Lay It Down
Peter Bjorn and John (SXSW Session) Lyrics
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You are starting to piss me off
Take your hands off that girl
You have already had enough
Hey, shut the fuck up boy
You are starting to piss me off
Take your hands off that girl
You sure can get it up
At least that's what you say
You don't know how to stop
You just can't walk away
And when we saw her face
You said she's something else
I know you just can't wait
It's more than I can take
You just can't play it down [Repeat: x2]
You just gotta lay it down
Hey, shut the fuck up boy
You are starting to piss me off
Take your hands off that girl
You have already had enough
Hey, shut the fuck up boy
You are starting to piss me off
Take your hands off that girl
You have already had enough
It's getting hard to see
Through all our history
I guess it's in your blood
On that we can agree
And when we saw her face
I said she's something else
She was your only hope
And still you let her down
You just can't play it down [Repeat: x2]
You're just gonna let her down
Hey, shut the fuck up boy
You are starting to piss me off
Take your hands off that girl
You have already had enough
Hey, shut the fuck up boy
You are starting to piss me off
Take your hands off that girl
You have already had enough
Hey, shut the fuck up boy
You are starting to piss me off
Take your hands off that girl
You have already had enough
The lyrics of Peter Bjorn & John's song Lay It Down describe a situation where the singer is trying to intervene on behalf of a girl who is being mistreated by a boy. The repeated line "Hey, shut the fuck up boy / You are starting to piss me off / Take your hands off that girl / You have already had enough" shows the singer's frustration with the boy's behavior and their attempt to protect the girl. The boy is depicted as being predatory and lacking in self-control, with lines like "You sure can get it up / At least that's what you say / You don't know how to stop / You just can't walk away."
The chorus, "You just can't play it down / You just gotta lay it down" seems to be directed at the boy, suggesting that he needs to take responsibility for his actions and the harm he's causing to the girl. The singer is exasperated with his behavior, but also seems to show some understanding of why he's acting this way, singing "It's getting hard to see / Through all our history / I guess it's in your blood / On that we can agree." This could suggest that the boy has a history of mistreating women, perhaps due to societal or cultural conditioning, and that this behavior is difficult to change.
Overall, the lyrics of Lay It Down are a critique of toxic masculinity and the harm it can cause to women. The singer is trying to stand up against this behavior and protect the girl, but also seems to recognize the complexities of the situation and the difficulty of changing ingrained attitudes and behaviors.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, shut the fuck up boy
The singer is annoyed by the behavior of the addressed person, who is being instructed to cease speaking.
You are starting to piss me off
The singer's level of irritation is increasing and the behavior of the addressed person is the cause.
Take your hands off that girl
The addressed person is touching a girl in a manner that is considered inappropriate or unwelcome.
You have already had enough
The addressed person has reached a limit of acceptable behavior and must stop.
You sure can get it up
The addressed person has demonstrated prowess or ability in a certain area, likely sexual in nature.
At least that's what you say
The singer has doubts about the validity of the addressed person's claims or boasts.
You don't know how to stop
The addressed person lacks self-control and tends to indulge excessively in certain behaviors.
You just can't walk away
The addressed person is unable or unwilling to extricate themselves from a particular situation or behavior.
And when we saw her face
The artist and the addressed person encountered a particular girl, likely a romantic interest.
You said she's something else
The addressed person expressed admiration or attraction towards the girl they encountered.
I know you just can't wait
The addressed person is eager or impatient to act on their attraction or interest towards the girl they encountered.
It's more than I can take
The artist is feeling overwhelmed, likely by the addressed person's behavior or actions towards the girl they encountered.
You just can't play it down [Repeat: x2]
The addressed person is unable or unwilling to downplay or subdue their attraction or interest towards the girl they encountered.
You just gotta lay it down
The addressed person must take action towards pursuing or expressing their interest or attraction towards the girl they encountered.
It's getting hard to see
The singer is finding it increasingly difficult to understand or reconcile their relationship or history with the addressed person.
Through all our history
The artist and the addressed person have a shared history or relationship, likely romantic in nature.
I guess it's in your blood
The addressed person has a tendency or predisposition towards certain behaviors or actions, likely regarding romantic or sexual pursuits.
On that we can agree
The singer and the addressed person share a common understanding or acknowledgement of the addressed person's tendencies or predispositions.
She was your only hope
The girl they encountered was the addressed person's best or only chance at a certain outcome or goal.
And still you let her down
The addressed person failed to meet the expectations or hopes placed upon them by the girl they encountered.
You're just gonna let her down
The addressed person is likely to disappoint or fail the girl they encountered, based on their past behavior.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BJ�RN YTTLING, BJOERN YTTLING, JOHN ERIKSSON, PETER MOREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AcePhoenix
"Hey, shut the fuck up boy
You are starting to piss me off
Take your hands off that girl
You have already had enough"
best. chorus. ever.
@mendfilipe
this is my favorite song of the new album! it's so joyful!
@MilesFiles2008
P,B,&J were great LIVE in Vegas! I was impressed...Good job guys!
@Mousteache
Peter Björn and John are awesome. I love them, and this song is great. I might buy Living Thing.
@stephenb7829
Watching this in 2020 in quartine (in England) due to the coronavirus, enjoying the groove
@AdamJaffer
that is the greatest thing i have ever seen, wicked song man
@SaraNeff
the golden remix of this is really good.
@tinnyandlionfro
I LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH
@DexNChex
Best dance off ever!
@AngelAngeldisco
Damn, I love their moves Great song!