Frampton is well known for his notoriously gritty and rough instrumentals and raw, politically charged lyrics, especially around Brexit and Theresa Mayβs tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. His stage name originates from his childhood nickname - Frampton had a speech impediment which caused him to speak slowly and with a drawl. Originally known as Slow Ty, he changed it to slowthai when he released his first single in 2016.
PLAY WITH FIRE
slowthai Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Play with fire, let it rip
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, let it burn
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, let it rip
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, let it rip
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, let it burn
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, let it rip
Play with fire, fire
(I'm hypersensitive)
"Soft lad, stop acting like a bitch"
I wish I pressed skip, everything is negative
It gets hectic
Stressing if you're from the place I live
They couldn't catch my drift with your nose in my business
Nail on the head, I make it click
A chain's only as strong as its links
That's why I gotta box from squints
And the coke makes the cats
Look like they're Jar Jar Binks (Jar Jar)
Top it off with a wink
That's the icing on the cake
The cherry on the top
My bike ain't got no brakes
That's why I never stop (stop)
I say it to your face
Cah I don't give a fuck
Name a time and a place
Getting brave, you dug your grave (yeah)
I'm the next best thing since electric
It is what I said it is
And that's expensive
Remember I didn't have a flint
Skint, tryna get it
Setting fire with my lighter
I did it ambidextrous
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, let it rip
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, let it burn
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, let it rip
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, let it burn
Full moon
Put me in a corner, have me swinging with a pool cue
I do this for them broke yutes
No money in the lunch room
My brother's in the magistrates
All they know is slanging weight (free 'em)
And banging 'til their knuckles break (free 'em, oh)
Mothers say, "For Pete's sake"
If we could only keep Pete safe
Pete's up the street with heat tryna bleed grapes
Some people can't see straight, need to find direction
If I clock an interception, Cruyff Turn, watch your knees break
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, let it rip
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, let it burn
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, let it rip
Play with fire, fire
Play with fire, let it burn
Sometimes I feel like I've got my head in a blender (small talk)
Compromising with too many empty promises (I hate the internet)
If you love the world for its flaws you will never be disappointed (honestly, honestly)
You're my everything and I have no words (I fucking hate you)
(Just be sincere, be honest man)
I just wanna make you proud (sometimes I hate myself, I fucking hate you)
(Some days I feel)
Do what you wanna do and not what's expected of you (I am, I promise, I love you)
If anyone's seen sleep, tell him I miss him dearly
I'm happy being the fucking flower boy (I just wanna be in the pub with my boys)
Don't let your mattress swallow you, wallowing
Thinking what you gonna do or gotta do (fuck all these expectations)
My heart and mind are at war
And my soul's out here playing piggy in the middle (don't be scared to be yourself)
Why do I feel like I'm holding the short straw?
The lyrics of "Play with fire" by Slowthai seem to suggest a desire to take risks and live life on the edge. The repetition of the phrase "play with fire" throughout the song serves as a metaphor for living dangerously and not being afraid to take risks. The song starts with a chorus that repeats the phrase "play with fire" four times, each time followed by the instructions to "let it rip" or "let it burn." These instructions emphasize the idea of embracing the dangerous and unpredictable aspects of life.
In the verses, Slowthai provides some context for this desire to live dangerously. He talks about the negative environment in which he grew up, where stress and violence were a constant presence. He describes himself as someone who can't be pinned down, and he emphasizes his refusal to conform to societal expectations. He plays with language throughout the song, with clever wordplay and internal rhyme that adds to the feeling of irreverence and rebellion.
