The song was written by Emily Haines and produced by John O'Mahony. The song was written at Bear Creek Studios outside of Seattle like most of the songs on Fantasies. It also was one of the songs to go through Metric's "campfire test" in which they strip down the song to just a piano and acoustic guitar with vocals.
Sick Muse
Metric Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stuck me with a sickness
Pull your little arrows out
And let me live my life
You better watch out, Cupid
Stuck me with a sickness
Pull your little arrows out
The one I'd better lead
All the blondes are fantasies
And we looked at them eleven ways
You said, "look at me," and looked away
And you wrote the song I wanna play
I'll write you harmony in C
Everybody, everybody just wanna fall in love
Everybody, everybody just wanna play the lead
Everybody, everybody just wanna fall in love
Everybody, everybody just wanna play the lead
Play the lead, play the lead
Watch out, Cupid
Money is a sick muse
Pull your little arrows out
And let me live my life
She said, "I'm with stupid"
Money is a sick muse
Pull your little arrows out
Let me live my life
The one I'd better lead
All the blondes are fantasies
And we looked at them eleven ways
You said, "look at me," and looked away
And you wrote the song I wanna play
I'll write you harmony in C
Everybody, everybody just wanna fall in love
Everybody, everybody just wanna play the lead
Everybody, everybody just wanna fall in love
Everybody, everybody just wanna play the lead
Play the lead, play the lead
I'll write you harmony in C
Everybody, everybody just wanna fall in love
Everybody, everybody just wanna play the lead
Everybody, everybody just wanna fall in love
Everybody, everybody just wanna play the lead
Play the lead, play the lead
The lyrics to Metric's song "Sick Muse" are about rejecting the traditional expectations of love and romance. The singer is resisting the influence of Cupid, who has "stuck [them] with a sickness" – the longing for love and companionship – and wants to "live [their] life" on their own terms. The singer acknowledges that societal norms have influenced their ideas of love and beauty: "All the blondes are fantasies / And we looked at them eleven ways." However, they reject these ideals and claim agency over their own desires. The lyrics suggest that money is also a "sick muse," distracting people from what really matters in life.
The chorus emphasizes the desire to be the main character in one's own story: "Everybody, everybody just wanna play the lead." The singer's desire to "write [their partner] harmony in C" suggests a desire for equality and partnership in a relationship rather than the traditional power dynamics of one person taking the lead.
Overall, the song's message is one of empowerment and a rejection of societal expectations. The singer urges listeners to be their own "sick muse" and to live their lives on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Watch out Cupid
The singer is warning Cupid, the god of love, to be careful with his arrows.
Stuck me with a sickness
The singer is suffering from a love sickness inflicted by Cupid's arrow.
Pull your little arrows out
The singer is asking Cupid to remove the arrow and end their suffering.
And let me live my life
The artist wants to live their life without being influenced by love.
You better watch out, Cupid
The artist is warning Cupid once again that they don't want to fall in love.
Money is a sick muse
The singer suggests that money is not a healthy source of inspiration.
She said, 'I'm with stupid'
The singer references the common phrase 'I'm with stupid', implying that someone they know is not smart when it comes to love.
All the blondes are fantasies
The artist is suggesting that their attraction to blondes is just a fantasy and not something they want in real life.
And we looked at them eleven ways
The artist and their companion have carefully considered their attractions to blondes from different angles.
You said, 'look at me,' and looked away
The artist's companion asked them to pay attention but then didn't reciprocate when they did.
And you wrote the song I wanna play
The singer is admiring a song written by their companion that they want to perform.
I'll write you harmony in C
The artist is offering to add a complementary layer to their companion's song.
Everybody, everybody just wanna fall in love
The singer believes that everyone has a desire to experience love and romance.
Everybody, everybody just wanna play the lead
The singer believes that everyone wants to be the main character in their own love story.
Play the lead, play the lead
The singer is reiterating that everyone wants to be the singer in their own love story.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Emily Haines, Gavin Brown, James Shaw
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@redcap2k
Watch out Cupid
Stuck me with a sickness
Pull your little arrows out
Let me live my life
You better watch out Cupid
Stuck me with a sickness
Pull your little arrows out
Let me live my life
The one I'd better lead
All the blondes are fantasies
And we looked at them eleven ways
You said, "Look at me". And looked away
And you wrote the song I wanna play
I'll write you harmony in C
Everybody just wanna fall in love
Everybody just wanna play the lead
Watch out Cupid
Stuck me with a sickness
Pull your little arrows out
And let me live my life
She said, "I'm with stupid"
Money is a sick muse
Pull your little arrows out
Let me live my life
The one I'd better lead
All the blondes are fantasies
And we looked at them eleven ways
You said, "Look at me". And looked away
And you wrote the song I wanna play
I'll write you in harmony C
Everybody just wanna fall in love
Everybody just wanna play the lead
@metricmusic
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@ememt96
Theres something so pure and natural about Emily Haines voice. She is an excellent singer. I LOVE METRIC. Every song is amazing.
@dorcasia109
They sound amazing live as well. I just saw them here in SLC on their Doomscroller tour. Her voice was amazing. There was an unplugged version of Combat Baby that was so great.
@MarioGarcia-qu6tw
I absolutely agree with you. Emily is an amazing woman.
@chb762
10 years later..
This song still kicks ass!
@larevanchajorgefernandez9225
Damn, 10? already? still is a good damn song, for me is like i have to listen one of this songs once in a while.
@tswan137
10 years later, same emotions. It's like walking nostalgia, cemented by music one peg at a time.
Listening to them, their albums always make me remember where I was last time I binged them.
@NicoScorpio
11 and counting. Still kickin ass like hell !!!!!!!
@SammyYammy505
2022 here!
@nohome170
2023 😁