Reaction
The Unlikely Candidates Lyrics


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Reaction...

I need a, I need a reaction

In a backstreet, in the hardest part of town
I'm fucked up, cause you're no longer around
I listen for a, heartbeat
And my mind breaks, cause I know I let you down
And I'm scared, that what's lost cannot be found
I listen for your, heartbeat

You're rollin'
The police are patrollin'
Patron in ice are flowin', the truth over me

Oh, it's the final season
(oh it's the final season)
And if you're not leavin
Then i need a
(Well I need a)
I need a reaction!

Oh give you a reason
(give me a reason)
To keep on believin'
But I need a
(Well I need a)
I need a reaction!

I need a, I need a reaction

And we move fast cause we knew if we slowed down
Pieces of our love would hit the ground
You're feelin' for a, heartbeat
And the room spins in a dirty dancin' hall
And you won't be there again to watch me fall
You look at me in the eyes, like it's the last time
Then you turn away when I need you now.

I'm rollin'
The police are patrollin'
Patron in ice are flowin', the truth over me

Oh, it's the final season
(oh it's the final season)
And if you're not leavin
Then i need a
(Well I need a)
I need a reaction!

Oh give you a reason
(give me a reason)
To keep on believin'
But I need a
(Well I need a)
I need a reaction!

I need a, I need a reaction

Your roses are red but my veins are blue
You see the love in my eyes
What'chu gonna do?
Your roses are dead and my veins are too
You see the life in my eyes
What'chu gonna do?
You're starin' at me but you don't make a move
We ain't got a lot of time
So what'chu gonna do?
I can change, I can change, I can change,
I can change... for... you...!

Oh, it's the final season
(oh it's the final season)
And if you're not leavin
Then i need a
(Well I need a)
I need a reaction!

Oh give you a reason
(give me a reason)
To keep on believin'
But I need a
(Well I need a)
I need a reaction!

I need a, I need a reaction





I need a, I need a reaction

Overall Meaning

The Unlikely Candidates’ “Reaction” is a song about heartbreak and the desperate need for a reaction, any kind of response, from someone who has left. The singer is lost without the person he is addressing, and he’s left searching, listening for a heartbeat that is no longer there. He’s scared that they can never find what they had before, and he needs a reaction from this person to know that they’re still there, that they still care.


The lyrics paint a picture of somebody who is trying to move on but is held back by their love for someone who has gone. The “final season” and the urgency of the singer’s plea suggest that time is running out, and they need some kind of acknowledgment from the other person before it’s too late. The chorus repeats this need for a reaction, emphasizing the important role that communication and emotional validation play in any relationship.


Overall, the song captures the raw emotions of heartbreak, loss, and the human need for connection and acknowledgment. It speaks to anyone who has ever felt alone in their longing for someone they once loved.


Line by Line Meaning

I need a, I need a reaction
The singer is desperate for a response or some kind of feedback from someone.


In a backstreet, in the hardest part of town
The singer is feeling lost and alone in a rough, undesirable area.


I'm fucked up, cause you're no longer around
The singer is struggling with the absence of someone who meant a lot to them.


I listen for a, heartbeat
The artist is searching for a sign of life or connection, perhaps metaphorically.


And my mind breaks, cause I know I let you down
The artist is tortured by guilt and self-blame over a mistake or failure that caused harm.


And I'm scared, that what's lost cannot be found
The singer is afraid that they will never be able to recover what has been lost.


You're rollin'
The person the singer is addressing is doing well or acting confident.


The police are patrollin'
The idea of authority or danger is hovering in this setting.


Patron in ice are flowin', the truth over me
The artist is using alcohol to numb their pain or release their inhibitions, but it's not a real solution.


Oh, it's the final season (oh it's the final season)
There is a sense of finality or conclusion hanging over the situation, as if it's coming to an end.


And if you're not leavin' / Then I need a (I need a) / I need a reaction!
The singer is trying to clarify if things are going to continue or if there is going to be a change, and they need to hear something to confirm it.


Oh give you a reason (give me a reason) / To keep on believing' / But I need a (I need a) / I need a reaction!
The artist needs some kind of assurance or motivation to keep going, but just asking for it isn't enough without a response.


And we move fast cause we knew if we slowed down / Pieces of our love would hit the ground
The singer and someone else apparently had a passionate but precarious relationship and knew they had to keep moving to avoid collapsing.


You're feelin' for a, heartbeat / And the room spins in a dirty dancing hall
Someone is trying to reconnect or recapture what's been lost in a chaotic, unstable environment.


And you won't be there again to watch me fall
The singer is lamenting that the person they care about won't be there to support them through hard times anymore.


You look at me in the eyes, like it's the last time / Then you turn away when I need you now
There is a sense of loss and abandonment in this moment, as if someone is saying goodbye when the artist needs them most.


Your roses are red but my veins are blue / You see the love in my eyes / What'chu gonna do?
The artist is in a dark or depressive state, but someone else can still see something positive or beautiful in them.


Your roses are dead and my veins are too / You see the life in my eyes / What'chu gonna do?
The singer is feeling empty or numb, and someone else is still seeing vitality or potential in them.


You're starin' at me but you don't make a move / We ain't got a lot of time / So what'chu gonna do?
There may be an opportunity or a sense of urgency in this situation, but neither person is willing to take action or initiate a change.


I can change, I can change, I can change, I can change... for... you...!
The artist is willing to do whatever it takes to win back or keep the person they care about, even if it means changing themselves.




Contributed by Sophie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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