Poison
The Constantines Lyrics


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At the out-city dance hall
where the wild ones lead the fire-night parade
If you're looking for affection
best be careful where you lay your name

'Cause they'll pin your renegade heart to the wall
and leave you there to hang
Last night, at some Scarborough disco
another empty pocket took a fall
The wild ones put a kid out of business
and they shake it off like shivering dogs

No dog-tooth trigger will poison us
No sinister blade will poison us
When we dance the night belongs to us

Who gives a damn for the blue lawn
when the sun comes up on an empty lot?
A little more blood in the weekends wake
and they shake it off like shivering dogs

No dog-tooth trigger will poison us




No sinister blade will poison us
When we dance the night belongs to us

Overall Meaning

The Constantines's song "Poison" tells the story of a night out in a wild dance hall where things can quickly turn dangerous. The lyrics warn listeners to be careful where they lay their name, as the wild ones will pin their rebel hearts to the wall and leave them to hang. The song makes reference to a recent incident where "another empty pocket took a fall" at a Scarborough disco, and the wild ones put a kid out of business. Despite this violence, the song declares that no poison, whether from a dog-tooth trigger or sinister blade, will harm them as long as they dance and claim the night as their own.


Line by Line Meaning

At the out-city dance hall where the wild ones lead the fire-night parade
The song starts by describing a wild party scene, where the people who attend these parties control it and the atmosphere. It sets the tone and lets the listener know that this scene is intense.


If you're looking for affection best be careful where you lay your name 'Cause they'll pin your renegade heart to the wall and leave you there to hang
This verse is a warning to anyone who tries to get involved in this wild party scene. The people there are not always kind, and they will take advantage of anyone they can. The line about pinning your 'renegade heart' to the wall sets the tone for the rest of the song, which deals with themes of rebellion and standing up for oneself.


Last night, at some Scarborough disco another empty pocket took a fall The wild ones put a kid out of business and they shake it off like shivering dogs
The song takes a turn here, as it describes a specific incident at one of these wild parties. Someone was taken advantage of, and the 'wild ones' were responsible. The line about shaking it off like shivering dogs suggests that they feel no remorse for their actions, and will do it again without hesitation.


No dog-tooth trigger will poison us No sinister blade will poison us When we dance the night belongs to us
This refrain is repeated throughout the song, and takes on a few different meanings. At its core, it is a declaration of defiance. The 'wild ones' will not be poisoned by anyone or anything, and they will always come out on top. It is also a kind of battle cry, encouraging people to let go of their inhibitions and dance the night away.


Who gives a damn for the blue lawn when the sun comes up on an empty lot? A little more blood in the weekends wake and they shake it off like shivering dogs
This verse is a metaphor for the way that the 'wild ones' live their lives. They don't care about the conventional things that other people do (like having a nice lawn), and they are willing to do whatever it takes to have a good time. The line about 'a little more blood' suggests that there is violence and danger involved in these parties, and that people are getting hurt. Despite this, the 'wild ones' continue to dance and have fun, as if nothing has happened.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bryan Webb, Dallas Wehrle, Doug Macgregor, Steven Lambke, Will Kidman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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