The song is about Taylor meeting the devil at a crossroads to sell her soul in exchange for talent. If that sounds familiar, it’s because the song was inspired by blues musician Robert Johnson, who made that very claim about the source of his own talent.
Take Me Down
The Pretty Reckless Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Forever and a day
On a guy to buy my soul
I spend all night and day
How much harder can I play
You know I gave my life to Rock n' Roll
Momma begged me please
Yes, she got down on her knees
Said 'You'll burn in that Mississippi sun'
But I'm the only one that's standing here
So Mama don't you have no fear
I'm either last or I've already won
Here I go
Take me down
Take me down
Take me down
Won't you take me down
Standing at the crossroads
A dried up pen in hand
The conversation went like this
'Tell me your desire why you pulled me from the fire
And we'll seal the deal with a kiss'
Said 'I wanna raise the dead
Find a note that I can shred
On my walls I scrawl my gods
Don't care what happens when I die
As long as I'm alive
All I wanna do is rock, rock, rock!
Take me down
Take me down
Take me down
Won't you take me down
Sign with the devil, sign with the devil, sign with the devil
Sign with the devil, sign with the devil, sign with the devil
Sign with the devil, sign with the devil, sign with the devil
Sign with the devil, sign with the devil, sign with the devil
Take me down
Take me down
Take me down
Won't you take me down
Take me down
Take me down
Take me down
Won't you take me down
In "Take Me Down," The Pretty Reckless tells the story of a musician who has spent her life waiting for fame and success at the crossroads. She's willing to do whatever it takes, even sign a deal with the devil, to achieve her dreams. The first verse describes her at the crossroads, waiting for a man to buy her soul. However, the lyrics also suggest that she has already given her life to rock and roll. The second verse reveals the conflict between her mother's fear of the dangers of the music industry and the singer's determination to succeed. The chorus makes clear that she is prepared to make any sacrifice to achieve her dreams. The third verse reveals the singer's desire to raise the dead through her music, which is so important to her that she is willing to make a deal with the devil.
The song's lyrics reflect the band's interest in the occult and the supernatural, which they explore in several other songs. The song's intense rock sound also adds to the sense of danger and desire depicted in the lyrics. "Take Me Down" is a tribute to the power of rock and roll, and how it can inspire both creativity and self-destructive behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Been waitin' at these crossroads
Forever and a day
On a guy to buy my soul
The singer has been waiting for a long time for someone to offer to buy her soul.
I spend all night and day
How much harder can I play
You know I gave my life to Rock n' Roll
Here we go
The singer has given everything to the rock n' roll lifestyle and is ready to keep going even harder.
Momma begged me please
Yes, she got down on her knees
Said 'You'll burn in that Mississippi sun'
But I'm the only one that's standing here
So Mama don't you have no fear
I'm either last or I've already won
Here I go
The singer's mother warned her about the dangers of her chosen lifestyle, but the singer is standing strong and ready to succeed or fall.
Take me down
Take me down
Take me down
Won't you take me down
The singer is asking for someone to help her reach her desired level of success and fame.
Standing at the crossroads
A dried up pen in hand
The conversation went like this
'Tell me your desire why you pulled me from the fire
And we'll seal the deal with a kiss'
Said 'I wanna raise the dead
Find a note that I can shred
On my walls I scrawl my gods
Don't care what happens when I die
As long as I'm alive
All I wanna do is rock, rock, rock!
The singer expresses her desire to create music that shakes things up and lives forever, regardless of the consequences.
Sign with the devil, sign with the devil, sign with the devil
Sign with the devil, sign with the devil, sign with the devil
Sign with the devil, sign with the devil, sign with the devil
Sign with the devil, sign with the devil, sign with the devil
The singer acknowledges the potentially devilish nature of the music industry and is still willing to make the deal.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TAYLOR MOMSEN, BEN PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevemakin7648
I Absolutely LOVE her Voice in this!!..The record itself is simple(??) Rock 'n Roll come Electric Blues...
The way the Band put it down, her Backing Singers support, and HER VOICE whacks it out with finesse and subtlety is just High Art Perfection in motion!!!...
Like I said, I LOVE THIS...
Ontop of this, the video production manager & team are to be congratulated with the use of the gritty, three colour layout of their product, and DON'T get me started on Taylor's "Sexual Hum"!, which just flattens most of us humble males watching her perform....
What a Mix. 10 out of 10 if there EVER was a need to mark this! Beauty in MANY Guises.....
Can't stop playing it..
Steve.
@marammahmoud4381
Been waiting at these crossroads forever and a day
And no guy to buy my soul
I've spent all night and day
How much harder can I play?
You know I gave my life to rock 'n roll
Here I go
Mama, begged me, please
Yes, she got down on her knees
Said you'd burn in that Mississippi sun
But I'm the only one that's standing here
So, mama don't you have no fear
I'm either last or I've already won
Here I go
Take me down, take me down
Take me down, won't you take me down?
Standing at the crossroads, would draw a pen in hand
The conversation went like this
"Tell me your desire, why you pulled me from the fire
And we'll seal the deal with a kiss"
Don't wanna waste the dead
Find a note that I can shred on my walls
I scroll my Gods
Don't care what happens when I die as long as I'm alive
All in wanna do is rock, rock, rock
Take me down, take me down
Take me down, won't you take me down?
Ooh, signed with the Devil
Signed with the Devil
Signed with the Devil
Oh
Signed with the Devil
Signed with the Devil
Signed with the Devil
Oh
Signed with the Devil
Signed with the Devil
Signed with the Devil
Oh
Signed with the Devil
Signed with the Devil
Signed with the Devil
Oh
Take me down, take me down
Take me down, won't you take me down?
Take me down, (signed with the Devil) take me down (signed with the Devil)
Take me down (signed with the Devil) won't you (signed with the Devil)
Take me down, down?
@criticgunthy4681
Taylor made the right choice leaving Hollywood. Her voice rocks and the band kicks ass.
@akbhojpuridamakamuzaffarpu5617
Critic Gunthy is
@LJ-yz4ob
Pretty wrecklesss
@mikepalmer2219
Critic Gunthy you should see them live. Very very good live.
@diegom.1510
you do know The record industry is still hollywood right?
@diegom.1510
U.S. SAM Dude shes on interscope/razor & tie straight up major record label owned by Universal music group. She never left hollywood she just switched departments. And while houre right and not all studios/ labels are in cali pretty much all of the major players are in cali.
@realcrunchy6572
If this was released in the 70's /80"s this would be a classic already
@Mysteriuminiquitatis1998
@wayamaya I agree. Rock isn’t really at the fore front in popularity nowadays, so of course they are as appreciated by the masses. However, I don’t think they are underrated because they do get lots of praise within rock scope of things...at least I think so. I mean they get pretty heavy rotation of rock stations.
@robertmetzger1753
It is in My Mind, Heart and Soul LOLOLOLHAHA
@rexdaugherty1987
Decade doesn't matter it is a classic