You look like you
Rented a smile
From someone but you
Rented the wrong size

Take it back
You should take it back

BURY IT
That's not what you want
That's not what you want

Cause that would grow more
That's not what you want
That's not what you want

We still have
The element
Of surprise
Defence shields
DOWN

Return to energizer (x4)

Wave your bloody white flags
Surrender
Give in

That's not what you want (x4)

That's not what you

We still have
The element
Of surprise
Defence shields
Down!

Return to energizer (x8)

And all hell breaks loose, when you're here...(x4)


Lyrics submitted by JonnyxSniper

Return to Energiser Lyrics as written by Liam Rory Clewlow Chris Batten

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Return to Energiser song meanings
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29 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    rou wrote this on the shikari forums :

    Energiser was written after I’d finally naively realised how fake some people can really be. The opening section describes an experience where this person was putting on such a false happy character/front that they actually looked like a puppet or something with a smile that really didn’t fit their face! I then use the whole quaser/laser quest thing as a metaphor. These people need to ‘return to the energiser’ to reload their gun, i.e. come to terms with whatever problem that is making them act and address it! Re-think their actions and don't be afraid to reveal their real feelings (re-energise) haha pretty far fetched really, sorry for such a brief explanation!

    rrr.ickyon May 13, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Haha trust them to write a song about Laser Quest. Electro freaks :]

    FalseSmileson July 03, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is sort of balladish i went to q-zar (a laser gun game) and all i could think of when i was out of ammo and my armor was saying 'return to energiser' was this song

    glasoon January 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Apparently it's about Laser Quest / Quaser (sp?). Random - yes, but such a great song.

    Triangleon April 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    wait... this song is about laser quest like laser tag? i guess it fits, it's just really random its still an ammmmmazing song. did anyone else realize after he says return to energiser 8 times, when it gets quieter he whispers "chicha chicha ba ba ba" not words just like sounds. the first time i heard that i laughed idk why.

    kris10xxon June 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    effin love this song !!

    yeah i noticed that he makes those 'chicha chicha ba ba ba' noises too... i kinda thught he was saying something at first, but then i realised it was just random noises lol... i still dont get it =p

    yeah great song...

    and yeah kinda suits them to write a song about lazer quest =p

    Takemetoneverlandon July 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Return To Engergiser is like my favourite Enter Shikari song at the moment. The other week we actually went to Quasar-none of us could stop singing the song everytime we went back to base to get energised (saddlyit made all my team easy to find. Ooops!)

    I LOVE TO QUIRKY SOUNDS MADE NEAR THE END. its so awesome, i have to make the sounds along with the track everytime i play it.

    LOVE IT!!!!!

    sunshinme_duston August 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    chicha chicha bah bah bah - rou's lame attempt at beatboxing ;)

    binzyviciouson November 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    There's a Quaser pretty near where they were brought up...i don't think its a homage to their electro roots...not sure. stuff about defence shields and waving a white flag to surrender...i think it's just a song.

    SmithBJon December 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    any band that write a song about quasar are alright by me =)

    harlequinxgirlon December 30, 2006   Link

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