Bad Taste in My Mouth
The Kooks Lyrics


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The night's just getting longer
Oh, am I still lonely?
And the days are getting slower
Is this for some reason? I'm still lonely

Now that I've got everything I wanted
Still a bad taste in my mouth
Now I found all things that I wanted
Still a bad taste in my mouth

See I sent away my baby
I sent her packing on down the chain
So now she ain't my baby
Yeah, but I still love her all the same

Now that I've got everything I wanted
Still a bad taste in my mouth
Now I found all things that I wanted
Still a bad taste in my mouth

So take me down there in time and feed me liquor
I don't want to pain tonight
Where do I run to?
Where do I run to now that I've lost you?

Now that I've got everything I wanted
Still a bad taste in my mouth
Now I found all things that I wanted
Still a bad taste in my mouth





Still a bad taste in my mouth
Still a bad taste in my mouth

Overall Meaning

The Kooks' song "Bad Taste in My Mouth" explores the aftermath of a failed relationship. The song posits that even when someone seemingly has everything they want, they can still experience a lingering sense of loneliness, bitterness, or regret. The opening lines of the song suggest a general sense of ennui, as the singer wonders whether their loneliness will ever truly dissipate. As the song progresses, we learn that the singer has recently broken up with someone -- referred to as "my baby" -- whom they still love. The singer sent this person away for some unknown reason, and now they can't shake the feeling that they made a mistake.


The chorus, with its repetition of the phrase "still a bad taste in my mouth," serves as a central motif for the song. This phrase can be interpreted in several ways: perhaps it is a metaphor for the sourness of a relationship's aftermath, or maybe it signifies regret for actions taken (or not taken) in the past. The verses alternate between a sense of listlessness and a desperate desire to escape from reality, culminating in the lines "Where do I run to? / Where do I run to now that I've lost you?" The song ends on a mournful note, with the chorus repeating over and over.


Overall, "Bad Taste in My Mouth" presents a bittersweet, melancholy take on the feelings that can arise after a breakup. Although the singer has ostensibly gotten everything they've ever wanted, they can't shake the sense that something is still missing.


Line by Line Meaning

The night’s just getting longer
Despite the passing of time, I feel as though the night is stretching out before me endlessly


Oh, am I still lonely?
I question whether my loneliness will ever truly dissipate


And the days are getting slower
As time drags on, each day seems to hang heavily and crawl by at a snail's pace


Is this for some reason? I’m still lonely
I wonder if there is any reason behind my persistent loneliness, even though I seem to have everything I could want


Now that I’ve got everything I wanted
Despite achieving my goals and acquiring my desired possessions, there is still something lacking in my life


Still a bad taste in my mouth
I am left with a lingering feeling of dissatisfaction and emptiness, despite my accomplishments


See I sent away my baby
I made the mistake of pushing my loved one away


I sent her packing on down the chain
I caused my loved one to leave me, sending her down a path without me


So now she ain’t my baby
My loved one is no longer with me


Yeah, but I still love her all the same
Despite our separation, my love for my ex-lover still remains strong


So take me down there in time and feed me liquor
I wish to drown my sorrows in alcohol and reminisce about past times


I don’t want to pain tonight
I want to avoid feeling any emotional pain tonight


Where do I run to?
I question where I can go to escape my overwhelming feelings of dissatisfaction and emptiness


Where do I run to now that I’ve lost you?
I am lost and unsure of where to turn now that I have lost my loved one


Still a bad taste in my mouth
My feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction remain with me, leaving a sour taste in my mouth




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LUKE PRITCHARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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