Discography:
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs (EP) (2002)
• Fever to Tell (2003)
• Show Your Bones (2006)
• It's Blitz! (2009)
• Mosquito (2013)
• Cool It Down (2022)
Black Tongue
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can keep your black tongue
Well I found at the mortuary
You know I'm gonna want some want some
We'll hide in the back room gonna have a packed suit
With this you will regret
Just let it be your yeah, yeah, yeah
Sonny kept his ring on
Red tape so ordinary
Love I feel like it was gone, gone, gone, gone
Lets do this like a prison break,
I want to see you scream and shake.
[Chorus:]
Boy you just a stupid bitch
And girl you just a no good dick...
Hot
Were gonna keep it in the family
Yeah well even though were on the run
You know they're gonna want some, want some
Well hide in the back room gonna have a packed suit
With this you will regret
Just let it be your yeah, yeah, yeah
[Chorus]
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' song "Black Tongue" is a visceral track that combines raw punk energy with Karen O's emotional, almost vulnerable lyrics. The first verse speaks to the idea of holding onto something dark or negative, represented by the "black tongue" mentioned in the title. Karen O, through her lyrics, seems to embrace this part of herself, referring to it as something she "found at the mortuary." She knows that others may try to take it away from her or criticize her for it, but she defiantly declares that she's "gonna want some" of this "black tongue" and won't let others shame her for it.
The second verse of "Black Tongue" shifts to a different character named Sonny, whose "ring" is a symbol of a love that has faded away. The lines "Lets do this like a prison break, I want to see you scream and shake" bring a sense of chaos and desperation to the song, suggesting that the singer wants to break free from stagnant, suffocating relationships. The chorus, with its blunt insults directed at a male and female target, expresses frustration and anger with people who won't let go of toxicity and negative patterns in their lives.
Overall, "Black Tongue" is a song that celebrates the parts of ourselves that we may be ashamed of or want to hide, and encourages listeners to embrace their true selves without fear or concern for what others may think.
Line by Line Meaning
Hot (Aww)
Starting the song with a simple exclamatory word, indicating that the singer is riled up and ready to go
You can keep your black tongue
Telling someone to keep their lies to themselves and not try to deceive the singer
Well I found at the mortuary
The singer has discovered a secret, possibly even a dark or deadly one
You know I'm gonna want some want some
The singer is ready to get some answers or perhaps even seek revenge for what they have uncovered
We'll hide in the back room gonna have a packed suit
The singer plans to hide away and prepare for the confrontation they know is coming
With this you will regret
A warning to whoever has been lying or keeping secrets that they will come to regret it
Just let it be your yeah, yeah, yeah
A plea to just come clean and admit the truth
Sonny kept his ring on
Possibly a reference to a character or situation, but it could mean someone holding onto something they shouldn't or displaying something as a sign of loyalty
Red tape so ordinary
The bureaucracy or rules in place are hindering progress or causing problems
Love I feel like it was gone, gone, gone, gone
The singer's love or trust for someone has disappeared or been shattered
Lets do this like a prison break
The singer is ready to take action and break free from whatever is holding them back
I want to see you scream and shake.
The singer wants to see their enemies or those who have wronged them suffer or show remorse
Boy you just a stupid bitch
A harsh insult directed towards a male who has caused trouble or acted poorly
And girl you just a no good dick...
An equally harsh insult directed towards a female who has caused trouble or acted poorly
Were gonna keep it in the family
Possibly a reference to the concept of loyalty or keeping secrets even within a group or family
Yeah well even though were on the run
The singer and their allies are on the move, possibly escaping or evading danger
You know they're gonna want some, want some
Others will want to know the secrets or truths that the singer has uncovered or is hiding
We'll hide in the back room gonna have a packed suit
Returning to the idea of preparing for the confrontation or battle that is to come
With this you will regret
A repeated warning that those who have lied or kept secrets will come to regret it
Just let it be your yeah, yeah, yeah
A repeated plea to confess and come clean
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRIAN CHASE, KAREN LEE ORZOLEK, NICHOLAS JOSEPH ZINNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nadia
on "date with the night"
I got a date with the night
Burnin' out my finger
Gonna catch the kids dry
Gonna walk on water
Buyin' out the fight
We're sweatin' in the winter
Both thighs squeeze tight
Choke choke choke choke choke choke choke choke choke choke...
Don't tell me to fix her
Don't tell me to fix her
Just take a bite
No hangin' no picture
Flyin' out my sight
Droppin' brides at the altar
Both thighs squeeze tight
Choke choke choke choke choke choke choke choke choke choke...
I'll set you I'll set it off
I'll set you I'll set it off
I'll set you I'll set it off off
I'll set you I'll set it off
I'll set you I'll set it off
I'll set you I'll set it off
I'll set you I'll set it off off off
Buyin' out the fight
Gonna walk on water
Gonna catch the kids dry
Gonna bend my finger
Flyin' out my sight
We're sweatin' in the winter
Both thighs squeeze tight
Both thighs squeeze tight