved or hated always seems to leave
The song speaks to the idea that individuals are often driven by fear or discomfort, rather than genuine connection or empathy. This, in turn, can lead to a sense of emptiness and loss.


Don't hurt, just obey, lie down, do as they say May as well be heaven this hell, smells the same
The lyrics express the idea that individuals may feel trapped in oppressive systems or social structures, where compliance is rewarded, but true autonomy and self-determination are impossible.


These sunless afternoons I can't find myself
The song emphasizes the identity crisis and sense of detachment that may arise when individuals are commoditized or exploited, left without true freedom or control over their own lives.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PERCELL HOLMES, KRISTIN HUDSON, JAMES EARL JONES, ANTHONY WILLIAMS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions