Fair Game by Sia Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Depths of Desire and Power Dynamics in Romance
Lyrics
‘Cause you’re a man, you’re not a boy
You got some power
And I can’t treat you like a toy
You’re the road less
Travelled by a little girl
You disregard the mess while I try to control the world
Don’t leave me, stay here and frighten me
Don’t leave me, come now enlighten me
Give me all you got
Give me your wallet and your watch
Give me your first-born
Give me the rainbow and the
So go and challenge me
Take the reins and see
Watch me squirm baby
But you are just what I need
And I’ve never played a fair game
I’ve always had the upper hand
But what good is intellect and airplay
If I can’t respect any man
Oh I want to play a fair game
Yeah I want to play a fair game
You terrify me
We’ve still not kissed and yet I’ve cried
You got too close and
I pushed and pushed hoping you’d bite
So I could run, run
And that I did but through the dust
You saw those teeth marks
They weren’t all yours, you had been thrust into a history
That had not worked for me, into a history
From which I could not flee
So go on shake me
Shake until I give it up, wearing me down baby
I know that we could make some love
So go and challenge me
Take the reins and see
Watch me squirm baby
But you are just what I need
And I’ve never played a fair game
I’ve always had the upper hand
But what good is intellect and airplay
If I can’t respect any man
Yeah I want to play a fair game
Yeah I want to play a fair game
And I’ve never played a fair game
I’ve always had the upper hand
But what good is intellect and airplay
If I can’t respect any man
Yeah I want to play a fair game
Oh I’ve never played a fair game
I’ve always had the upper hand
But what good is intellect and airplay
If I can’t respect any man
Yeah I want to play a fair game
Yeah I want to play a fair game
In the pantheon of Sia’s enigmatic and potent discography, ‘Fair Game’ emerges as a profound meditation on vulnerability and the power dynamics within a romance teetering on the brink of transformation. Sia’s vocal prowess, paired with her knack for weaving complex emotional narratives, creates a landscape where listeners are invited to explore themes of control, fear, and the yearning for an equitable connection.
The dance between strength and surrender in ‘Fair Game’ is less a battle and more a ballet, where Sia’s haunting articulation pirouettes through a hall of mirrors reflecting facets of the human condition. As we dissect the lyrics of ‘Fair Game,’ we plunge into the significance of its words, unravelling the shadows of confrontation with self, with others, and with the very notion of love.
A Cry From The Edge Of Control
Sia’s proclamation, ‘You terrify me,’ serves as a clarion call that echoes the intrinsic fear of the unknown that comes with genuine intimacy. The juxtaposition of a ‘man’ and a ‘boy’ sets the stage for a discourse on maturity, where the former holds power that is both alluring and intimidating. The song opens up a dialogue about the discomfort of navigating a relationship with someone who cannot be manipulated or dismissed as a mere ‘toy’.
The struggle for control is palpable as Sia contemplates the ‘road less travelled by a little girl,’ alluding to her previous patterns of avoidance and the propensity to attempt to master the chaos of the world—perhaps even her inner world. The plea to stay and ‘enlighten’ her reveals a paradoxical desire to confront and embrace the very forces that threaten her self-imposed sovereignty.
The Seductive Dance of Challenge and Submission
The refrain ‘So go and challenge me’ coupled with ‘Watch me squirm baby’ plunges the listener into the throes of a perilous game, where Sia recognizes and even invites the destabilizing impact of her paramour’s influence. The admission that the lover is ‘just what I need’ signals a reluctant recognition of the transformative potential inherent in being unseated from a position of dominance.
Sia’s complex relationship with power surfaces as she oscillates between inviting challenge and resisting the inevitable exposure of her vulnerabilities. The imagery of squirming, of displacement and discomfort, conveys the terror and thrill of embarking on a path that might just lead to the discovery of authentic connection and self-awareness.
The Unequal Footing of Intellect Over Emotion
Admitting to ‘never played a fair game,’ Sia illuminates the historic upper hand she has maintained through wit and control, perhaps in careers or previous relationships. This assertion of her intellectual dominance raises the question of its value when it stands in the way of genuine respect and emotional reciprocity with a partner.
Her lyrics paint a portrait of an individual grappling with the dissonance between the power achieved through ‘intellect and airplay’ and the lack thereof within the realms of her intimate life. The stark realization that professional accomplishments or mental gymnastics do not necessarily translate to successful personal interactions is a humbling and humanizing moment in the song.
Unpacking the Hidden Meaning: The Masks of Past Traumas
In a wrenching twist of self-awareness, Sia unveils the undercurrent of past scars with ‘You saw those teeth marks / They weren’t all yours, you had been thrust into a history.’ This revelation illuminates the struggles of bringing old wounds into new relationships, where partners often bear the brunt of unresolved issues.
The lyric ‘From which I could not flee’ captures the poignancy of an individual trapped by their history, seeking solace in the arms of another who is both a participant and a witness to their cycle of flight. Sia’s confessional writing in ‘Fair Game’ exposes the intricate dance between the desire to escape the past and the need to confront it in the face of a potent new love.
Memorable Lines: The Raw Honesty of Wanting Equilibrium
The line ‘But what good is intellect and airplay / If I can’t respect any man’ is a gut-punch that distills the essence of the song’s struggle. It is an acknowledgment of an inner void that no amount of external validation can fill, a hunger for a relationship where respect and accountability flow in both directions.
Sia’s rallying cry, ‘Yeah I want to play a fair game,’ repeats like a mantra, a call to arms for herself and listeners alike to dismantle the uneven scaffolds upon which they’ve built relationships. It reflects a moment of reckoning, a decision to stride toward a love rooted in equity, mutual admiration, and the willingness to revel in the richness of sharing power rather than hoarding it.
