Since 2018, Fabrizio Moretti (also of The Strokes) has led the New York syn… Read Full Bio ↴Since 2018, Fabrizio Moretti (also of The Strokes) has led the New York synth pop band and artist collective Machinegum (stylized machinegum) which both performs and records music and presents gallery installations.
The group is composed of Moretti and Ian Devaney (vocalist of Nation of Language), Delicate Steve, Chris Egan, Martin Bonventre, and Erin Victoria Axtel. The group has also collaborated with architect Joseph Vescio and actor/director Justin Bartha in the past.[19]

Machinegum released their debut album Conduit in December 2019.[19] Released on Frenchkiss Records, the group later signed to the record label in February 2020.

Sugar and Vice
machinegum Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm shaped by your fingertips the power of touch
I'm addicted to your form
of counterfeit love
I'll spend this trial avoiding the bench bathed in the light of freedom outside
you knew what came for us you worked it out that night under the tungsten light
I'm way in over my head
your razor stare
go somewhere to finally be here counterfeit love

mount your attack just to come back muscles get torn when feelings return
you knew what came for us you worked it out that night under the tungsten light you saw this coming
vulnerable vines
you ask the wrong questions but want the right answers
buried in time
you ask the wrong questions but want the right answers

vulnerable vines
you ask the wrong questions but want the right answers

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Sugar and Vice" by machinegum seem to delve into a complex relationship dynamic characterized by addiction, deception, and the struggle to find genuine love. The opening lines, "I'm shaped by your fingertips, the power of touch, I'm addicted to your form, of counterfeit love," suggest that the singer has become molded and dependent on the touch and affection of another person. However, this love is described as "counterfeit," indicating that it is not authentic or sincere.

The following lines, "I'll spend this trial avoiding the bench bathed in the light of freedom outside, you knew what came for us, you worked it out that night under the tungsten light," suggest that the singer is trying to avoid the consequences or trials of their relationship by staying within its confines. The reference to the "tungsten light" may represent a moment of clarity or realization that took place, possibly indicating a conversation or confrontation, where both parties understood what awaited them.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "counterfeit love" and introduces the idea of mounting an attack just to come back, emphasizing the cyclical nature of their relationship. The line "muscles get torn when feelings return" suggests that entering into this love brings pain and conflict. The subsequent verses continue to highlight the singer's realization that they are in deep over their head and that their partner saw the inevitable consequences coming. The repeated phrase "you ask the wrong questions but want the right answers" suggests a pattern of misguided inquiries and an underlying desire to find genuine connection amidst the deception and artifice.

Overall, "Sugar and Vice" portrays a tumultuous relationship where both parties are aware of the false nature of their love, yet they continue to engage in it due to addiction and fear of the freedom and unknown that lies beyond.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm shaped by your fingertips the power of touch
I am deeply influenced by the way you touch me, highlighting the immense power of physical contact.

I'm addicted to your form of counterfeit love
I have become dependent on a fake version of love that you offer.

I'll spend this trial avoiding the bench bathed in the light of freedom outside
I will do anything to avoid facing the consequences and instead choose to stay in a comfortable but deceptive state.

You knew what came for us, you worked it out that night under the tungsten light
You were aware of the challenges that awaited our relationship and strategized a solution on that specific night.

I'm way in over my head, your razor stare
I am completely overwhelmed and out of my depth, especially when faced with your intense gaze.

Go somewhere to finally be here counterfeit love
In order to truly find love, you need to leave behind the artificial affection we currently have.

Mount your attack just to come back, muscles get torn when feelings return
You launch emotional attacks only to later reconcile, resulting in the deterioration of our emotional well-being.

You saw this coming, vulnerable vines
You anticipated this situation, where our emotional vulnerability is exposed and fragile like delicate vines.

You ask the wrong questions but want the right answers, buried in time
Your inquiries are misguided, yet you still desire accurate responses, but these truths remain hidden in the past.

You ask the wrong questions but want the right answers, vulnerable vines
Once again, you seek answers to the wrong inquiries, yearning for the correct responses amidst our fragile emotional state.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Fabrizio Moretti

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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