Tangerine
Glass Animals Arlo Parks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴(Whoa)
As cold as an old ice cream sandwich
As focused as Mr. Miyagi
You poke at your phone postin' aerial photos
Of you with your smoothie
I can't keep on makin' you happy
'Cause you got issues with your daddy
And your gran in home movies
But I wish I could show you more of yourself
I wish I could make you somebody else
But I left it way too late
Are you stuck in your own ways?
I'm beggin', hands, knees, please
Tangerine, come on back to me
Got what I need
Tangerine, do this for me
Hands, knees, please
Tangerine, sugar, honey, sweet
Got what I need
Tangerine
I wanna see you bloomin' like a tulip
With your head like peach
I'm readin' through your letters (whoa)
I remember when you saw through me
And now within your pale blue eyes
There's nothin' I can keep
I used to know the way you smiled
And how you liked your tea
Now, you spirited away, catch a gleam in the eye
Of the ghost that you are
It'll never be okay, you're a star of the past
God I miss that sweet little tangerine
(oh my God)
(drop the beat)
You've been dreamlessly sleepin' for years
Super clear since the late 1990s
You only look at me properly now
When you're drunk, watchin' movies
Where are you? What happened? I want what we had
Where you gone? Where you hidin'?
It's 2:23, you got Friends on repeat
On repeat, on repeat, on repeat
On repeat, on rep-
I wish I could show you more of yourself
I wish I could make you somebody else
But I left it way too late
Are you stuck in your own ways?
I'm beggin', hands, knees, please
Tangerine, come on back to me
Got what I need
Tangerine, do this for me
Hands, knees, please
Tangerine, sugar, honey, sweet
Got what I need
Tangerine
Hands, knees, please
Tangerine, come on back to me
Got what I need
Tangerine, do this for me
Hands, knees, please
Tangerine, sugar, honey, sweet
Got what I need
Tangerine
I'm beggin' hands, knees, please
Tangerine, come on back to me
Got what I need
Tangerine, do this for me
Hands, knees, please
Tangerine, sugar, honey, sweet
Got what I need
Tangerine (whoa)
Overall Meaning
The song "Tangerine" by Glass Animals and Arlo Parks is a melancholic track that speaks about longing and regret. The lyrics depict a somber and introspective mood that contrasts with the upbeat rhythm and electronic beats. The opening lines "As cold as an old ice cream sandwich, As focused as Mr. Miyagi" create a vivid image of the emotional state of the singer, who misses the simplicity of life and the connection they once shared with someone. The lines "You poke at your phone postin' aerial photos, Of you with your smoothie" criticize the superficiality of social media and the obsession with appearances.
The song then delves into the main reason for the singer's emotional turmoil: the person they once knew has changed, and they cannot accept it. The line "I used to know the way you smiled and how you liked your tea" highlights the small, intimate details that the singer cherished and now misses. The chorus "Tangerine, come on back to me, Got what I need" repeats the refrain that the singer begs for their lover's return, but ultimately realizes that it may not be possible as they ask, "Are you stuck in your own ways?"
The song ends on a bittersweet note, acknowledging that time has passed, and things have changed irreversibly. The song paints a picture of nostalgia, regret, and longing for what once was. The emotional depth of the lyrics paired with the electronic beats creates a unique and thought-provoking track.
Line by Line Meaning
(Whoa)
Interjection expressing surprise or emotion
As cold as an old ice cream sandwich
You appear to be cold and unfeeling, like an abandoned sandwich
As focused as Mr. Miyagi
You are very determined and diligent, just like Mr. Miyagi from the Karate Kid
You poke at your phone postin' aerial photos
You constantly use your smartphone to upload aerial photographs of yourself
Of you with your smoothie
You like to drink smoothies and usually take photos of it
I can't keep on makin' you happy
I cannot continue to be the reason for your happiness
'Cause you got issues with your daddy
Because you have unresolved emotional problems with your father
I miss ramen noodles and laughing at you
I miss spending time with you, eating ramen noodles and having a good laugh
And your gran in home movies
I also miss watching home movies with your grandmother
But I wish I could show you more of yourself
I wish I could help you discover more about yourself
I wish I could make you somebody else
I wish I could transform you into a different person
But I left it way too late
But unfortunately, it's already too late for that
Are you stuck in your own ways?
Are you unwilling to change and improve upon your current situation?
I'm beggin', hands, knees, please
I'm pleading with you earnestly and with great humility
Tangerine, come on back to me
Come back to me, my sweet, lovely Tangerine
Got what I need
I have everything I need in order to make us work again
Tangerine, do this for me
Please do this for me, my beloved Tangerine
Tangerine, sugar, honey, sweet
Tangerine, you are the epitome of sweetness to me
I wanna see you bloomin' like a tulip
I want you to grow and flourish like a beautiful tulip
With your head like peach
I want your mind to be as clear and valuable as a ripe peach
I'm readin' through your letters (whoa)
I am going through your letters, perhaps trying to figure out where things went wrong
I remember when you saw through me
I remember when you were able to understand me completely
And now within your pale blue eyes
But now, when I look into your pale blue eyes, I can't seem to connect with you
There's nothin' I can keep
I am unable to hold onto anything, it seems, especially not you
Now, you spirited away, catch a gleam in the eye
You seem to have vanished away from me, and I can sense a glimmer of something in your eyes
Of the ghost that you are
You seem like a ghost of your former self
It'll never be okay, you're a star of the past
Things will never be okay between us again, because you are a thing of the past
God I miss that sweet little tangerine
I miss you so much, my sweet little Tangerine
(oh my God)
Exclamation expressing surprise or emotion
(drop the beat)
Indication to increase the beat in the music
You've been dreamlessly sleepin' for years
You seem to be sleeping for countless years, without any dreams or direction
Super clear since the late 1990s
It is very clear to me since the late 1990s that something has been wrong with you
You only look at me properly now
You only seem to give me proper attention and consideration when you are drunk and watching movies
When you're drunk, watchin' movies
You usually have to be under the influence of alcohol and watching movies for you to pay attention to me
Where are you? What happened? I want what we had
I am asking myself where you have gone and what has happened to us. I miss the connection that we used to share
Where you gone? Where you hidin'?
Where have you disappeared to? Where are you hiding from yourself and from me?
It's 2:23, you got Friends on repeat
It is two in the morning, you are listening to Friends on repeat again
On repeat, on repeat, on repeat
You are listening to it over and over again
I'm beggin', hands, knees, please
I am on my knees, begging for your help
Tangerine, sugar, honey, sweet
My Tangerine, you are the sweetest thing to me
Got what I need
I have everything I need right here with you
Tangerine, do this for me
Please do this one thing for me, my love
I'm beggin' hands, knees, please
I am begging with everything I have
Tangerine, come on back to me
Return to me, my sweet Tangerine
Tangerine, do this for me
Please grant me this one request, my Tangerine
Tangerine, sugar, honey, sweet
You are the sweetest, most valuable thing to me, my darling Tangerine
Hands, knees, please
I am on my hands and knees, desperately pleading for your help
Tangerine, sugar, honey, sweet
Tangerine, you are the only thing that can make me complete
Got what I need
You are the only one I need in order to be happy
Tangerine
A repetition of the significance of the aforementioned plea to Tangerine
(whoa)
Exclamation expressing surprise or emotion
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Brittany Talia Hazzard, Dave Bayley, Paul Epworth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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