A pop rock song, "Milk" contains elements of electro and shoegaze. The song is characterized by its extensive use of guitars, while the lyrics deal with themes of drugs. Upon release, the song received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who praised its inclusion as a hidden track. The song has since become a fan-favorite among the 1975's fanbase. To promote the song, the band performed it live at London's Garage during a February 2019 charity show in support of War Child.
In 2012, the 1975 began a process of releasing three EPs leading to their eponymous debut album. The band's second EP "Sex" was released on 19 November 2012 and includes "Milk" as a hidden track. The song was later included on the deluxe version of The 1975. Coinciding with their first headlining tour in 2013, American band the Neighbourhood released three limited-edition 7-inch vinyl singles, with the B-sides containing songs from their supporting acts. For the shows featuring the 1975, "No Grey" was released as the A-side while "Milk" was selected as the B-side. The pressing was extremely limited and sold only at the aforementioned shows, prompting fans of the 1975 to request a re-press. Although Healy did not know "that [the vinyl single] was so requested", he was against releasing more since the limited pressing makes the original copies "more special and valuable". Without a proper announcement, the 1975 uploaded a remastered standalone version of "Milk" to music streaming services on October 6, 2017.
Musically, "Milk" is a guitar-heavy pop rock song that contains elements of electro and shoegaze, and has a length of two minutes and thirteen seconds. It represents the last two minutes and twelve seconds of "You", the final track on "Sex". The song was written by George Daniel, Matthew Healy, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, while the band handled the production alongside Michael and Robert Coles. Lyrically, the track incorporates themes of drugs and sex.
Upon release, "Milk" was met with generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics and has since gained the status of a fan-favorite among the 1975's fanbase. In NME's list of the band's best songs, "Milk" was ranked at number nine; Tom Connick called the song one of the 1975's best "early bangers" and said the track's "well-trodden" topics are "handled with a front-and-center pop sensibility". The editorial staff of the Alternative Press praised the inclusion of "Milk" as a hidden track at the end of "You", describing it as "hidden... like a sweet dessert". Writing for Consequence, Amanda Koellner said the song "tone things down a bit while holding onto the guitar-heavy, more traditional sound that the latter half of [Sex] offers". Amy Jones of Hit the Floor Magazine wrote that despite the track's short length, it "has a lot packed into it". Paste's Shaina Pearlman deemed "Milk" a brief and "danceable" track that "concludes the EP's upward trajectory". Bre Offenberger, writing for The Post, asserted the song "is basically a jam about cocaine" and listed it at number 19 in a ranking of the band's catalogue. In February 2019, the 1975 performed "Milk" at London's Garage in the middle of a charity show for War Child and BRITs Week. In his coverage of the performance, Connick noted the song was "stripped free of the musical excess and wordy nature that present-day 1975 thrive on", going on to say the audience's reaction "cut to the heart of what makes The 1975 so special".
Credits adapted from Tidal.
George Daniel – composer, programming, drums, synthesizer
Matthew Healy – composer, guitar, piano, vocals
Adam Hann – composer, guitar
Ross MacDonald – composer, bass guitar
The 1975 – producer
Michael Coles – producer
Robert Coles – producer
Mike Crossey – mixer
Robin Schmidt – mastering engineer
MILK
The 1975 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She does a little thing with her eyes that says, "We're off soon"
She says the bleeding's incidental 'cause she's so cool
She said, "I'm no fun if you've only a bottle of wine"
And now she's doing it all the time
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
She does a little bit on the sly that shows what she's up to
She started talking about missing him, she was glistening
It won't mend your heart if it's only a couple of lines
And now she's doing it all the time
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
The lyrics to The 1975's song Milk depict a complex relationship dynamic between two people. The first verse describes a woman who has an alluring presence, as evidenced by the little things she does with her eyes that suggest they will soon be leaving. She doesn't seem to mind bleeding, suggesting that she is immune to pain, and only considers herself fun when there is more to drink than just a bottle of wine. These lyrics suggest that this woman may be a bit of a wild spirit, not afraid to take risks and indulge in excess.
In the second verse, the singer asks her to slow down, indicating that this woman's attitude and behavior may be too intense for him to keep up. She does things on the sly, which could be interpreted as sneaky or manipulative behavior. The woman also claims to miss someone while glistening, which could suggest that she is crying or sweating due to feeling emotional. However, the singer warns that a few lines won't mend her heart. This could be a reference to drug use or that the woman needs more time to heal from whatever caused her heartbreak.
Overall, the lyrics of Milk paint a picture of a complex and intense relationship between two people with different attitudes towards risk-taking and emotional pain. The song's repetitive chorus indicates that this dynamic repeats, with the woman continuing to do what she wants, regardless of the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
The straight lines, they unwind you
The rigidity of life is making you lose your composure
She does a little thing with her eyes that says, "We're off soon"
She gives a subtle signal with her eyes that suggests they will be leaving soon
She says the bleeding's incidental 'cause she's so cool
She downplays her own pain, preferring to maintain a persona of being unfazed
She said, "I'm no fun if you've only a bottle of wine"
She implies that without excessive drinking, she is not enjoyable to be around
Slow down, yeah I want you
I want you to take it easy and be more present in the moment
She does a little bit on the sly that shows what she's up to
She performs covert actions that reveal her true intentions
She started talking about missing him, she was glistening
She convincingly speaks about missing someone, appearing emotionally charged and teary-eyed
It won't mend your heart if it's only a couple of lines
A few kind words will not be enough to heal a broken heart
And now she's doing it all the time
She repeats her actions continuously
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
She is engaging in the same behavior repeatedly
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
She continues with her actions constantly
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
Her behavior has become a habit
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
She is repeating the same actions without change or delay
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ROSS MACDONALD, ADAM HANN, GEORGE DANIEL, MATTHEW HEALY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@iAkis4
Straight lines that unwind you
She does a little thing with her eye that says, "We're off soon"
She says the bleeding's incidental 'cause she's so cool
She says it's no fun if you've only a bottle of wine
And now she's doing it all the time
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
Slow down
Yeah, I want you
She does a little bit on the sly that shows what she's up to
She started talking about pretending she's listening
It won't mend your heart if it's only a couple of lines
And now she's doing it all the time
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
Yeah, she's doing it all the time
@vee7403
the wait between "you" and this song feels endless
@laurenelizabeth6603
I feel your your pain
@lizkat3318
I didn't even know the song was on there until I accidently left 'you' on while drawing and I couldn't switch songs. And then suddenly this beautiful song started playing xD
@jessiewager1608
+Lisbelle same 😂
@rollingobstopper1743
yess haha
@jayjay-se3jf
i didnt even know this song existed, i thought it was just a part of the 'you' song
@ok-hk8sc
wish this song wasn't so underrated bc its my fav by them
@nichoyeah
+Olivia king It's not my favorite, but it's cool that people appriciate other songs than "Chocolate" & "Girls" ...
@alextait7771
+nichoyeah I know exactly what you mean. I do love this song though
@PorkChopBatter
+liv my fav is is there someone who can watch you and then this. so many songs of theirs are unrrated bc people only like their popular stuff its right bs