Air Conditions
Q and Not U Lyrics
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Why do you tease me?
Comma where are you?
I'm pleased to meet you.
What can you teach me?
Black kites at night, they make me nervous.
So very nervous.
Comma where are you now?
Black kites take flight at night, they aim to please you.
Take aim and please you.
Red kits pink on the surface.
Now comma where are you?
Carved in trees, written in leaves,
Signed in piss, trust me, we've seen it.
We're searching the pockets out.
It's for recreation.
Just recreation.
It's under the parachutes.
It's new recreation.
Death in a pocket size tucked in a pocket
While they place flags out on every surface.
What's to touch?
What's to see?
What's to smell?
What's to feel?
What's to hear?
What's to taste?
What's to sense?
What's to make?
What's to leave?
What's to take?
What's to count if you don't learn our names?
The lyrics to Q and Not U's song "Air Conditions" are cryptic and somewhat difficult to interpret, but there are a few themes and concepts that can be gleaned from them. Initially, the singer seems to be addressing an elusive figure with whom they are interested in becoming acquainted. This individual is referred to as "Comma," and the singer wonders what they might learn from them. However, as the song progresses, the focus shifts to a somewhat nihilistic exploration of sensory experiences and their ultimate meaninglessness. The singer asks a series of questions about what can be perceived through sight, touch, smell, taste, and so on, and ultimately suggests that these experiences only matter if they have been associated with an individual's name.
Throughout the song, there are several references to nature, particularly birds. The singer mentions feeling nervous around black kites at night and observes that they aim to please. They also refer to red kites and may be comparing the two species. Additionally, the lyrics contain several references to bodily functions, including mention of carved messages, leaves, and urine. These kinds of earthy details provide a contrast to the more philosophical musings that make up the bulk of the song.
Overall, "Air Conditions" seems to be exploring the idea of human connection and the significance that we assign to sensory experiences. The lyrics suggest that there may be a degree of futility in our attempts to categorize and understand the things around us, and that ultimately our connections with others are what give meaning to these experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on, where are you?
Asks the listener or someone the singer is talking to about their whereabouts, implying that the singer is waiting for them or looking for them.
Why do you tease me?
Expresses frustration or annoyance at someone who is playing around, joking, or being elusive with information.
Comma where are you?
Reiterates the previous question, using the word 'comma' to add emphasis to the pause in communication or the delay in receiving a response.
I'm pleased to meet you.
Formal greeting expressing pleasure or satisfaction at making someone's acquaintance for the first time.
What can you teach me?
Asks the person being spoken to what knowledge or insight they can share with the artist, indicating a desire to learn and improve their understanding.
Black kites at night, they make me nervous. So very nervous.
Describes the unease or anxiety caused by the presence of black kites at night, reinforcing this feeling by repeating that the singer is 'so very nervous.'
Comma where are you now? It's just to tease you.
Asks again where the other person is while acknowledging that the previous question may have been a way of teasing or taunting them.
Black kites take flight at night, they aim to please you. Take aim and please you.
Uses wordplay to suggest that the kites may actually be trying to please the artist or someone else, and that they are taking aim at pleasing them with their flight.
Red kits pink on the surface. Now comma where are you?
Mentions the color of some object or thing before asking again where the other person is, linking the two ideas through the use of the word 'now.'
Carved in trees, written in leaves, Signed in piss, trust me, we've seen it.
Describes different ways in which people can leave their mark on nature or the environment, including carving into trees, writing on leaves, and leaving urine stains, and implies that the artists have seen these things firsthand.
We're searching the pockets out. It's for recreation. Just recreation.
Expresses a desire to search through someone's pockets, perhaps playfully or casually, and clarifies that this is purely for fun or entertainment.
It's under the parachutes. It's new recreation.
Suggests that the activity of searching pockets has moved to the area under some parachutes or that it has evolved into a new form of recreation.
Death in a pocket size tucked in a pocket, while they place flags out on every surface.
Contrasts the presence or possibility of death, which can be hidden in a small object like a pocket, with the celebratory act of placing flags everywhere, suggesting that life and death are intertwined in some way.
What's to touch? What's to see? What's to smell? What's to feel? What's to hear? What's to taste? What's to sense? What's to make? What's to leave? What's to take?
Asks a series of questions about the nature of sensory experience and creative expression, suggesting that these things are essential to human lives and that they are sources of wonder and exploration.
What's to count if you don't learn our names?
Raises a philosophical question about identity and recognition, implying that one's value or significance may not be fully appreciated if they remain anonymous or unrecognized.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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