“Sex” tells the story of what seems to be an innocent encounter at first, which then escalates into, well, sex. It appears on The 1975’s debut album. It was originally released on one of their first EPs and produced with help from Little Comets.
In an interview with Last.fm, frontman Matty Healy said:
"The song is a love letter to every prudish 17-year old girl. Everyone’s been there with that indecisive, flirty girl who just can’t make her mind up."
He went on to talk about how the song is labeled as brash due to its rough drums and guitars, but he calls it “romantic.”
Two versions of this song’s music video exist: the EP version and the explicit/album version, released July 26th, 2013. The newer one breaks away from their usual black-and-white aesthetic.
"The main idea behind the new video for “Sex” was centered around us wanting to incorporate a narrative that acted out the lyrical content of the song. It felt important for the narrative to be the true story of lyrics. So many of our tracks are based on real experiences, it was integral to have an honest portrayal of this. The make up of our music is centered around the juxtaposition of very honest, often self-deprecating personal stories set against uplifting major chord progressions. It is this dualism and notion of “sound tracking” our own lives which makes us cite John Hughes as such an important influence."
- Matty Healy, Substream Magazine
This track was certified gold by the RIAA on June 26, 2019.
Sex
The 1975 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take your shoes off in the back of my van
You share my shirt, looks so good
When it's just hangin' off your back
And she said, "Use your hands and my spare time
We've got one thing in common, it's this tongue of mine"
She said, oh
She's got a boyfriend anyway
And there's only minutes before I drop you off
All we seem to do it talk about sex
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
I love your friend when I saw his film
He's got a funny face, but I like that 'cause he still looks cool
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
Now we're on the bed in my room
And I'm about to fill his shoes
But you say, "No"
You say, "No"
Does he take care of you
Or could I easily fill his shoes?
But you say, "No"
You say, "No"
Now we're just outside of town
As you're making your way down
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
And I'm not trying to stop you, love
If we're gonna do anything, we might as well just fuck
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
Got your tongue pierced anyway
You in your high tops any day
You in your skinny jeans anyway
You and your fit friends anyway
I'd take them all out any day
They all got backcombs anyway
They all got boyfriends anyway
The 1975's "Sex" is a song about a casual sexual encounter between two people who share nothing in common except the desire for physical intimacy. The song opens with an invitation to the girl to take her shoes off in the back of the van, and she agrees. She then shares the singer's shirt, and they talk about their mutual interest in sex. He finds her attractive, and they have one thing in common, which is their shared interest in sex.
The singer knows that the girl has a boyfriend, but he doesn't care. He mentions this a few times in the song, indicating that he is not looking for a real relationship with her. However, both of them seem attracted to each other and keep talking about sex. The singer mentions other people they know in common, but ultimately they end up in his room and start to have sex. But when he asks to fill her boyfriend's shoes, she says no.
The song's chorus is about the fact that the girl has a boyfriend anyway, yet they continue to talk about sex and pursue a physical relationship despite this fact. The singer seems aware that this is not a good idea, but he's also not trying to stop the girl from pursuing what they both want.
Overall, "Sex" is a song about the complexities of human relationships and the often contradicting emotions that come with them. It's not a love story, but rather a story about lust and the power it holds over people.
Line by Line Meaning
And this is how it starts
The beginning of a sexual encounter between two individuals.
Take your shoes off in the back of my van
Please remove your shoes before entering the vehicle so we don't make a mess.
You share my shirt, looks so good
When it's just hangin' off your back
The singer admires the appearance of the individual wearing his shirt.
And she said, "Use your hands and my spare time
We've got one thing in common, it's this tongue of mine"
She said, oh
The other individual beckons the artist to use their hands to engage in sexual activity.
She's got a boyfriend anyway
The individual in question is already in a committed relationship.
And there's only minutes before I drop you off
All we seem to do it talk about sex
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
The two individuals discuss their attraction to one another while recognizing the other's pre-existing relationship.
I love your friend when I saw his film
He's got a funny face, but I like that 'cause he still looks cool
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
The singer expresses admiration for the other individual's friend, but once again recognizes the relationship status of the person he desires.
