How can I keep my composure?
How can I keep my composure?
I turn my back and you got my shoulder
Release your mind, through your hands and your feet
A sigh digs you out when you're getting too deep
How can I keep my composure?
A sordid spot, a monster takeover
Living in shame's gonna haunt your sleep
How can I keep
How can I keep
How can I keep my composure?
I am falling
and the words are gone
I am falling
and the words are gone
you are beyond

it's definitely "the clit cut", they say it to the audience in this clip. then i'm pretty sure it's "the cut what?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXuZ4kOClII
I saw a youtube comment saying it was inspired by that scene in antichrist, I don't know how they know that but it seems feasible...
That may have been me. If so, I read it in an interview with Jenny once, can't remember where.
That may have been me. If so, I read it in an interview with Jenny once, can't remember where.
Perfect, thank you! For those who still doubt about it, here is the definitive proof...
Perfect, thank you! For those who still doubt about it, here is the definitive proof...
"3. COMPOSURE: The opening of this song is a homage to the Lars Von Trier film, Antichrist. I love how high energy the song is, it reminds me of Elephants in that sense."
"3. COMPOSURE: The opening of this song is a homage to the Lars Von Trier film, Antichrist. I love how high energy the song is, it reminds me of Elephants in that sense."
Font: http://www.anderschristianmadsen.com/archives/278#.U6gYSPldXkU http://teukuajie.blogspot.com.br/2011/05/may-playlist-warpaint-back-to-back.html
Font: http://www.anderschristianmadsen.com/archives/278#.U6gYSPldXkU http://teukuajie.blogspot.com.br/2011/05/may-playlist-warpaint-back-to-back.html
Original Warpaint's interview by Anders Christian Madsen for i-D Magazine: The Livin' Loud Issue Pre-Spring 2011
Original Warpaint's interview by Anders Christian Madsen for i-D Magazine: The Livin' Loud Issue Pre-Spring 2011

i believe they are chanting something along the lines of:
"keep my, keep my, keep my, com-what?" since they go on to say "how can i keep my composure"
your guess makes the most sense - and it sounds that way too ;)
your guess makes the most sense - and it sounds that way too ;)

I KNOW WHAT THEYRE SAYING IN THE INTRO!!Watch them preform this song in their RoughTrade sessions on youtube. There, they're clearly saying "the clit cut...the clit what?...how can i keep my composure with the clit cut?" I know its pretty outlandish and weird, but thats Warpaint for ya ;] After all, it IS a sensible question non the less :P

anyone know what theyre saying in the beginning (the schoolyard chants)?
ive just been singing "pay-pah, pay-pah, pay-pah, know what?" :3
They're saying "the clit cut, the clit cut, the clit cut, they cut what?" A little bird told me that it's a reference to the Lars Von Trier film "Antichrist."
They're saying "the clit cut, the clit cut, the clit cut, they cut what?" A little bird told me that it's a reference to the Lars Von Trier film "Antichrist."

the clean-cut, the cut what! how can I keep my composure with the clean-cut!
or maybe clit-cut? click-cut?
I thought it was clean cut too based off of the live perfomances. Ugh, what a great mystery!
I thought it was clean cut too based off of the live perfomances. Ugh, what a great mystery!

Such an amazing track, I love everything about it, both in the context of the album and on its own. Its just so.. perfect.
Regarding the chant, I have a feeling there are no actual words being said, and the idea is that people can interpret what they hear in different ways. I mean, the record sleeve has no lyrics for it, so its a good indication that it is supposed to be a mystery at least.

"The clit-cut, the clit-cut, the clit-cut, the cut what? How can I keep my composure with my clit cut"
That's actually pretty close to the truth although I think they're alternating between "the clit cut" and "the clean cut". It's fairly audible here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev_wo_5r40I
That's actually pretty close to the truth although I think they're alternating between "the clit cut" and "the clean cut". It's fairly audible here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev_wo_5r40I
I don't know what it's supposed to mean though.
I don't know what it's supposed to mean though.

I absolutely love the line "a sigh digs you out when you're getting too deep". It kind of reminds of that moment when you're talking about something really in depth and you reach a point that your sentiment transcends words-and all you can do is just sigh. I have a hard time figuring out what the middle section means in the context of the song, considering the fact the beginning and end seem to express poignant sentiments ("you are beyond"...anything else, better than anything). It almost seems as if the sweetness of the song is cloaking a deeper sense of shame and even urgency.

It's "the clit-cut, the clit-cut, the clit-cut, the cut what!"
I think that the song's about trying to get over somebody.
"How can I keep my composure, I turn my back and you've got my shoulder" They can't 'stay cool' because every time they try to get over said-person they are right there.
"A sigh digs you out when you're getting too deep" Over-thinking the situation and coming to the realization that they're getting too into it.
"A sordid spot, a monster take-over" It's causing something very bad to happen to them mentally.
"Living in shame's gonna haunt your sleep" Trying not to get in contact with the person in case it's thrown back in their face. Or maybe they got with the person and are not sure if they regret it or not.
"The words are gone, you are beyond" She loves him so much she can't describe him.

I truly believe that thios song is inspired by the clitoris mutilation done in some cultures and/or religions, where the clitoris is somewhat circumcised to make them unable to feel pleasure while having sexual intercorse. This mutilation is usually done before the age of five.
If I'm right, this is definitely a feminist statement, and they can't keep their composure while girls genitals are being mutialted everyday.
according to wikipedia: Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. Typically carried out by a traditional circumciser using a blade or razor (with or without anaesthesia), FGM is concentrated in 27 African countries, Yemen and Iraqi Kurdistan, and found elsewhere in Asia, the Middle East, and among diaspora communities around the world.
the line "Living in shame's gonna haunt your sleep" I think, talks about not being mutilated and living in a kind of religious shame among their culture.
the line "Living in shame's gonna haunt your sleep" I think, talks about not being mutilated and living in a kind of religious shame among their culture.
the line "Living in shame's gonna haunt your sleep" I think, talks about not being mutilated and living in a kind of religious shame among their culture.
the line "Living in shame's gonna haunt your sleep" I think, talks about not being mutilated and living in a kind of religious shame among their culture.