Meltdown
Stromae (Feat. Lorde Pusha T Q-Tip & HAIM) Lyrics
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Life is like a costume party
Just cover the floors in Cavalli
Let's hide the hurt in a molly
We're all tryna be somebody else
You can't hide your tears in wealth
When your heart knows you hate yourself
Just the way that the card's been dealt
Cover up all that is passed
Drop an olive in your glass
Putting on a disguise
It's an ocular vice
Everyone on the run
Fifty feet all on the gas
Take him out, take him out
Gonna take him out
We're the only theory they can't prove
And we don't have anything to lose
In my eyes, in my ears, bring might
Love is only figured once in life
Tell the crowd, search the town
Can we make it out right now
It's a full meltdown
Try to break her spirit so it shouldn't be surprisin'
We're here with no fear and gave her uprising
Gonna blend in with the bullies and the bureaucrats
Arrows pierce like lightning, choppers sound like thunder clap
Never will you stand, we gon' lay you down
Dominant and dapper kids comin' in to take the town
Try to restrain us, even though you trained us
We're better than you are, now we're gonna make you feed us
Cover up all that is passed
Drop an olive in your glass
Putting on a disguise
It's an ocular vice
Everyone on the run
Fifty feet all on the gas
Take him out, take him out
Gonna take him out
We're all lookin' for status
Cristal sent over on gratis
Can't pretend we're not plastic
When these poker faces take practice
Who to trust? Who to love?
Who to run from? Who to hug?
Set fire to a government of thugs
Respect only comes from the money or your blood
We're out of sight, shadows of light
They're closing in and I know where we're goin'
But I don't know who I'll be
In my eyes, in my ears, bring might
Love is only figured once in life
Tell the crowd, search the town
Can we make it out right now
It's a full meltdown
(I can hear, and see a ghost)
Was it meant to be?
(In my mind, I know)
'Cause I can't see
(And if you keep, [?])
I can't see
(I'm your undertow)
The song Meltdown is a collaboration between various artists such as Stromae, Lorde, Pusha T, Q-Tip, and HAIM. The lyrics explore the idea of hiding behind a facade and trying to be someone else while dealing with internal pain and hurt. The first verse talks about how life is like a costume party where one can hide their hurt behind material things but it doesn't alleviate the pain. The chorus emphasizes the notion of being chased and trying to escape a situation that one is trapped in while highlighting the strength and unity of the group. The second verse touches on the idea of fake friendships, hidden agendas, and the pursuit of wealth, demonstrating the hollowness or "plastic" nature of the lifestyle. In the bridge, the lyrics suggest an inner conflict within oneself, as well as self-doubt and uncertainty about the future.
Overall, the song’s theme reflects various societal issues like the struggle of finding oneself in the midst of chaos and the corrupt nature of those in power. The song addresses these themes in a manner that inspires strength and determination in its listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Lorde meet King Push
Introducing Lorde and King Push as featured artists in the song
Life is like a costume party
The metaphorical comparison of life to a costume party, where people pretend to be someone else
Just cover the floors in Cavalli
Wear expensive and luxurious clothes of designer Roberto Cavalli to hide the imperfections
Let's hide the hurt in a molly
Use MDMA (a.k.a molly) to forget and escape from pain
We're all tryna be somebody else
The desire of people to mimic and imitate others to fit in
You can't hide your tears in wealth
Money can't solve everything, and it's okay to show emotions
When your heart knows you hate yourself
The inner conflict and struggle with self-worth and self-love
It's all pain we felt
The common trait of feeling and experiencing pain
Just the way that the card's been dealt
Accepting the hand fate dealt upon us that we can't change
Cover up all that is passed
Conceal all the memories and mistakes of the past
Drop an olive in your glass
Add a touch of sophistication to one's life regardless of the underlying issues
Putting on a disguise
Pretend to be someone else to impress or deceive others
It's an ocular vice
Seeing things differently than they are, and not being able to change that viewpoint
Everyone on the run
Anxiety and fear that everyone feels, even those who seem to have it all together
Fifty feet all on the gas
Going full speed ahead, no matter the consequences or risks
Take him out, take him out
Aggressive language that reflects the cut-throat attitude of society
We're the only theory they can't prove
The mystery and unpredictability of humans that can't be deciphered by science
And we don't have anything to lose
When you have nothing left to lose, you act recklessly and take risks
In my eyes, in my ears, bring might
The power of music to influence and change people's lives
Love is only figured once in life
The rarity of finding true love in one's lifetime
Tell the crowd, search the town
The search for something greater than oneself
Can we make it out right now
Uncertainty of whether there is a way out of the current situation
It's a full meltdown
The chaos and turmoil in society, where people are struggling to survive
Try to break her spirit so it shouldn't be surprisin'
How society tries to break and diminish people's spirits, and it should be expected
We're here with no fear and gave her uprising
Revolutionaries fighting against the system; they aren't afraid and are ready to start a rebellion
Gonna blend in with the bullies and the bureaucrats
Joining the oppressive forces for survival, even when that means becoming a bully oneself
Arrows pierce like lightning, choppers sound like thunder clap
The violence and destruction of the revolution, where arrows represent resistance and choppers represent danger
Never will you stand, we gon' lay you down
The unraveling of the oppressive regime that will be brought down by the revolutionaries
Dominant and dapper kids comin' in to take the town
Youthful rebellion where the younger generation is taking over and reshaping society
Try to restrain us, even though you trained us
Oppressive forces trying to suppress or control the revolutionaries whom they initially trained for their purpose
We're better than you are, now we're gonna make you feed us
The notion of the oppressed becoming the oppressor, as the revolutionaries take over the governmental institutions
We're all lookin' for status
The unending pursuit of power, fame, or fortune; the superficial lifestyle of prioritizing materialistic things
Cristal sent over on gratis
Receiving luxuries for free or acquiring riches in an easy manner
Can't pretend we're not plastic
Unwillingness to accept our true selves and pretending to be something else instead
When these poker faces take practice
The skill of pretending or putting on a facade becomes a part of who we are
Who to trust? Who to love? Who to run from? Who to hug?
The constant inquiry and questioning of relationships and trust
Set fire to a government of thugs
The insurrection against a corrupt and exploitative regime
Respect only comes from the money or your blood
The notion that respect or admiration can only be earned through one's materialistic values or birthright
We're out of sight, shadows of light
Existing in the shadows, unseen but having a great impact on the world around us
They're closing in and I know where we're goin'
Sense of impending danger or trouble closing in, but still, they are driven towards their destination or purpose.
But I don't know who I'll be
Uncertainty and confusion about who one may become or what choices they will make.
(I can hear, and see a ghost)
The presence of the past that still haunts one's life
(In my mind, I know)
Intuition or gut feeling of something that one can't explain
('Cause I can't see)
The blindness of not being able to foresee the future
(And if you keep, [?])
Incomplete fragment of sentence with unclear meaning
I can't see
The inability to predict or anticipate the future events that may unfold
(I'm your undertow)
Undertow - a powerful underwater current that can drag a person down; here, it serves as a metaphor for being trapped in cyclical events that impede one's growth.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alana Haim, Danielle Haim, Ella Yelich O'Connor, Este Haim, Joel Little, John Fareed, Kamaal Ibn, Paul Van Haver, Terrence Thornton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind