Villain
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.
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Villain
Mating Ritual Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't fight the feeling
The tighter your hand grips
The further the smoke slips away
You better have a good reason
If you think you can own me
Cuz I know myself
And I know my body and I know what I deserve
I could fill my cup
With your blood money
But then who would be the villain
Take my hand
Show me how to do it
I'm spinning out don't wanna be the villain
It feels like I'm about to lose it
So take my hand and show me how to do it
Don't fight the feeling
The water gets deeper the further you swim away
You better stop all that thinkin
The moment you notice its way too late
Cuz I know myself
And I know my body and I know what I deserve
I could drink my fill
With your blood, honey
But then who would be the villain
Take my hand
Show me how to do it
I'm spinning out I don't wanna be the villain
It feels like I'm about to lose it
So take my hand and show me how to do it

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mating Ritual's song "Villain" seem to be a reflection on the power dynamics in a relationship where one partner tries to exert control over the other. The first verse talks about not trying to fight the feeling and just letting go, instead of holding on tightly and losing what it is that one is seeking. The second verse highlights the importance of knowing oneself and what one deserves, instead of being manipulated and controlled by someone else's wishes. The line "I could fill my cup with your blood money, but then who would be the villain" hints at a sense of self-awareness and a reluctance to be seen as the bad person in the situation.


The chorus emphasizes the need for guidance and support, as the singer feels they are "spinning out" and about to lose control. "Take my hand and show me how to do it" can be interpreted as a plea for help, support, or even for someone to take over and guide the situation.


Overall, the song seems to be about the push and pull of power and control in a relationship and the importance of self-awareness and agency in navigating those dynamics.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't fight the feeling
Embrace your emotions and desires


The tighter your hand grips
The more you try to control something, the more it slips away


The further the smoke slips away
The harder you try to grasp something intangible, the further it gets from your reach


You better have a good reason
You need a valid justification for attempting to control or own someone


If you think you can own me
One cannot be owned or dominated by another person


Cuz I know myself
I have a clear understanding of who I am as a person


And I know my body and I know what I deserve
I am aware of what I am entitled to as a person


I could fill my cup
I could benefit from someone else's ill-gotten gains


With your blood money
With money obtained through unethical or violent means


But then who would be the villain
If I benefited from someone's wrongdoing, I could be seen as the villain


Take my hand
Assist me with my struggles


Show me how to do it
Provide guidance and support


I'm spinning out don't wanna be the villain
I am overwhelmed and do not want to be seen as the antagonist


It feels like I'm about to lose it
I am experiencing intense emotional turmoil


The water gets deeper the further you swim away
The more you distance yourself from a situation, the more complicated it becomes


You better stop all that thinkin
Overthinking can lead to missed opportunities or detrimental decisions


The moment you notice its way too late
Once you realize you are in over your head, it can be difficult to correct the situation


I could drink my fill
I could indulge in something to excess


With your blood, honey
With something that is alluring or tempting, but ultimately harmful


So take my hand and show me how to do it
Assist me with my struggles and provide guidance and support




Writer(s): RYAN MARSHALL LAWHON, TAYLOR LAWHON, ELIZABETH LAND

Contributed by Ava P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Jattinn Kochhar


on Cold

What does this song really mean? I luv the haunting melody but can't decipher the meaning..

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