The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Petit Mort, i asked you for an answer
Petit Mort, i sang until you slept
Petit Mort, you took yourself, you bastard
Petit Mort, now sleeping's all that's left
you took apart the sympathetic angle
when you catered to the bitterness inside
aligned yourself with depths I couldn't handle
a million daily deaths before you die
gathered a bouquet
roses and posies
and straightened my tie
when I got there, you were nowhere i could find
through layer after layer of subconscious
i hunted for a reason in the woods
i tore apart the map and started backwards
i couldn't picture living there for good
i left you there to finish setting fires
i left you there to propagate your lie
i left you there cos honey, I was tired
i left you but that doesn't make it right
i remember your bedroom
ivy and clover
you kept me alive
knives drawn, the butcher world waited outside
Petit Mort, i asked you for an answer
Petit Mort, i sang until you slept
Petit Mort, you took yourself, you bastard
Petit Mort, now sleeping's all that's left
Petit Mort, i sang until you slept
Petit Mort, you took yourself, you bastard
Petit Mort, now sleeping's all that's left
you took apart the sympathetic angle
when you catered to the bitterness inside
aligned yourself with depths I couldn't handle
a million daily deaths before you die
gathered a bouquet
roses and posies
and straightened my tie
when I got there, you were nowhere i could find
through layer after layer of subconscious
i hunted for a reason in the woods
i tore apart the map and started backwards
i couldn't picture living there for good
i left you there to finish setting fires
i left you there to propagate your lie
i left you there cos honey, I was tired
i left you but that doesn't make it right
i remember your bedroom
ivy and clover
you kept me alive
knives drawn, the butcher world waited outside
Petit Mort, i asked you for an answer
Petit Mort, i sang until you slept
Petit Mort, you took yourself, you bastard
Petit Mort, now sleeping's all that's left
Lyrics submitted by xplague
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Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
The term 'petite mort' literally means 'little death' although it is also used by the French as a meaning for orgasm. This song seems to be about a lover who has left the person and their absence seems almost as if it is a death. The singer made mistakes that drove their lover away bitterly, and now they are mourning over their breakup as if it was a death.
For what it's worth, Petite Mort literally means "little death," but it's used as a French term for orgasm.