Something Rotten
Placebo Lyrics

The lyrics of Placebo's song Something Rotten are full of despair and longing, as the singer bemoans the fact that he is separated from his loved one. The first lines of the song, "It seems we're here, I miss you something rotten," describe a sense of displacement, as if the singer is in a different place from where he should be, and his longing for the other person is so great that it's as if something is decaying inside him. The next two lines, "The stinks are here, it's guaranteed all's forgotten," suggest that there is something rotten in the air, something that has caused him to forget everything else except his desire for the other person.

The refrain repeats the same themes, with the singer saying "down here" as if he is in a lower state or a place that is difficult to reach. He reminds himself not to be afraid and to "keep all this forgotten," implying that there may be memories or emotions that are painful to think about. The repetition of "face down" suggests defeat or resignation, as if the singer has given up on something he once held dear. The final line, "There's something rotten down here," could be interpreted as a metaphor for the decay of the singer's own emotions, or the festering wound that is his separation from the other person.

Overall, Something Rotten is a powerful and evocative song that captures the pain of longing and the magnitude of desire. It speaks to the human need for connection and the pain that comes with its absence.