Oil and Water
Rationale Lyrics


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Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like

We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on, so we make up
And carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?

You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?

I can't deny I've got an ego
And you pushed the buttons no one else could ever find
It ain't like we're lacking in emotion
We've been the opposite of happy for some time

We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on so we make up
And carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?

You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?

Call it the lesser of two evils
Those silver linings getting harder now to find
Why are we fighting for the wheel?
Why can't you walk away?
Why can't you walk away?

Oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't you walk away?

Oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?

Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive




We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like

Overall Meaning

The song "Oil and Water" by Rationale is a beautiful and painful ode to a failed relationship. In the song, the singer and his partner are stuck in a toxic relationship where they cannot seem to get along despite their love for each other. The lyrics reveal that their relationship is like oil and water, two substances that cannot mix. They clash at every corner and never seem to be able to find common ground. The singer acknowledges that they can't keep playing the same old song of making up and carrying on. He asks how long will they continue this pattern before they face up to reality.


The lyrics talk about the ego of the singer and how his partner knows how to push his buttons. They both are emotional but have been the opposite of happy for a long time. They are fighting for control, or as the lyrics say, "fighting for the wheel," but neither can understand why they are doing it. The chorus of the song repeats the metaphor of oil and water, emphasizing how incompatible they are. In the end, the singer calls their relationship a necessary evil and confesses that breaking his partner's heart might be the only way they can survive. The song's last line acknowledges that they are just ordinary people who do not always get the happy ending they hoped for.


Line by Line Meaning

Call it a necessary evil
Acknowledging that the things we do might hurt, but they are inevitable


Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We have to face the harsh truth to move on and survive


We are just ordinary people
We are flawed and make mistakes like everyone else


Don't always get the happy ending we would like
Life is unpredictable and doesn't always give us what we want


We can't keep on playing this song
We can't continue living our lives the same old way


We can't move on, so we make up
We can't let go of our conflicts so we ignore them temporarily


And carry on like nothing's wrong
We pretend that everything is fine even when it's not


How long before we face up?
When will we confront our problems instead of avoiding them?


You and I are like oil and water
We don't mix well and are incompatible


Clash at every corner
We argue and fight frequently


Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we let go of this toxic relationship?


Plain and pure disaster
Our relationship is simply a complete mess that's hard to fix


I can't deny I've got an ego
I have a big ego that causes problems in our relationship


And you pushed the buttons no one else could ever find
You know exactly how to trigger me and make our fights worse


It ain't like we're lacking in emotion
We both feel strongly, but we express it in negative ways


We've been the opposite of happy for some time
Our relationship has been unhappy and unsatisfying for a while


Call it the lesser of two evils
Choosing between two bad options


Those silver linings getting harder now to find
It's becoming more difficult to find any positive aspects to our relationship


Why are we fighting for the wheel?
Why are we still trying to control something that's not working?


Why can't you walk away?
Why can't you be the one to leave this relationship?


Why can't you walk away?
Reiterating the question of why we can't just end this relationship




Contributed by Miles J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Magdalena Sz

Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like

We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on
So we make up
We carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?

You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)

I can't deny I've got an ego
You pushed the buttons no one else could ever find
It ain't like we're lacking in emotion
We've been the opposite of happy for some time

We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on
So we make up
We carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?

You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)

Call it the lesser of two evils
Those silver linings getting harder now to find
Why are we fighting for the wheel?
Why can't you walk away? Why can't you walk away?

Oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
Why can't you walk away?

Oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)

Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like



Alberta Gyesy

LYRICS:

Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like

We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on, so we make up
And carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?

You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?

I can't deny I've got an ego
And you pushed the buttons no one else could ever find
It ain't like we're lacking in emotion
We've been the opposite of happy for some time

We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on so we make up
And carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?

You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?

Call it the lesser of two evils
Those silver linings getting harder now to find
Why are we fighting for the wheel?
Why can't you walk away?
Why can't you walk away?

Oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't you walk away?

Oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?

Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like



All comments from YouTube:

Magdalena Sz

Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like

We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on
So we make up
We carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?

You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)

I can't deny I've got an ego
You pushed the buttons no one else could ever find
It ain't like we're lacking in emotion
We've been the opposite of happy for some time

We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on
So we make up
We carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?

You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)

Call it the lesser of two evils
Those silver linings getting harder now to find
Why are we fighting for the wheel?
Why can't you walk away? Why can't you walk away?

Oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
Why can't you walk away?

Oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)

Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like

Michellaneous Me

My mom used to say my sister and I were like oil and water.
We always clashed with each other.
It’s a shame it took my mother passing away for us to grow closer.
So this song really hits home.

Kaliyah Mitchell

I'm so sorry

Andreas Fox

Love it. Love your music. Voice and lyrics are out of this world. The music is a true work of art. Thank you.

usher caronell

this song is really good. really underated

Crussaunt

Don't you ever wish that uk good songs like these before Sean danced to them? 💀😂

Lara Sampaio

Pot

Starry Sheikh

Hey seanmaniac...wassup

MrTheKunzer

what the hell.. can this guy just.. like.. get more recognition, please?? right now??

Dasja

Came here after watching Sean Lews choreo to this. Very unique sound, love the lyrics

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