Candy Floss
Wilco Lyrics


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I'm the boy that looks excited
I'm the boy that's gonna fall apart
Candyfloss, I lie to myself
I'm the boy that eats his heart out

I know I should be more careful
I know I should watch where I've been
Candyfloss and she's a safecracker
She kissed me first, then broke in

We slip and slide on the stay-together landmine
I make my mind up to never be myself
And every time I fake around
I live my life for someone else

She's in the kitchen with bitter diamond drunks
(She's in the way)
I'm on the sofa hoping she leaves that punk 'cause
(I'm in the way)

I'm the boy with the poetry power
I'm the boy, smells like flowers
Every time I dick around
I live my life like I wasn't invited

She's in the way
I'm in the way

I'm the boy that looks excited
I'm the boy that's gonna fall apart
Candyfloss, she kissed me first
And I'm the boy, don't get me started

I know I should be more careful
I know I should watch where I've been




Candyfloss, she's a safecracker
She kissed me first, then broke in

Overall Meaning

The song "Candy Floss" by Wilco is a reflection on love, self-doubt, and the pain of vulnerability. The opening lines introduce the singer as someone who appears excited and put-together on the surface, but is internally struggling to keep it together. He acknowledges that he lies to himself and eats his heart out over a woman, referred to as "Candyfloss." The use of this sweet, airy term for his love interest contrasts with the singer's darker, self-destructive tendencies.


The second verse continues to explore the singer's conflicted feelings, acknowledging that he should be more careful and watchful of where he's been. Candyfloss is described as a "safecracker," potentially playing with the singer's emotions and leading him astray. The chorus introduces the metaphor of a stay-together landmine, illustrating how precarious their relationship is and the difficulty of navigating it. The singer struggles with being himself and faking around others, ultimately feeling like he's living for someone else.


The final verse describes Candyfloss' presence as a hindrance, with her bitter diamond drunk friends keeping her in the kitchen while the singer is on the sofa, hoping she leaves. Despite this, the singer sees himself as a boy with poetry power and a floral scent. Ultimately, he acknowledges that Candyfloss kissed him first and broke into his heart, leaving him vulnerable and unable to resist.


Overall, the song is a commentary on the pain and pleasure of love and the self-doubt that comes with opening oneself up to another person.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm the boy that looks excited
I'm the confident guy on the outside, but I'm feeling anxious on the inside


I'm the boy that's gonna fall apart
I'm not as strong as I appear, and my life is starting to unravel


Candyfloss, I lie to myself
I try to convince myself that everything is okay, even though it's not


I'm the boy that eats his heart out
I'm consumed by my emotions and I can't seem to escape them


I know I should be more careful
I'm aware of my mistakes, but I keep making them


I know I should watch where I've been
I need to pay more attention to my actions and their consequences


Candyfloss and she's a safecracker
She's a danger to me, but I'm drawn to her like candyfloss


She kissed me first, then broke in
She lured me in with her charm, but then betrayed me


We slip and slide on the stay-together landmine
Our relationship is unstable and uncertain, like walking on a minefield


I make my mind up to never be myself
I'm trying to change who I am to fit someone else's expectations


And every time I fake around
I'm not being true to myself, and it's starting to wear me down


I live my life for someone else
I'm sacrificing my own happiness and freedom to please someone else


She's in the kitchen with bitter diamond drunks
She's hanging out with rough characters who don't have much to offer


(She's in the way)
Her presence is making it harder for me to move on


I'm on the sofa hoping she leaves that punk 'cause
I'm hoping she'll see the error of her ways and leave that bad influence behind


(I'm in the way)
I'm feeling like I'm in the way of my own happiness and progress


I'm the boy with the poetry power
I have a way with words and I use them to express my feelings


I'm the boy, smells like flowers
I have a sensitive side, but it's often overshadowed by my insecurities


Every time I dick around
Every time I waste time or act foolishly


I live my life like I wasn't invited
I feel like an outsider in my own life, like I don't belong


Candyfloss, she kissed me first
I was vulnerable to her charms and she took advantage of that


And I'm the boy, don't get me started
I have a lot of unresolved issues and emotions that I don't want to talk about




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: JEFF TWEEDY, JAY BENNETT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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