Wise was raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up amongst a religious family; his father owned a Christian bookstore and his mother was a choir director. Wise joined the church choir as a child and grew up with classical and gospel music as a primary influence.
He attended the University of the Arts and sang with a couple of neo-soul bands in Philadelphia, before re-locating to New York City where he started working with Robin Carolan of Tri Angle Records. The blisters EP was released in September 2016 with previously available songs 'flickering', 'blisters' and 'four ethers' , alongside 'penance' and 'redemption'. The EP was co-written and produced with The Haxan Cloak.
Wise is openly gay and from a young age used gospel music to express his sexuality.
http://tri-anglerecords.com/serpentwithfeet
messy
SERPENTWITHFEET Lyrics
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Waiting for you to bring your ugliest parts to me
I've been naming our thorns for hours
Hoping you'll treat them as kindly as you treated me
Oh, I've been thinking like a beast for hours
Wondering if you like the challenge of cruel men, me
After I glamour you for hours
Will you have the strength
Each time you deny my mess (each time)
You'll find yourself closer to me, closer to me
Each time you deny my mess (each time)
You'll find yourself closer to me, closer to me
Close to me
Boy (boy) I'm hungry but all my knives are dull
Will you sharpen your teeth to hunt and keep me full?
Oh, hunt to keep me full
When you're burnt down
And you're praying for rain
Can I wish for flood?
Is that OK?
Each time you deny my mess (each time)
You'll find yourself closer to me, closer to me
(Every time you lie
You'll find yourself deeper inside of me)
Each time you deny my mess (each time)
You'll find yourself closer to me, closer to me
(Why would you stay this long
If you didn't want me?)
Each time you deny my mess (each time)
You'll find yourself closer to me, closer to me
(Don't act like I don't bring selfish joy to you)
Each time you deny my mess (each time)
You'll find yourself closer to me, closer to me
(You'll find yourself, close to me, closer to me)
Each time you deny my mess (each time)
You'll find yourself closer to me, closer to me
(Oh, to me)
Each time you deny my mess (each time)
You'll find yourself closer to me, closer to me
(Oh)
Close to me
In "Messy," SERPENTWITHFEET is singing about a deep, destructive kind of love that is highly charged with passion and emotion. The song is about being in a relationship where you want someone to see all of your flaws and imperfections - the ugliest parts of yourself - and accept them as part of you. He waits for his partner to bring forth their own imperfections, hoping that they will be treated with kindness and understanding, just as he has treated them. The song is about the power dynamic in a relationship where one partner is constantly testing the other to see if they have the strength to handle their mess, and the other is always trying to prove themselves worthy.
The lyrics are filled with metaphors that are meant to show the intensity and passion of their love, but also the danger. SERPENTWITHFEET likens himself to a beast, stating that he wonders if his partner likes the challenge of cruel men. He also asks his partner to sharpen their teeth to "hunt and keep me full," which is both a reference to his hunger and desire for their love, as well as a warning that their love is dangerous and all-consuming. He even suggests that if his partner denies his mess, they will find themselves deeper inside of him, implying that their avoidance will make him even more obsessive and possessive.
Overall, "Messy" is a song about the kind of love that is intense and all-consuming, but also destructive and dangerous. It depicts a relationship where both partners are testing each other's limits, constantly pushing the boundaries of what they can endure. The song is both beautiful and unsettling, drawing the listener in with its haunting melody and powerful lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been sitting alone for hours
I have been sitting by myself for a long time, waiting for you to come to me with your flaws.
Waiting for you to bring your ugliest parts to me
I am waiting for you to share all of your imperfections with me, without hiding anything.
I've been naming our thorns for hours
I have been identifying and labeling the issues and difficulties in our relationship for a long time.
Hoping you'll treat them as kindly as you treated me
I am hopeful that you will handle these problems with the same kindness and understanding that you have shown me.
Oh, I've been thinking like a beast for hours
I have been contemplating with an intense and animalistic mindset for a long time.
Wondering if you like the challenge of cruel men, me
I am wondering if you enjoy taking on the challenge of dealing with a difficult person like me.
After I glamour you for hours
Once I have put in extensive effort to impress and please you.
Will you have the strength The strength to extinguish me
Are you capable of ending our relationship, even after all that I have done to charm you?
Each time you deny my mess (each time) You'll find yourself closer to me, closer to me
With each time you ignore or reject my flaws and imperfections, you will become more intimately connected to me.
Boy (boy) I'm hungry but all my knives are dull
I am craving more from our relationship, but I am feeling helpless or unprepared to get it.
Will you sharpen your teeth to hunt and keep me full? Oh, hunt to keep me full
Are you willing to do what it takes to sustain our relationship and keep me satisfied, even if it requires a fierce and predatory approach?
When you're burnt down And you're praying for rain Can I wish for flood? Is that OK?
When you are at your lowest point and hoping for some help, is it okay for me to ask for something even more drastic or difficult?
You'll find yourself deeper inside of me
Each time you lie to me or hide the truth, you will become more entangled in our relationship.
Why would you stay this long If you didn't want me?
If you did not truly care for me, why would you have remained in this relationship for so long?
Don't act like I don't bring selfish joy to you
Do not pretend that I do not provide you with pleasure and happiness that is also self-serving to me.
You'll find yourself, close to me, closer to me
No matter how you choose to handle our relationship, you will end up becoming even more emotionally invested in me.
Close to me
Ultimately, no matter how difficult our relationship may be, you will end up becoming closer and more connected to me.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Josia Wise
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind