“How to Draw” was originally released as a bonus track for the Target edition of the band’s sophomore album "i like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it". Originally, the track was a much softer, ambient piece accompanied by piano, however the remastered and updated version for the band’s third album features largely synthesized instrumentation.
"'Growing up in the UK, if the radio was on past 7 o’clock, it was dance music. It’s the soundtrack to nighttime, to being up too late, to being a kid. So it’s not so much us trying to pay homage to the records we were into as teenagers as much as it was the sound of being young to me. That’s why “How to Draw” is really easy for us, because that’s our identity. That’s where we come from.'"
–Matt Healy, Pitchfork
How to Draw / Petrichor
The 1975 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've not learned how to draw
What if you die with all of the cameras?
Take something and then make it brand new
Try and do anything fourteen times
Love yourself like someone you love, one you love
Don't take any of my advice
Write a letter to your future self who won't change
Don't let the internet ruin your time
They can take anything as long as it's true
What they can't take is you telling them lies, lies, lies
The lyrics to the 1975's song "how to draw / petrichor" touch on several themes, including self-expression, authenticity, and the impact of technology on our lives. The song opens with the repetition of the line "I've not learned how to draw," which can be interpreted metaphorically as a confession of not having found one's own artistic voice or unique way of expressing oneself. It suggests a struggle with creativity and a desire for originality.
The line "What if you die with all of the cameras?" is a thought-provoking question that questions the obsession with documenting and broadcasting every aspect of our lives through social media and the fear of leaving behind a digital legacy. It raises the notion of how meaningful it truly is to capture every moment, as opposed to experiencing and living in the present.
"Take something and then make it brand new" could be interpreted as an encouragement to be innovative and transformative in our endeavors. It emphasizes the importance of reinvention and creative evolution.
The following line, "Try and do anything fourteen times," hints at the process of trial and error. It suggests that it takes perseverance and repeated attempts to achieve mastery in any area of life.
The lyrics also convey a message of self-love and acceptance, as evident in the line "Love yourself like someone you love, one you love." It highlights the importance of treating oneself with the same compassion and care we would show to someone we deeply care about.
"Don't take any of my advice" can be seen as a warning against blindly following the opinions and guidance of others. It implies the need to trust one's own instincts and make independent decisions.
The line "Write a letter to your future self who won't change" speaks to the idea of self-reflection and introspection, acknowledging that our future selves might still carry the same struggles and challenges as our present selves.
"Don't let the internet ruin your time" indicates the negative impact of excessive reliance on technology and urges the listener to prioritize real-life experiences and connections over the artificial world of the internet.
"They can take anything as long as it's true, what they can't take is you telling them lies, lies, lies" conveys the idea that authenticity is both powerful and unshakeable. It emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and being honest, as one's integrity cannot be taken away.
Overall, "how to draw / petrichor" showcases the 1975's introspective songwriting style, addressing themes of self-expression, individuality, and the influence of technology on our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I've not learned how to draw
I don't have the skills to create art
I've not learned how to draw
I still haven't acquired the ability to create visual representations
What if you die with all of the cameras?
