If lust and hate is the candy,
if blood and love tastes so sweet,
then we give 'em what they want.
Hey, hey, give 'em what they want.

So their eyes are growing hazy 'cos they wanna turn
it on,
so their minds are soft and lazy.
Well, hey, give 'em what they want.

If lust and hate is the candy,
if blood and love tastes so sweet,
then we give 'em what they want.

So their eyes are growing hazy 'cos they wanna turn
it on,
so their minds are soft and lazy.
Well... who do you wanna blame?

Hey, hey, give 'em what they want.

If lust and hate is the candy,
if blood and love tastes so sweet,
then we give 'em what they want.

So their eyes are growing hazy 'cos they wanna turn
it on,
so their minds are soft and lazy.

Well... who do you wanna blame?


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Candy Everybody Wants song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • +3
    Song Meaning

    Natalie appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in 1993 following the release of "Our Time in Eden." She discussed the song "Candy Everybody Wants" in that interview. Here is that portion:

    "The second single on 'Our Time in Eden,' takes on traditional Merchant themes, in this case, the American appetite for televised sex and violence -- and big business's willingness to satisfy that craving. 'The song is complete satire, and the fact that it might end up being on Top Forty radio is real interesting,' Merchant says. 'I think it would be the first pop song in a long time to have lyrics like, "If lust and hate is the candy, if blood and love taste so sweet, then give them what they want." They're not typical pop lyrics, and it's very subversive.' But what about the video, a wry melange of nonsensical advertisements in which Natalie -- making fun of glamour and fashion and, of course, consumerism -- looks drop-dead gorgeous in a glam green dress? Isn't she worried that some people will see the video and think nothing more than 'Wow, Natalie looks hot'? 'Satire,' she says, 'is sort of crafted in a way that escapes some people.' Isn't she worried that she will, quite literally, be giving people what they want? 'That,' she replies, 'is beyond my control.' "

    ToulouseLuckon November 26, 2014   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    "Candy Everybody Wants" has a moral to it. Many of us consider blood, lust, hate and love of a sexual kind to be bad, yet those things are readily available in movies, books, and even song. If those things are truly wrong, the song questions who is to blame given how popular those things are. We hide behind others, blaming, but not wishing to be blamed.

    degree7on September 20, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I have always felt this song is about human beings and all of their lustful desires. Be it child abuse, media, tv voyeurism, big oil - this song is about all of it. As a global community we are hedonistic voyeurs who wave our prophetic flags across the world but feed our brains with violence and voyeurism with our media, video game, music video, and hollywood addictions. This is a song calling out the hypocrisy of the whole world. Good job Ms. Merchant.

    angielavelleon December 26, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song is about TV. About how it causes the people watching it to go numb and stupid. It is written in the point of view of the TV managers, saying "We give them what they want".

    bartoshekon April 09, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Come on. It about TV. You must be confused with "Whats the Matter Here?". I can see the child abuse point of view, but it seems kind of stretched.

    bassturd75on October 08, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I definitely think it's about TV and movies as well...or even music for that matter. From the first time I heard this song I thought it was the band being cheeky, because they aren't exactly the type to just "give 'em what they want."

    ZinbobDanon January 20, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I agree with the media/entertainment industry interpretation but I have watched the video a few times now and see a lot of clues to big oil and big business in the imagery and characters she portrays. Considering the theories floating around these days I can see the "we" doing the giving as a larger entity that encompasses more than just the media and what they are "giving" us is a lot less than we realize.

    schmirkon November 29, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    youtube.com/watch This song is clearly an indictment on society. Who do you wanna blame? In the beginning it talks about how we are "marginalized member of a spectator democracy..." love, blood, lust, hate... the candy everybody wants... We are in a vicious circle here people. Give em what they want... Their eyes are growing hazy... They want to turn it on... TV, Sex, Love,... Everyone in this society blames someone. Anyone with a different view point is shunned with "Hate" thus nothing gets done. Democrats blame Republican's and vice versa... The bland leading the bland... this video has so many hints as to what it is about... Most people listen to the music and say, oh that is a good song. This song was written in effort to try to make a change in society... as many songs are... but they fall on deaf ears... People listen to the music, but do not hear it.

    They want to turn it on ... the TV, the cell phone, the computer...internet...etc... Turn it on... lust, Love, candy... that's what people want... People's minds are soft and layz and do not want to turn it on... they do not want to learn or hear different views. Try to persuade to see someone your views if they are different... Everyone is too busy pushing their own bull shit to even remotely think about someone who has different views...

    We are marginalized members of a spectator democracy... People are selected for us, then we select them... Mostly people care about the President... even though we still do not have a choice in that as these people are selected. What about all the other candidates on every other ballot, Governor, Senate, House, Judges.... We have 9 judges in this country that have life time terms that we do not vote for!!! We look at it and say well, that's the way it is... rather than banding together as a people and demanding change... they tell us what should be changed and 2 sides pit against each other... That's what they want, that's what they get... Who ya gonna blame? Your self. but everyone is going to blame some other group.

    wek1998on May 15, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Pohelia, you're full of crap. I think it's about sex and violence in movies and tv, but who knows.

    Reynard Muldrakeon March 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    'Fraid I'm not full of crap...they even stated what the song was about. Giving them what they want...refers to statements made by many abusers, who say they simply gave the child what they asked for....and who do you want to blame.....is asking should we blame the abusers, the children, or sicety for making kids grow up so fast and turning them into sex objects. Anyone who was around when this song was first released knows that this song is about child abuse. Think it's you who's full of crap!

    poheliaon March 10, 2006   Link

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