Pretty Things
Big Thief Lyrics
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With your silk in my hand
And your heart in my sweat as you're
Lighting the end of my last cigarette
I will warm you
Warm you
These things that lonely ones do
I'll take care and make all your
Wishes come true
If you want to
Do you want to?
Don't take me for a fool
There's a woman inside of me
There's one inside of you, too
There is an eating in my thighs
Wherein thunder and lighting
Men are baptized in their anger and fighting
Their deceit and lies
I've got lips like sugar
Lips like sugar
Holding my wrist to the bed
He was thrusting and moaning
And pressing his head
To my temple
His head was a temple
I said you've got lips like sugar, daddy
Lips like sugar
Don't take me for a fool
There's a woman inside of me
There's one inside of you, too
And she don't always do
Pretty things
The lyrics to Big Thief's song "Pretty Things" are complex and dense, painting a picture of a complicated, possibly dangerous relationship. The opening lines, "Matthew, please do not regret / With your silk in my hand / And your heart in my sweat as you're / Lighting the end of my last cigarette," seem to suggest a sense of intimacy and vulnerability between the two people involved. The singer is holding onto an item of Matthew's, perhaps something that he values. The novel image of "your heart in my sweat" suggests that the singer is literally holding Matthew's heart in her hands as he lights a cigarette for her. There is a sense of intimacy and emotional entanglement between the two, as the singer promises to "warm" Matthew.
The next stanza shifts to a more seductive tone. The singer offers to grant Matthew's wishes and take care of him if he wants her to. There is an explicit sexual invitation when she asks "Do you want to?" The theme of seduction and manipulation is further explored in the next verse. There is imagery of violence in "There is an eating in my thighs / Wherein thunder and lighting / Men are baptized in their anger and fighting / Their deceit and lies." The final verse culminates in a scene of sexual dominance: "Holding my wrist to the bed / He was thrusting and moaning / And pressing his head / To my temple." There is a suggestion of power exchange, as the singer calls him "daddy" and compliments his "lips like sugar." The final chorus reinforces that the two people involved are not necessarily "doing pretty things" but rather indulging in darker impulses.
Line by Line Meaning
Matthew, please do not regret
Addressing someone named Matthew and urging him to avoid regretting a decision.
With your silk in my hand
Holding onto something valuable belonging to Matthew.
And your heart in my sweat as you're
Having an emotional connection with Matthew as indicated by his heart being associated with the singer's sweat.
Lighting the end of my last cigarette
Preparing to smoke the last cigarette in a pack.
I will warm you
Offering comfort and support to Matthew.
Warm you
Repeating the offer of warmth and support to emphasize its importance.
These things that lonely ones do
Acknowledging that loneliness can cause people to act in specific ways.
Baby that's what I'm here for
Offering to help alleviate Matthew's loneliness by being there for him.
I'll take care and make all your
Promising to take care of Matthew and fulfill his desires.
Wishes come true
Vowing to make Matthew's dreams a reality.
If you want to
Leaving the decision of whether to accept this offer to Matthew.
Do you want to?
Reemphasizing the importance of Matthew's choice in seeking comfort and companionship.
Don't take me for a fool
Warning Matthew to take the singer seriously and not underestimate them.
There's a woman inside of me
Acknowledging a feminine aspect to the singer's identity.
There's one inside of you, too
Positing that Matthew has a similar aspect to his identity.
There is an eating in my thighs
Referencing a bodily manifestation of a feeling or experience.
Wherein thunder and lighting
Using metaphorical language to describe the intense or overwhelming sensations being experienced.
Men are baptized in their anger and fighting
Suggesting that men may grapple with these sensations by acting out in aggressive behavior.
Their deceit and lies
Implying that these acts of aggression can result in insincerity or dishonesty.
I've got lips like sugar
Describing the physical or sensual aspects of the artist's body.
Lips like sugar
Repeating the physical description of the artist's lips to emphasize their importance.
Holding my wrist to the bed
Describing a physical interaction between the artist and another person.
He was thrusting and moaning
Further detailing the physical interaction by indicating the other person's actions.
And pressing his head
Describing another physical interaction with further detail and specificity.
To my temple
Clarifying the location of this physical interaction.
His head was a temple
Using metaphorical language to describe the importance or reverence with which the other person was treating the singer.
I said you've got lips like sugar, daddy
Describing the other person's physical features and emphasizing their sensuality.
Don't take me for a fool
Repeating the earlier warning that Matthew should not underestimate the artist.
There's a woman inside of me
Repeating the earlier acknowledgement of a feminine aspect to the artist's identity.
There's one inside of you, too
Reemphasizing that Matthew likely has a similar aspect to his identity.
And she don't always do
Suggesting that this feminine aspect may behave in unexpected or unconventional ways.
Pretty things
Describing this behavior as untraditional or unconventional, possibly even unattractive or unappealing.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: ADRIANNE ELIZABETH LENKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
