BUT IT'S BETTER IF YOU DO
Panic! At the Disco Lyrics


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Now I'm of consenting age to be forgetting you in a cabaret
Somewhere downtown where a burlesque queen may even ask my name
As she sheds her skin on stage
I'm seated and sweating to a dance song on the club's P.A.
The strip joint veteran sits two away
Smirking between dignified sips of his dignified peach and lime daiquiri

And isn't this exactly where you'd like me
I'm exactly where you'd like me, you know
Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety
Oh, and isn't this exactly where you'd like me
I'm exactly where you'd like me, you know
Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety

Oh, but I'm afraid that I
Well, I may have faked it and
I wouldn't be caught dead dead dead dead in this place

Well I'm afraid that I
Well that's right
That I may have faked it and
I wouldn't be caught dead in this place

And isn't this exactly where you'd like me
I'm exactly where you'd like me, you know
Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety
Oh, and isn't this exactly where you'd like me
I'm exactly where you'd like me, you know
Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety

Well I'm afraid that I
Well, I may have faked it and
I wouldn't be caught dead dead dead dead in this place

Well I'm afraid that I
Well that's right
That I may have faked it and
I wouldn't be caught dead in this place

And isn't this exactly where you'd like me
I'm exactly where you'd like me, you know
Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety
Oh, and isn't this exactly where you'd like me
I'm exactly where you'd like me, you know
Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety





Praying for love and paying in naivety
Praying for love and paying in naivety

Overall Meaning

"But It's Better If You Do" by Panic! at the Disco is a song about a protagonist who is trying to forget about someone they used to love. The song lyrics express the singer's desire to escape reality by visiting a burlesque club. It begins by saying that the singer is now of consenting age, and may forget his old love in a place such as a cabaret. The singer visits the club, where a burlesque queen may ask his name as she sheds her skin on stage. He is seated and sweating, listening to a dance song playing on the club's PA system. However, the song takes a darker turn when a strip joint veteran sits two seats away, smirking between sips of his dignified peach and lime daiquiri.


The singer appears to enjoy this fantasy of escape, but does not actually enjoy the club. They are afraid that they may have faked their feelings for this place and would not want to be caught dead there. The song repeats the line 'praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety,' which suggests that the singer is looking for love in all the wrong places and instead is merely foolishly spending their money on lap dances.


Overall, "But It's Better If You Do" is a song that expresses a sense of disillusionment with love and life. The singer is trying to escape by indulging in fleeting pleasures like lap dances and alcohol, but they know that it is not the right way to heal their pain. They are stuck in their naivety, wanting to find true love but only finding temporary distractions.


Line by Line Meaning

Now I'm of consenting age to be forgetting you in a cabaret
At this point in my life, I'm old enough to move on from you by enjoying the night scene in a cabaret.


Somewhere downtown where a burlesque queen may even ask my name
I'm in a vibrant downtown area where a popular burlesque performer might take an interest in me.


As she sheds her skin on stage
I'm watching the performer take off her clothes and reveal her true self on stage.


I'm seated and sweating to a dance song on the club's P.A.
I'm sitting down and sweating while enjoying a club song played over the sound system.


The strip joint veteran sits two away
A seasoned club-goer is sitting two seats down from me.


Smirking between dignified sips of his dignified peach and lime daiquiri
The experienced patron is taking refined sips of his fancy daiquiri while smirking at the spectacle around him.


Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety
I'm hoping to find love in a sensual lap dance, but I'm also aware that I'm naive and paying for the experience.


Oh, but I'm afraid that I
Despite my desires, I'm feeling apprehensive.


Well, I may have faked it and
I might be pretending to enjoy myself while feeling uncomfortable.


I wouldn't be caught dead dead dead dead in this place
I would never want to be here if it wasn't for my hopeful quest for love.


Praying for love and paying in naivety
Again, I'm holding onto hope that I'll find love while also realizing that I'm naive and paying for something that may never happen.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRENDON URIE, BRENT WILSON, GEORGE ROSS, RYAN ROSS, SPENCER SMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@amara4451

"Now I'm of consenting age" brendon you looked 12 yo YOU AIN'T FOOLING ANYBODY HERE

@abigailgomez2351

Amara i believe he was still underage while filming this 😂

@kaylacoffey13

Nah he was about 19-20 at least I think 😂😂😂

@Pikageek026

I spit out my tea laughing at this

@pinxerata

he was 19 so they weren’t allowed to film in a real stripclub ssksksk

@spencerwoods3404

Brendon: is 5 I’m of consenting age

17 More Replies...

@abigailsolis5489

19 year old Brendon's Brooklyn accent is so underrated

@sabhyata2655

HE WAS 19 HERE WHATTT

@rosettemariearies9476

Asher Dunseph it really is

@Jacy_-nn1hr

@JonasLovato91 bitch what 0_o

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