Diamandis' musical style ranges from keyboard-based ballads to more up-tempo new wave-style songs with full band backing. She has cited a wide range of influences such as Daniel Johnston, Blondie, Patti Smith, Nirvana, PJ Harvey, Elliott Smith, Dolly Parton, Britney Spears and Madonna.
Hypocrates
Marina & the Diamonds Lyrics
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Body in the world
Who can make me, who can break me
Down into a young girl
You say that love is not that easy
And that's the lesson that you teach me
So hypocritical, overly cynical
Who are you to tell me, tell me
Who to, to be, to be?
You're my last bone of contention
That could break at any mention
You're the last wall that will stand tall
'Til the end of the world
I know you only want to own me
And that's the kind of love you show me
You tell me one thing and do another
Keep all your secrets undercover
Who are you to tell me, tell me
Who to, to be, to be?
Yeah, you let, you let go
Yeah, you let, you let go
Yeah, you let, you let go of me
Yeah you played the martyr for so long
That you can't do anything wrong
Who are you to tell me, tell me
Who to, to be, to be?
Yeah, you let, you let go
Yeah, you let, you let go
Yeah, you let, you let go of me
Who are you to tell me, tell me
Who to, to be, to be?
The lyrics of Marina & the Diamonds's song Hypocrates delve into the complexities of love, power dynamics, and identity. The song is directed towards someone who thinks they know what is best for the singer, but in reality, they are hypocritical, cynical, and in a way, manipulative. The first verse describes how the other person has the power to make or break the singer and reduce them to a vulnerable state. The second verse confronts the person's teachings on love, which they claim is not easy, but their actions suggest otherwise. The chorus directly addresses the person's attempt to control the singer's identity and how they have become a bone of contention that could break at any moment.
The bridge of the song focuses on how the other person wants to own the singer and how their love is possessive and withholds secrets. The final verse is the singer's breaking point where they call out the other person's hypocrisy and their self-created martyr status, which allows them to believe they can do no wrong. The chorus repeats one final time, emphasizing the singer's detachment from the person's opinion and control.
Line by Line Meaning
You are the lonely one and only
You are the only person in the world who is isolated from everyone else
Body in the world
You have a physical form that exists among all other physical forms in the world
Who can make me, who can break me
You have the power to either build me up or tear me down
Down into a young girl
Reduce me to a state of vulnerability and innocence
You say that love is not that easy
You claim that love is complicated and difficult
And that's the lesson that you teach me
You're teaching me that love is a challenging task
So hypocritical, overly cynical
Your words and actions contradict each other, and you're excessively pessimistic
I'm sick and tired of all your preaching
I'm exhausted from hearing you lecture me about things you don't even follow yourself
Who are you to tell me, tell me
What authority do you have to dictate my identity and behavior?
You're my last bone of contention
You're the final issue we need to resolve before we can move on
That could break at any mention
Any reference to this topic could cause a major conflict
You're the last wall that will stand tall
You're the one obstacle that remains resilient
'Til the end of the world
Until the ultimate destruction of everything, you will remain steadfast
I know you only want to own me
You're only interested in possessing and controlling me
And that's the kind of love you show me
The love you're displaying is possessive and manipulative
You tell me one thing and do another
Your words and actions are contradictory
Keep all your secrets undercover
You're hiding something from me
Yeah, you let, you let go
You're relinquishing your grasp
Of me
Of your control over me
Yeah you played the martyr for so long
You have portrayed yourself as a victim for an excessive amount of time
That you can't do anything wrong
You believe you're incapable of making mistakes
Who are you to tell me, tell me
What gives you the authority to dictate my identity and behavior?
Who to, to be, to be?
Who I should be and how I should behave according to your standards?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Marina Diamandis, Rick Nowels
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind