Sex Type Thing by Stone Temple Pilots Lyrics Meaning – A Deep Dive Into Power Dynamics and Misinterpreted Intent
Lyrics
I said I wanna get next to you
I said I’m gonna get close to you
You wouldn’t want me have to hurt you too
Hurt you too
I ain’t, I ain’t, I ain’t
A buyin’ into your apathy
I’m gonna learn, you my philosophy
You wanna know about atrocity
Atrocity
I know you want what’s on my mind
I know you like what’s on my mind
I know it eats you up inside
I know you know, you know, you know
I am a man, a man
I’ll give you something that you won’t forget
I said you shouldn’t have worn that dress
I said you shouldn’t have worn that dress
Worn that dress
I know you want what’s on my mind
I know you like what’s on my mind
I know it eats you up inside
I know you know, you know, you know
Here I come, I come, I come, I come
Here I come, I come, I come
I am, I am, I am
I said I wanna get next to you
I said I gonna get close to you
You wouldn’t want me have to hurt you too
Hurt you too
I know you want what’s on my mind
I know you like what’s on my mind
I know it eats you up inside
I know you know, you know, you know
I know you want what’s on my mind
I know you like what’s on my mind
I know it eats you up inside
I know you know, you know, you know
Here I come, I come, I come, I come
Here I come, I come, I come, I come
Here I come, I come, I come, I come
Here I come, I come, I come, I come
Here I come, I come, I come, I come
Here I come, I come, I come, I come
Here I come, I come, I come, I come
Here I come, I come, I come, I come
Here I come, I come, I come, I come
Stone Temple Pilots, often lauded for their grunge-infused rock of the early ’90s, have etched their name in the annals of music history with tracks that bleed raw energy and shadowy introspection. ‘Sex Type Thing,’ thrumming with unyielding guitar riffs and fervent vocals, is no pedestrian entry in their discography, its swirling controversy and layered narrative spinning intrigue.
At first glance, the track could be misconstrued as just another rock anthem steeped in the genre’s notorious machismo. But delve beneath the pulsating surface, and you’ll uncover a searing critique of sexual aggression and the destructive mindset of entitlement. Here’s an exploration into the visceral narrative of ‘Sex Type Thing,’ decoding the profound commentary stitched within its raucous tempo.
The Unsettling Persona: Dissecting the Narrator’s Prowess
The song’s narrative is delivered through a voice thick with looming intention, forgoing subtlety for direct confrontation. ‘I am, I am, I am,’ the repeated mantra serves as an assertion of presence and dominance. It’s a stark declaration of ego and intent that refuses to shy away. The narrator’s self-assuredness borders on predatory, a dark dance around the concepts of consent and personal space.
In ‘I said I wanna get next to you,’ a seemingly innocuous line metamorphoses under the weight of the subsequent ‘You wouldn’t want me to have to hurt you too.’ The immediate switch from desire to threat is jarring and intentionally so, forcing the listener to confront the brutal reality of sexual aggression.
Confronting Apathy: The Song’s Rebellious Philosophy
A secondary theme that courses through ‘Sex Type Thing’ is a critique of societal indifference, particularly towards acts of atrocity. ‘I ain’t, I ain’t, I ain’t a buyin’ into your apathy,’ challenges the collective ennui that often greets tales of abuse. The narrator positions themselves as a herald of an uncomfortable truth that society needs to learn and address.
The word ‘atrocity’ looms large, acting as an accusation, a mirror held up to the face of a culture that sometimes passively endorses such behavior by refusing to acknowledge its severity. This bold provocation is a hallmark of the band’s willingness to grapple with contentious issues head-on.
A Disturbing Confession: ‘You Shouldn’t Have Worn That Dress’
Permeating the song is an insidious victim-blaming sentiment epitomized by the line ‘I said you shouldn’t have worn that dress.’ It reflects a harrowing yet pervasive mentality that shifts culpability onto the victim based on attire, a blunt portrayal of the ways in which society often fails survivors of sexual assault.
The usage of this particular accusation uncovers the double entendre of ‘Sex Type Thing’—is it about sex or the typecast roles people are shoved into? Such lines are a key reason why the song invites debate and retains relevance, resonating with ongoing discussions about consent and victim-shaming.
The Song’s Hidden Meaning: A Mockery of Misogynistic Tropes
Diving deeper into the fabric of ‘Sex Type Thing,’ many interpret it as a menacing pastiche of sexual entitlement. The narrator’s bluster is overblown to the point of caricature, amplifying toxic masculinity to lay bare its absurdity and horror.
Stone Temple Pilots manage to skewer the machismo so often celebrated in rock’s pantheon, using the genre’s own tools against it. Subverting expectations, they deliver a powerful counter-narrative that indicts rather than endorses the very attitudes it simulates.
Eternal Echoes: Why ‘Sex Type Thing’ Still Resonates
Years after its release, ‘Sex Type Thing’ reverberates with haunting prescience. In an era of #MeToo and renewed calls for gender equality, its vivid portrayal of toxic masculinity and its consequences cannot be overlooked.
The song’s relentless pulse and unflinching lyrics draw the listener into a dialogue about power, control, and societal complicity in sexual aggression. It’s a conversation that remains painfully pertinent, making ‘Sex Type Thing’ a reluctant anthem for an ongoing struggle.
