Mating Ritual is the solo dance-rock outfit of Ryan Marshall Lawhon. Based … Read Full Bio ↴Mating Ritual is the solo dance-rock outfit of Ryan Marshall Lawhon. Based in Los Angeles, Lawhon was one-part of Pacific Air, a synth-rock duo with his brother Taylor. In 2014, the siblings put their group on hold so that Taylor could go back to school. Ryan forged ahead with his new project, a bouncy blend of hand-clap arena rock and synth melodies inspired by the '90s electronic and new age inspirations from his childhood, like Laurie Anderson, Ray Lynch, and Enya. Balancing those atmospheric sonics with the spirit of his emo and post-punk influences, Lawhon released his debut single in 2015. "Toxins" unveiled a hook-heavy sound reminiscent of the Naked & Famous, Miike Snow, and Passion Pit. He went on to release a string of other singles that year ("Game," "Moonlight" and "Hum Hum"). For his debut EP, he collaborated with his brother Taylor once again, as well as drummer Rob Humphries and singer Lizzy Land. The four-song self-titled Mating Ritual was released in early 2016. Building upon existing shimmery electronic layers, Lawhon bolstered the songs with some glam rock muscle on "I Can't Dance" and '80s new wave on "Don't Know Your Name." Early 2017 saw Lawhon issue a trio of singles -- "Thief," "Second Hand," and "Drunk" -- in anticipation of the release of his debut full-length How You Gonna Stop It?, which dropped later that June.

Cold
Mating Ritual Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Even though it's cold outside
The fog ain't pushin through my mind
I think I've seen enough of you
But have I had enough of you

I think it's gonna rain tonight
Cover up the stains with white
Heaven's always new

An unattractive truth
To choose

You know that I've been broken down before
Now it's just something else I can't explore
I feel like every time, it takes less and less
To move on with my mind, there's nothing left

Now I want more
(I want more those days I want the sun in my eyes)
Now I want more
(I want more those feelings crawling up spine)
Every day I want more of the night
I want more of you

I've been waiting for you to call my bluff
I can feel the difference, steam and smoke
Clouds in my mind, these bones are dry
You know I've been trying to get it right
Steel between my veins, can't describe
But this fire's nice, these shadows lie

You know that I've been broken down before
Now it's just something else I can't explore
I feel like every time, it takes less and less
To move on with my mind, there's nothing left

Now I want more
(I want more those days I want the sun in my eyes)
Now I want more
(I want more those feelings crawling up spine)

Every day I want more of the night
I want more of you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Cold" by Mating Ritual seem to be about someone who is conflicted about their feelings towards a person they have been with before. The first verse sets up the scene of a cold night, but the singer's mind is not foggy as the weather suggests. The singer feels like they've seen enough of this person but are wondering if it's really enough. The second verse mentions rain and covering up stains with white, which could suggest seeking forgiveness or starting anew, but it's an unattractive truth that has to be chosen.

The chorus then establishes that the singer wants more - more of the good times with this person, more of the desire and passion that used to be there. The bridge talks about waiting for the other person to call their bluff, wanting to get it right, but there's still steel in their veins and shadows they can't shake off. Despite this, the fire feels nice, so perhaps the singer is still holding on to some hope.

Overall, the song seems to explore the complexities of relationships, the struggle to let go, and the desire for more despite past hurt. The lyrics create an atmosphere of longing and uncertainty, which is matched by the dreamy yet melancholy melody of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Even though it's cold outside
Even though the external environment is unfavorable

The fog ain't pushin through my mind
I can still see clearly through the haze of uncertainty

I think I've seen enough of you
I believe I've had my fill of your presence

But have I had enough of you
Or am I still drawn to you despite my doubts

I think it's gonna rain tonight
I anticipate trouble ahead

Cover up the stains with white
Trying to hide or ignore problems with surface-level remedies

Heaven's always new
The idea of an idealized afterlife is a fresh, clean slate

An unattractive truth
The reality of our current existence is not as appealing

To choose
We have to make a decision about which reality we prefer

You know that I've been broken down before
I've experienced emotional pain and disappointment in the past

Now it's just something else I can't explore
I'm prevented from fully exploring my present situation for some reason

I feel like every time, it takes less and less
Each time I'm faced with a difficult situation, it becomes easier to cope

To move on with my mind, there's nothing left
I've become numb to the pain and am just going through the motions

Now I want more (I want more those days I want the sun in my eyes)
I yearn for more exciting experiences, such as basking in the warmth of the sun

Now I want more (I want more those feelings crawling up spine)
I crave the rush of adrenaline and intense emotions

Every day I want more of the night
I desire the intrigue and mystery of the darkness

I want more of you
I still desire and crave the presence of the person I thought I had enough of

I've been waiting for you to call my bluff
I challenge the other person to see through my facade and reveal my true intentions

I can feel the difference, steam and smoke
I sense that things are changing and there's tension in the air

Clouds in my mind, these bones are dry
I'm struggling to think clearly and feeling weak and depleted

You know I've been trying to get it right
I've been attempting to navigate this situation with good intentions

Steel between my veins, can't describe
I'm feeling a sense of strength and resilience that's hard to articulate

But this fire's nice, these shadows lie
Despite the challenges, there's still a sense of warmth and comfort

Contributed by Brody C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Lyrics:

Even though it's cold outside
The fog ain't pushin through my mind
I think I've seen enough of you
But have I had enough of you

I think it's gonna rain tonight
Cover up the stains with white
Heaven's always new
An unattractive truth
To choose

You know that I've been broken down before
Now it's just something else I can't explore
I feel like every time, it takes less and less
To move on with my mind, there's nothing left

Now I want more
(I want more those days I want the sun in my eyes)
Now I want more
(I want more those feelings crawling up spine)
Every day I want more of the night
I want more of you

I've been waiting for you to call my bluff
I can feel the difference, steam and smoke
Clouds in my mind, these bones are dry
You know I've been trying to get it right
Steel between my veins, can't describe
But this fire's nice, these shadows lie

You know that I've been broken down before
Now it's just something else I can't explore
I feel like every time, it takes less and less
To move on with my mind, there's nothing left

Now I want more
(I want more those days I want the sun in my eyes)
Now I want more
(I want more those feelings crawling up spine)
Every day I want more of the night
I want more of you.