Take Shelter by Years & Years Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Emotional Tumult in Synth-Pop Cadences

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Years & Years's Take Shelter at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

I’ll wait until you have to go
I’ll make it so you never ever know
How much I have messed it up

We’re running ’round like we don’t care
It’s gonna leave its marks somewhere
Do you want to show me something new?

(You go now, reached my top anyway
You go now, reached my top anyway)

Just tell me what I have to do
To keep myself apart from you
All your colors start to burn

I know I wanted far too much
Then I thought that wouldn’t be enough
All this talk is closing you

Take shelter
Take the pressure
Do what you want tonight, it’s alright
If you want to get used
You get used

Take shelter
Take the pressure
Do what you want tonight, it’s alright
If you want to get used
Then get used

I don’t really wanna stop myself
Nobody’s gonna tell me I need help
Are you coming over soon?

I’ll meet you at the darkest time
You hold me, and I have to shut my eyes
I’m shy, cannot be what you like

(You go down, reached my top anyway
You go down, reached my top anyway)

Just tell me what I have to do
To keep myself apart from you
All your colors start to burn

And take shelter
Take the pressure
Do what you want tonight, it’s alright
If you want to get used
Then get used

Take shelter
Take the pressure
Do what you want tonight, it’s alright
If you want to get used
Then get used

I don’t really need this pressure to go
If you wanna find love
If you wanna find something more
I’ll be the one to run for you
I don’t really need this pressure to go
If you wanna find love
If you wanna find something more
I’ll be the one to run for you

Take shelter
Take the pressure
Do what you want tonight, it’s alright
If you want to get used
Then get used

And take shelter (shelter)
Take the pressure
Do what you want tonight, it’s alright
If you want to get used

At first listen, ‘Take Shelter’ by Years & Years seems steeped in the pulsating rhythms of synth-pop euphoria, the kind of track that ignites a carefree night out, arms flailing, and feet relentlessly tapping. However, beneath this vibrant facade lies an emotional depth that speaks to the complexities of desiring connection and fearing its repercussions.

Lead vocalist Olly Alexander’s hauntingly ethereal voice channels a yearning for intimacy and a simultaneous apprehension about its consequences, enveloping the listener in a dance between vulnerability and self-protection. ‘Take Shelter’ artfully navigates the tempestuous waters of human relationships, reminding us that sometimes the heart’s yearnings don’t align neatly with the mind’s defenses.

A Siren’s Call for Intimacy Amidst Emotional Chaos

The opening lines of ‘Take Shelter’ serve as a tender confession, a stark admission of not wanting a loved one to see one’s own failings. This powerful beginning sets the stage for a theme of hiding true feelings due to the fear of how much personal chaos could mar the purity of a blossoming connection.

The candidness with which the song approaches this confession catapults it beyond the confines of generic pop tropes, pushing the listener to confront their vulnerability. In an age where authenticity in music can often take a back seat to boisterous display, ‘Take Shelter’ brings it to the forefront, daring to be disarmingly honest.

Dance Rhythms and Emotional Cages: The Struggle of Self-Sabotage

The pulsing beats intertwined with lyrics that speak of running around carelessly only to leave marks underscores the tension between reckless abandon and the fear of emotional scarring. The duality of wanting to show someone new worlds while also desiring to keep them at a safe distance illustrates the self-sabotage that accompanies the fear of getting too close.

Olly Alexander’s resonating voice captures the essence of this struggle – the innate human inclination to self-protect even when it means pushing away what we most desire. Years & Years manage to wrap this inner conflict in a soundscape that is at once intoxicating and poignant.

The Hidden Meaning: Seeking Refuge in the Storm of Desire

Belying the track’s upbeat tempo, ‘Take Shelter’ dives deep into the psyche of an individual caught in the storm of desire, seeking refuge in the comfort of another’s presence. The chorus’s repetitive plea to ‘take shelter, take the pressure’ can be seen as both a command and a supplication, a complex entwinement of independence and dependence.

This repeated phrase becomes a mantra of survival, suggesting that the protagonist is trying to find solace from the relentless pressure of their own feelings. Indicative of the emotional tempest within, ‘Take Shelter’ can be read as a person’s journey towards reconciling their desire to be loved with the instinct to maintain emotional sovereignty.

Memorable Lines: The Searing Honesty of ‘If You Want to Get Used’

Among the most striking lyrics within ‘Take Shelter’—’If you want to get used, then get used’—lay bare a raw and unsettling truth. Rather than the typical romantic fixations of popular music, the phrase illuminates a self-awareness about the often transactional nature of hookups and fleeting passions.

This line resonates as a pivotal moment in the song, acting as both admonition and acceptance, acknowledging the potential for use and misuse within intimate encounters. It challenges the listener to reflect on the nature of consent and the spectrum of emotional states that can occur when two people collide, even if temporarily.

The Artistry of Balance: Synth-Pop Euphoria and Soul-Baring Lyrics

Olly Alexander and company have managed to achieve a balance seldom struck – a song that can rule the dance floor while simultaneously introspecting the human condition. ‘Take Shelter’ stands as a testament to Years & Years’ ability to craft music that makes you move and think with equal fervor.

It speaks to the power of the band’s musicianship and songwriting prowess that they can paint such vibrant landscapes of emotion while keeping the listener enveloped in synth-driven beats that demand physical response. ‘Take Shelter’ provides shelter itself, a rare synthesis of sound and meaning that can cradle the spirit and set the body free.