Imagine the consequences if you pass away while being constantly monitored and documented
Take something and then make it brand new
Transform an existing object or concept into something fresh and innovative
Try and do anything fourteen times
Experiment and attempt various things repeatedly
Love yourself like someone you love, one you love
Have the same level of self-care and appreciation as you would for a beloved person
Don't take any of my advice
Disregard any guidance or suggestions I offer
Write
Put your thoughts and emotions into written form
Write a letter to your future self who won't change
Compose a message addressed to your future self, knowing that your core essence will remain constant
Don't let the internet ruin your time
Do not allow online platforms to negatively impact your experiences
They can take anything as long as it's true
Others can confiscate or exploit anything genuine or authentic
What they can't take is you telling them lies, lies, lies
However, they cannot take away your ability to deceive them by feeding them falsehoods repeatedly
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Adam Brian Thomas Hann, George Bedford Daniel, Matthew Timothy Healy, Ross Stewart MacDonald
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kanno Yoichi
on Chocolate
Hey now, call it a spliff because I know that you will
Oh you bite your friends like chocolate
You said we go where nobody know
We got guns hidden under our petticoats
And we never gonna quit it, no
We're never gonna quit it, no
マリファナを頼むのは、君がそれを欲しがるからさ
君は友人をチョコレートみたいに噛むんだ
誰も知らないところへ行こうって言って
ペチコートの下の銃を掴んだ
僕らはやめないよ
絶対に終わらない
Now run run away from the boys in the blue
Oh my car smells like chocolate
And now I think about what you do
I think about what they say
I think about how to think
Pause it play, pause it play, pause it
今は逃げるんだ、あの青い制服の男たちから
チョコレートの香りがする俺の車で
今は君のすることを考えて
奴らの吐く言葉を考えて
どうやって考えるべきかを考えて
ちょっと待って、いったん止めて考えよう
Oh we go where nobody know
We've got guns hidden under our petticoats
And we're never gonna quit it, no
We're never gonna quit it, no
僕らは誰も知らないところへ行く
ペチコートの下の銃を掴む
僕らはやめないよ
絶対に終わらない
Yeah, we're dressed in black from head to toe
We've got guns hidden under our petticoats
And we're never gonna quit it, no
We're never gonna quit it, no
頭の先からつま先まで真っ黒な出で立ちで
ペチコートの下の銃を掴んだ
僕らはやめないよ
絶対に終わらない
Now you're never gonna quit it
Now you're never gonna quit it
Now you're never gonna quit it
If you don't stop smoking it
Thats's what she said
あなたはやめてはだめ
逃げてはだめ
諦めてはダメ
葉っぱをやめないならね
これが彼女の言葉
She said we're dressed in black from head to toe
We've got guns hidden under our petticoats
And we're never gonna quit it, no
We're never gonna quit it, no
頭の先からつま先まで真っ黒な出で立ちで
ペチコートの下の銃を掴んだ
僕らはやめないよ
絶対に終わらない
Hey now we're building up speed
As we're appoaching the hill
Oh my hair smells like chocolate
Hey now you say you're gonna quit it
But you're never gonna quit it
Go get it, go get it, go get it, go get it, go
Play cool
スピードを上げていく
丘に近づくにつれて
髪はチョコレートの香りがする
君はやめるって言ってるけど
絶対にやめられないよ
さあ、やって
クールにさ
Oh you said
We go where nobody know
We've got guns hidden under our petticoats
And we're never gonna quit it, no
We're never gonna quit it, no
僕らは誰も知らないところへ行く
ペチコートの下の銃を掴む
僕らはやめないよ
絶対に終わらない
Yeah, we're dressed in black from head to toe
We've got guns hidden under our petticoats
And we're never gonna quit it, no
We're never gonna quit it, no
頭の先からつま先まで真っ黒な出で立ちで
ペチコートの下の銃を掴んだ
僕らはやめないよ
絶対に終わらない
Well I think we better go
Seriously better go
I said the feds are here you know
Seriously better go
Well I think we better go
I said the feds are here you know
Said Rebecca better know
Seriously better go
僕らは逃げるべきだって思うんだ
真剣にさ
捜査官がすぐそばにいる
絶対に逃げたほうが良い
逃げるべきだ
捜査官がすぐそばにいる
レベッカ分かってくれ
逃げたほうが良いんだ
We go where nobody know
We've got guns hidden under our petticoats
And we're never gonna quit it, no
We're never gonna quit it, no
僕らは誰も知らないところへ行く
ペチコートの下の銃を掴む
僕らはやめないよ
絶対に終わらない
Yeah, we're dressed in black from head to toe
We've got guns hidden under our petticoats
And we're never gonna quit it, no
We're never gonna quit it, no
頭の先からつま先まで真っ黒な出で立ちで
ペチコートの下の銃を掴んだ
僕らはやめないよ
絶対に終わらない
Well I think we better go
Seriously better go
I said the feds are here you know
Seriously better go
Well I think we better go
I said the feds are here you know
Said Rebecca better know
Seriously better go
僕らは逃げるべきだって思うんだ
真剣にさ
捜査官がすぐそばにいる
絶対に逃げたほうが良い
逃げるべきだ
捜査官がすぐそばにいる
レベッカ分かってくれ
逃げたほうが良いんだ