Now we're on the bed in my room
And I'm about to fill his shoes
But you say, "No"
You say, "No"
The artist attempts to begin sexual activity with the other individual, but they say no and refuse his advances.
Does he take care of you
Or could I easily fill his shoes?
But you say, "No"
You say, "No"
The artist suggests that he would be a better partner to the other individual than their current boyfriend, but they still decline his advances.
Now we're just outside of town
As you're making your way down
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
And I'm not trying to stop you, love
If we're gonna do anything, we might as well just fuck
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
The artist and other individual are on the verge of having sex, but the artist recognizes the other's continuing relationship and gives them the opportunity to leave.
Got your tongue pierced anyway
You in your high tops any day
You in your skinny jeans anyway
You and your fit friends anyway
I'd take them all out any day
They all got backcombs anyway
They all got boyfriends anyway
The singer admires the physical and personal attributes of the other individual and their friends, but recognizes that they are all in relationships.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: George Bedford Daniel, Matthew Timothy Healy, Ross Stewart MacDonald, Adam Brian Thomas Hann
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Babysuncreen
And this is how it starts
You take your shoes off in the back of my van
My shirt looks so good
When it's just hanging off your back
And she said use your hands and my spare time
We've got one thing in common it's this tongue of mine
She said she's got a boyfriend anyway
There's only minutes before I drop you off
And all we seem to do it talk about sex
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
I love your friend when I saw his film
He's got a funny face but I like that because he still looks cool
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
Now we are on the bed in my room
And I'm about to fill his shoes
But you say no
But do you say no
Does he take care of you
Or could I easily fill his shoes
Do you say no
Do you say no
And now we're just outside of town
And you're making your way down
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
And I'm not trying to stop you love
But if we're gonna do anything we might as well just fuck
She's got a boyfriend anyway
She's got a boyfriend anyway
You've got your tongue pierced anyway
You in your hightops anyway
You in your skinny jeans anyway
You and your fit friends anyway
I'd take them all out any day
They've all got back combs anyway
You've all got boyfriends anyway
@ouijabored000
***** Mate, I've been told multiple times that I act like I'm 20. I know that I'm mature enough. How did you draw the conclusion that I'm not mature in the first place? In addition, how do you say, "maybe im not talking about you? im just saying that most 13 year olds are not mature enough for this shit," then say that I'm not mature enough? You just contradicted yourself, whether you noticed it or not, it happened.
And, no, my "long fucking rant" was not about how I was mature enough, I was defending the user you had replied to and was defending them and 13 year olds alike.
But aside from that, the point I'm trying to get across to you is that a lot of 13 year olds understand the basics of the world already. They know that sex causes pregnancy and STDs, they know that disagreements between countries may cause war, they know that violence causes punishment and perhaps jail time, drugs cause horrendous things like death... And a great majority of us have indeed started puberty. Hell, The great majority of children in my class started in fifth grade.
And yes, every 13 year old has a different state of mind. Every single human being has a different state of mind and perspective on this world, no matter what their age is. All humans are entirely different, complex creatures. What I'm saying it that some 13 years olds understand what's good for them and what's bad for them. Some 27 year olds don't know what's good and bad for them, others do. Some 44 year olds don't know what's good and bad for them, others do. 60, 70, 80, 90, etc. Now, perhaps, unless the world ends or we all kill one another before surviving the consciousness shift, one day there will be a time when people are assessed by how "mature" they are or how much they understand the world.. Perhaps, then, 18 will no longer be the age that everyone has full freedom. Of course, many, many people abuse this freedom. Hence they are not mature enough.
Now I'm ranting.
You understand, right?
@alexcopeman2643
Whenever I hear matty sing "Does He take care of you?" I die
@sarahmore4146
Wow love it get turned on
@FireInTheSoul
Same
@paulnazhasquarepants7141
❗️❗️❗️
@cosmicrae
This song hits hard
@wishingwell_333
i jus sang along to it and it hurt like whoa not even the lyrics are relatable to me jus something there
@cronenbergfilm
why am I feeling nostalgic
@kenialeonguerrero2401
me 2
@cinditaneca254
OMG ME TOO!!!!
@SISTERHANNA
heard this song for the first time yesterday and it brings me back?¿ to like 2 years ago? Idfk