Overall, "Play with fire" is a song about embracing the more dangerous and unpredictable aspects of life, and refusing to be held down by societal norms or expectations. Slowthai seems to be advocating for a life lived on one's own terms, even if that means embracing some risk and danger along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Play with fire, fire
Encouragement to take risks and live dangerously
Play with fire, let it rip
Urge to fully embrace the recklessness of the situation
Play with fire, let it burn
Suggestion to let the situation escalate out of control
"Soft lad, stop acting like a bitch"
An insult to someone who is not embracing the danger and excitement of life
I wish I pressed skip, everything is negative
Regret at not avoiding a negative situation
It gets hectic
Situations can quickly become chaotic and overwhelming
Stressing if you're from the place I live
Pressure to succeed and escape from difficult circumstances
They couldn't catch my drift with your nose in my business
Others do not understand what the artist is doing and should not interfere
Nail on the head, I make it click
The artist has a clear understanding of what needs to be done
A chain's only as strong as its links
The success of a group depends on the strength of its individual members
That's why I gotta box from squints
The singer is training hard to become stronger and more focused
And the coke makes the cats
Drugs can alter perception and create a distorted reality
Look like they're Jar Jar Binks (Jar Jar)
The singer is mocking the appearance of those affected by drugs
Top it off with a wink
The singer is confident and playful, even in dangerous situations
That's the icing on the cake
The wink is the finishing touch to the singer's humorous and confident persona
The cherry on the top
The wink is the perfect complement to the artist's cool demeanor
My bike ain't got no brakes
The artist is willing to keep going, even if it means not being able to slow down
That's why I never stop (stop)
The singer is always moving forward and taking risks
I say it to your face
The singer is direct and unafraid of confrontation
Cah I don't give a fuck
The artist does not care about the opinion of others
Name a time and a place
The artist is ready to face any challenge, anywhere
Getting brave, you dug your grave (yeah)
The artist is warning others that they will pay the consequences for challenging him
I'm the next best thing since electric
The singer is confident and believes he is a major force in the world
It is what I said it is
The artist stands by his words and actions
And that's expensive
The singer's lifestyle and attitude come at a high cost
Remember I didn't have a flint
The singer came from humble origins and had to work hard to get where he is
Skint, tryna get it
The singer was once poor and is now striving for success
Setting fire with my lighter
The artist is creating chaos and excitement with his actions
I did it ambidextrous
The artist is skilled and adept at creating chaos with both hands
Full moon
The singer is setting the scene for a wild and unpredictable night
Put me in a corner, have me swinging with a pool cue
The singer is ready to fight if provoked
I do this for them broke yutes
The artist is fighting for the underprivileged and less fortunate
No money in the lunch room
The artist understands the struggle of growing up poor
My brother's in the magistrates
The artist has family members who have gotten into trouble with the law
All they know is slanging weight (free 'em)
The singer's brother and others like him have turned to selling drugs to make a living
And banging 'til their knuckles break (free 'em, oh)
The artist's brother and others like him are willing to fight to protect their business
Mothers say, "For Pete's sake"
The singer's family members are worried about the risks involved in their way of life
If we could only keep Pete safe
The singer's family members want to protect their loved ones from danger
Pete's up the street with heat tryna bleed grapes
The singer's family members are willing to use violence to protect their business
Some people can't see straight, need to find direction
The artist is offering advice to those who are lost and unsure of their path in life
If I clock an interception, Cruyff Turn, watch your knees break
The artist is ready to make a quick move and take down opponents
Sometimes I feel like I've got my head in a blender (small talk)
The singer is overwhelmed by social interactions and finds them draining
Compromising with too many empty promises (I hate the internet)
The singer is frustrated with the insincerity and unreliability of others
If you love the world for its flaws you will never be disappointed (honestly, honestly)
The artist is encouraging others to accept the world as it is and find happiness in imperfection
You're my everything and I have no words (I fucking hate you)
The artist has complicated and conflicting emotions towards a significant other
(Just be sincere, be honest man)
The artist is reminding himself to be authentic and true to his feelings
I just wanna make you proud (sometimes I hate myself, I fucking hate you)
The singer is conflicted about his desire to please someone else and his self-loathing
(Some days I feel)
The artist is acknowledging his emotional complexity
Do what you wanna do and not what's expected of you (I am, I promise, I love you)
The singer is urging others to follow their own desires, even if it means not meeting others' expectations
If anyone's seen sleep, tell him I miss him dearly
The singer is struggling with insomnia and desires rest
I'm happy being the fucking flower boy (I just wanna be in the pub with my boys)
The singer is content with being different and not conforming to societal expectations
Don't let your mattress swallow you, wallowing
The artist is warning against becoming too comfortable and lazy
Thinking what you gonna do or gotta do (fuck all these expectations)
The artist is rebelling against expectations and social pressures
My heart and mind are at war
The singer is conflicted and torn between what he wants and what he should do
And my soul's out here playing piggy in the middle (don't be scared to be yourself)
The singer's true self is trapped between opposing forces
Why do I feel like I'm holding the short straw?
The artist feels unlucky and disadvantaged in life
Lyrics Β© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kwesi Darko Obiri, Tyron Frampton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind