Hemlock (Official) Lyrics

Yeah, so take a shower, shine your shoes, brother
Ain't no time to lose,
brother, we're about to booze, brother
You could probably use another shot, take it in the kitchen
Put the key in the ignition and drink away inhibition
Yeah we work hard but we try to play harder
Recapin' last night is like the perfect day starter
Tryin' to piece together all of yesterday's troubles
Through the pictures on the camera and the blood up on our knuckles
And that bottle of Petrone, empty bottles of cologne
Someone's necklace in my bedroom and a number in my phone
Like yeah baby, man that shit was crazy
The way we approached the ladies and finally talked to Amy
And maybe she would holla
'Cause baby I would leave you some cologne up on your sweater for your lipstick on my collar
And no I'm not in love with you, but yo it's only right
I'd rather have an awkward morning than deal with a lonely night

Ya see, I like the song slow and I like the nights long
I like the lights low and I like the drinks strong
I try to hide the fact that my life is superficial
In reality, this liquor is a pistol
It's like I'm drinkin' Hemlock, Aristotle come and share the bottle
'Cause I see the planet through paradoxical pairs of goggles
I know a crazy social life can be intoxicating
And I'm not debating that it isn't…but all I'm saying
Is some people come and go while your lover is dedicated
So tell me who will be there when all these people have faded?
The music stops playin' and the buzz disappears
Will you really have somebody there to wipe away the tears?
This party atmosphere isn't always what it seems
Like a sucker, I traded away the woman of my dreams
I was lured by the Sirens and promised the popularity
And women with whom I don't share a single similarity
So next time I see the Goddess Godiva
I'll probably invite her, so we can get it poppin' and swappin' saliva
We're drinkin' liquor so everyone can be shallow
This party is a prison, baby send me to the gallows
And all these couples that are "takin' a break"
Thinkin' we're makin' memories, we're just makin' mistakes
So I wanna say I'm sorry for the nights that I was smokin'
The lights that I have broken
I wanna say I'm sorry for the words I meant to say to you but they were never spoken
I'd like to say I finally found the token, hopin'
That I could pull through, as I struggle with the evil
With more angels and demons than a Da Vinci Code prequel
I'd like to have a Saturday without a hangover
I would like to have a Friday night where I can bang sober
So welcome to the land of alcoholics
Where everyone is faker than the motherfuckin' license in your wallet
So I'ma take a shower, and I'll shine my shoes, brother
Ain't no time to lose, brother, but I'm 'bout to lose lovers
'Cause I'm a young man and I know I must be livin'
So go now, lover, you finally are forgiven
You can dispatch,
'cause I would rather be single
Even though you're absolutely perfect, I would rather mingle
And even though our love will never ever be rekindled
I need to think about the day when I'll be old and wrinkled
'Cause I don't ever wanna regret
This college social life is superficial but it's the only one that we get
So I wanna make mistakes while I still have the chance
So I drink the Hemlock and go find a slow dance
And I promise that I'll call you again
Even if I have to call you a friend, but 'till then…
I'll keep my head up and I'll try to be a soldier
And be happy with the opportunity of starting over

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About

Genius Annotation

From the 2009 Kinetics & One Love album Fading Back To Normal, the song “Hemlock” addresses the dark emptiness of building relationships out of superficial drunken encounters. In the aftermath of a breakup that is referenced consistently throughout the album, the narrator names alcohol and the promise of these superficial encounters as the causes of his breakup. He compares alcohol to hemlock, the poison used in executions in Ancient Greece.

By the end of the song, the narrator changes his tone and happily drinks the hemlock, embracing the opportunity to make mistakes while he still has the chance…while he is young and resilient.

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Release Date
2012
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