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You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Arctic Monkeys's Body Paint at Lyrics.org.
Lyrics
For a master of deception and subterfuge
You’ve made yourself quite the bed to lie in
Do your time travelin’ through the tannin’ booth
So you don’t let the sun catch you cryin’
So predictable, I know what you’re thinkin’
My teeth are beatin’ and my knees are weak
It’s as if there’s somethin’ up with the wirin’
You can poke your head behind the mountain peak
Don’t have to mean that you’ve gone into hidin’
So predictable, I know what you’re thinkin’
I’m watchin’ your every move
I feel the tears are comin’ on
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
Straight from the cover shoot
Still a trace of body paint
On your legs and on your arms and on your face
And I’m keepin’ on my costume
And callin’ it a writin’ tool
And if you’re thinkin’ of me
I’m probably thinkin’ of you
There’s still a trace of body paint
On your legs and on your arms and on your face
There’s still a trace of body paint
On your legs and on your arms and on your face
There’s still a trace of body paint
On your legs and on your arms and on your face
There’s still a trace of body paint
On your legs and on your arms and on your face
So predictable, I know what you’re thinkin’
Ooh, ha
Yeah
Yeah
Arctic Monkeys’ song ‘Body Paint’ is not just a melody with haunting lyrics but a labyrinth of emotional depth and artistic metaphor. With its intricate composition, the band once again showcases their ability to blend narrative storytelling with their unique sound.
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The track, whipping up conversations and think pieces, brims with allegory and introspection. We delve into the heart of ‘Body Paint,’ peeling back its layered meanings, and discern how every stroke of the band’s lyrical brush contributes to a masterpiece of sentiment and reflection.
The Artist’s Palette: Emotional Deceit and Personal Revelation
On the surface, ‘Body Paint’ could be interpreted as a commentary on the facade we wear, both literally and figuratively. The protagonist accuses their partner of deception, harshly spotlighting the emotional camouflage – as transient and superficial as body paint.
Yet deeper within the song, we find a personal confession. Behind the veneer of judgment lies the narrator’s own admission of vulnerability and fear, conveying a shared weakness — the character and the narrator both use masks, one through body paint, and one through a ‘costume.’
The Lament of the Sun: Grief’s Hidden Shade
The lyric ‘so you don’t let the sun catch you cryin” is not just poetic but evokes the poignant imagery of someone going to lengths to hide their sorrow. Seeking refuge in a tanning booth, they avoid the light of truth and transparency.
This evokes an emblematic struggle with vulnerability; using the metaphoric sun to depict an illuminant that must be avoided at all costs lest it reveal the tears – the true extent of emotional turmoil clad in darkness and isolation.
Echoes of Desire: The Unbreakable Psychic Connection
The recurring line ‘So predictable, I know what you’re thinkin” paints a familiar picture of two individuals locked in an intimate ballet of thought. There’s a profound connection, perhaps once treasured, now predictably laid out like an open book.
Despite the distance and disconnection implied by the rest of the lyrics, the narrator claims an empathic bond that endures. Such psychic intimacy reinforces the complexity and contradiction of human relationships mirrored in the song’s narrative.
Haunting Repetition: Body Paint’s Memorable Mantra
The chorus, with its hypnotic repetition of ‘there’s still a trace of body paint,’ reinforces the lingering presence and influence of this person in the speaker’s life. Much like body paint, the emotional residue is hard to wash away, hinting at the indelible impact of love and loss.
This motif serves as a haunting reminder of the past’s persistent presence and the difficulty of moving beyond a smeared history intertwined with pain, passion, and pretense.
Unmasking the Metaphor: Body Paint as a Writin’ Tool
The Arctic Monkeys refuse to serve a simple dish. They implore listeners to dive beneath the surface. When the narrator describes ‘keepin’ on my costume / And callin’ it a writin’ tool,’ it is an open confession of using personal experiences as fodder for their creativity.
Here, ‘Body Paint’ takes on a self-referential tone. It becomes a dialogue about the artistry of songwriting itself, where personal narratives become dissembled and reconfigured into lyrics, exploring the notion that within each verse, we wear our hearts hidden in plain sight.
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