The debut Massive Attack album Blue Lines was released in 1991, with the single "Unfinished Sympathy" reaching the charts and later being voted the 63rd greatest song of all time in a poll by NME. 1998's Mezzanine (containing the top 10 single "Teardrop") and 2003's 100th Window charted in the UK at number one. Both Blue Lines and Mezzanine feature in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
The group has won numerous music awards throughout their career, including a Brit Award—winning Best British Dance Act, two MTV Europe Music Awards and two Q Awards. They have released five studio albums that have sold over 13 million copies worldwide. Throughout their history, Massive Attack have been supporters and activists for political, human rights and environmental causes.
Paradise Circus
Massive Attack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We can roll ourselves over 'cause we're uncomfortable
Oh well, the Devil makes us sin
But we like it when we're spinning in his grip
Love is like a sin, my love
For the ones that feel it the most
Look at her with her eyes like a flame
It's unfortunate that when we feel a stone
We can roll ourselves over when we're uncomfortable
Oh well, the Devil makes us sin
But we like it when we're spinning in his grip (oh)
Love is like a sin, my love
For the one that feels it the most
Look at her with a smile like a flame
She will love you like a fly will never love you again
The lyrics to "Paradise Circus" by Massive Attack explore the pain and pleasure that come with love and temptation. The song opens with a reflection on how people often give in to the temptation of sin because they are uncomfortable with the pain of confronting it. This idea is brought to life with the metaphor of rolling over a stone; we avoid the discomfort of addressing our issues by simply brushing them aside. The next line introduces the Devil, further emphasizing the idea of temptation and suggesting that our human weakness makes us susceptible to sin. Despite acknowledging the dangers of giving in to temptation, the song seems to revel in the experience of being caught up in its grip, admitting that there's something alluring about the rush of sin.
The chorus repeats the motif of love as a sin, suggesting that it can be both beautiful and dangerous. The image of a woman with eyes and a smile like fire adds to the sense of mystery and danger surrounding love, suggesting that we are drawn to it even when we know that it may hurt us. Ultimately, "Paradise Circus" invites the listener to consider the complex and often contradictory emotions that come with love and temptation, and to question what draws us into their grasp.
Line by Line Meaning
It's unfortunate that when we feel a stone
It's unfortunate that when we encounter obstacles and challenges,
We can roll ourselves over 'cause we're uncomfortable
We tend to give up and run away from our problems because we're uncomfortable in dealing with them
Oh well, the Devil makes us sin
We tend to blame our negative actions and decisions on external forces like the Devil
But we like it when we're spinning in his grip
We find pleasure and entertainment in indulging in those negative behaviors despite knowing they're wrong
Love is like a sin, my love
Love is often compared to a negative or immoral act
For the ones that feel it the most
Those who are deeply in love tend to feel strong emotions and intensity
Look at her with her eyes like a flame
The woman being described has intense and passionate eyes
She will love you like a fly will never love you again (oh)
She will love you with a passionate and intense love that you may never experience again
It's unfortunate that when we feel a stone
It's still unfortunate that when we face obstacles and challenges,
We can roll ourselves over when we're uncomfortable
We have a tendency to give up and run away when things get uncomfortable
Oh well, the Devil makes us sin
We can still choose to blame our negative actions and decisions on external forces like the Devil
But we like it when we're spinning in his grip (oh)
We may still take pleasure and find entertainment in engaging in negative behaviors that we know are wrong
Love is like a sin, my love
Once again, love is being compared to a negative or immoral act
For the one that feels it the most
Those who are deeply in love will feel the intensity of those emotions more strongly than others
Look at her with a smile like a flame
The woman being described has a smile that is just as intense and passionate as her eyes
She will love you like a fly will never love you again
Once again, she will love you with the same incomparable passion and intensity that you may never experience again
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Daniel Jonathan Brown, Stewart Neville Jackson, Grantley Evan Marshall, Robert Del Naja, Hope Sandoval
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lustsoul666
[Verse]
It's unfortunate that when we feel a storm
We can roll ourselves over cause we're uncomfortable
Oh well, the devil makes us sin
But we like it when we're spinning in his grip
[Chorus]
Love is like a sin, my love
For the ones that feel it the most
Look at her with her eyes like a flame
She will love you like a fly will never love you again
[Verse]
It's unfortunate that when we feel a storm
We can roll ourselves over when we're uncomfortable
Oh well, the devil makes us sin
But we like it when we're spinning in his grip
[Chorus]
Love is like a sin, my love
For the one that feels it the most
Look at her with her smile like a flame
She will love you like a fly will never love you again
@collinbrehmer334
How can a song be simultaneously haunting, alluring, vulnerable, badass, sexy, and utterly depressing? Pulling off that combination is baffling to me.
@benclarke3626
@I-Love-Music never loved any other song as much as I do this one
@margaritacastro8189
@I-Love-Music you have
@KBHouse-mw3sd
It's because humans have so many conflicting emotions the majority of the time. If something is horrid, we search for a shred of light to get us through. Even when we have overwhelming joy, the human being in us knows it's fleeting and won't last, as much as we try to shut those thoughts down. This track captures everything at once.
@MacedonianRider
Ending really sums this song up. Fucking exhilarating
@josswhelan293
I couldnt finds words to some it up myself.. but somehow you have managed it! Well said 👌
@HeatherTheProductExperience
2023 and I still love this song
@paradiseali47
Snap !
@EVDMcomposer
It's still as potent as the day I first heard it
@jigyflopagigachad
massive attack best trip hop band of all time. songs will bang forever!