Kicks by FKA twigs Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Enigmatic Pursuit of Self-love
Lyrics
I feel for you
Time passes by
Feel it for you
I explore
Stroke my side
Yes, I do
Feel for you
So I tell myself
It’s cool for me to wait for you
Just for you
I collect my thoughts and breathe
Because I take your lead
Take your lead
Tell me, what do I do when you’re not here?
What do I do when you’re not here?
Tell me, what do I do when you’re not here?
What do I do when you’re not here? (I get my kicks like you)
When I’m alone
I don’t need you
I love my touch
Know just what to do
So I tell myself
It’s cool to get my kicks like you
Just like you
I just touch myself
And say, I’ll make my own damn way
Own damn way
Tell me, what do I do when you’re not here?
Tell me, what do I do?
Baby, it’s clear
Tell me, what do I do when you’re not here?
What do I do when you’re not here?
Tell me, what do I do when you’re not here?
What do I do when you’re not here?
(I get my kicks like you)
Tell me, what do I do when you’re not here?
What do I do when you’re not here?
Tell me, what do I do when you’re not here?
What do I do when you’re not here?
(I get my kicks like you)
What do I do when you’re not here?
(I get my kicks like, I get my kicks like)
(I get my kicks like you)
Tell me, what do I do?
Baby, it’s clear
In the hauntingly beautiful track ‘Kicks’ from FKA twigs’s acclaimed album, we delve into the labyrinth of solitude, self-satisfaction, and the quest for emotional independence. Twigs’s ethereal voice, coupled with the song’s minimalist production, cloaks the listener in a mist of introspection and raw vulnerability.
At first listen, ‘Kicks’ could be mistaken for a sensual homage to self-empowerment, but a more profound dissection unravels layers of emotional complexity and existential contemplation. It is a meditation on the transient nature of companionship and the enduring necessity for self-contentment.
Discovering Independence in Absence
The repeating inquiry ‘What do I do when you’re not here?’ serves as the central spine of the song, emphasizing the universal struggle to find self-purpose amid loneliness. Twigs transforms the echo of this question into a self-affirming answer where the absence of the other is met with self-sufficiency rather than despair.
The answer to this haunting question is woven throughout the track as a declaration of autonomy. Twigs champions the notion that fulfillment need not be sought purely through others, asserting that her own company is as fulfilling as any external affection.
The Intimacy of Self-Love
FKA twigs’s fluid prose in ‘Kicks’ skillfully intertwines themes of self-love and the intimacy of knowing one’s own body and mind. This celebration of self-intimacy is encapsulated in the line ‘I love my touch; Know just what to do,’ dismantling the stigma surrounding solo sexual gratification and recasting it as an act of personal empowerment.
The refrain ‘I get my kicks like you’ juxtaposes the kicks one derives from a partner with those found within oneself, suggesting parity between pleasures, thus empowering the narrator and challenging the listener to recognize the legitimacy of solo satisfaction.
‘It’s Cool to Get My Kicks Like You’ – The Symmetry of Pleasure
Kicks’ invites a radical interpretation where self-gratification is not just a placeholder in the absence of others but holds its own value. Twigs normalizes finding joy and contentment in one’s company, independent of external validation or participation.
By mirroring the language typically reserved for engaging with a partner, Twigs’s lyrics point to the profound realization that the ‘kicks’ one can get on their own are just as authentic, intense, and deserving of celebration as those that come from shared experiences.
The Unspoken Truth Beneath the Melody
Beneath the sensuous rhythm and the impactful repetitions lies an unspoken truth about human resilience and adaptability. FKA twigs does not merely suggest coping mechanisms but illuminates a deeper philosophy of embracing inherent completeness, with or without partnership.
This track stands out as an anthem for those who have faced the silence of solitude only to discover their own echoed answers within. It’s a reminder of the strength found in self-reliance and the beauty of one’s own company.
Asserting Self-Sufficiency with Memorable Lines
‘I just touch myself / And say, I’ll make my own damn way’ – these lines leave a striking mark as Twigs both claims agency over her pleasure and carves her path forward. It is both a physical assertion and a metaphor for taking charge of one’s destiny.
In ‘Kicks,’ Twigs does more than provide solace; she offers a resonant refrain for those forging their journey in solitude. These memorable lyrics serve as a mantra for self-validation, emphasizing the capacity to create one’s own euphoria and the courage to walk an independent course.
