Discography:
1995 - Sleater-Kinney (Chainsaw)
1996 - Call the Doctor (Chainsaw)
1997 - Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars)
1999 - The Hot Rock (Kill Rock Stars)
2000 - All Hands on the Bad One (Kill Rock Stars)
2002 - One Beat (Kill Rock Stars)
2005 - The Woods (Sub Pop)
2015 - No Cities to Love (Sub Pop)
2019 - The Center Won't Hold (Mom+Pop)
2021 - Path of Wellness (Mom+Pop)
Milkshake n' Honey
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
that's where the flat was let
We shacked up in Paris two days
after we had met
Eighteen bars of the sonata
and you were mine
This music gig doesn't pay that well
Darling come home
I can't take the apartment alone
You left your beret behind
and your croissant is getting cold
Visa, Mastercard, discovered
that I was spent
Took my heart, my best jeans, and left me
with paying the rent
A user, abuser, a loser
but I didn't care
I've always been a guy with a sweet tooth
and that girl was just like a king-sized candy bar
Pick up the phone
Meet me at the Sorbonne
You keep turning me on
With those French words I can't pronounce
Milkshake n' honey yeah
Milkshake n' honey yeah
Milkshake n' honey yeah
Milkshake n' honey yeah
Milkshake n' honey yeah
Milkshake n' honey yeah
Milkshake n' honey yeah
Milkshake n' honey yeah
Ma petite, comment ca va?
In Sleater-Kinney's song "Milkshake n' Honey," the lyrics describe a romantic encounter in Paris between two people who met just days prior. The song opens with a mention of a flat on Rue de Savoy where the couple shacked up after just two days of knowing each other. The second verse refers to a night when the singer and their love interest listened to the sonata together and fell in love. The occupation of being a musician isn't lucrative, but the fans make it worthwhile.
As the song progresses, the lyrics indicate that the relationship ended poorly. The singer is left to pay the rent alone, and their lover took everything from their heart to their best jeans. Despite this, the singer is still in love with their ex-partner, referring to them as a king-sized candy bar. The chorus, "Milkshake n' honey yeah," may represent the sweet and sensual nature of the relationship, comparing it to the sweetness of milkshakes and honey.
The song overall seems to be a reminiscence of a sweet but ultimately messy love affair. The singer longs for the intimacy they had with their ex-partner, specifically mentioning the French language and culture that they shared together. This could be a nod to Paris's history of being a romantic city, exemplified in films and literature.
Line by Line Meaning
14 Rue de Savoy
The address where the apartment was rented.
that's where the flat was let
That's where we found the flat to live in.
We shacked up in Paris two days after we had met
We decided to live together in Paris only two days after meeting each other.
Eighteen bars of the sonata and you were mine
After only playing a few bars of music, I knew I was in love with you.
This music gig doesn't pay that well but the fans are alright
Although being a musician doesn't make me rich, I appreciate the fans who support me.
Darling come home, I can't take the apartment alone
I miss you and can't handle living in the apartment by myself.
You left your beret behind and your croissant is getting cold
You forgot your hat and breakfast is getting cold.
Visa, Mastercard, discovered that I was spent
I ran out of money and my credit cards are maxed out.
Took my heart, my best jeans, and left me with paying the rent
You took my love, favorite jeans, and left me with the responsibility of paying rent.
A user, abuser, a loser but I didn't care
Although you treated me poorly, I didn't care because I was blinded by my love for you.
I've always been a guy with a sweet tooth and that girl was just like a king-sized candy bar
I've always loved sweet things and you were like an irresistible, large candy bar to me.
Pick up the phone, meet me at the Sorbonne
Please answer the phone and meet me at the university of Paris.
You keep turning me on with those French words I can't pronounce
I love it when you speak French, even if I can't understand you.
Milkshake n' honey yeah
An affectionate phrase to describe the love and sweetness of the relationship.
Ma petite, comment ca va?
My little one, how are you?
Contributed by Audrey O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.