I've been trying to keep my grip, yeah I think I'm over this
I can hear it now, oh no
Yeah, my tongue, I'll let it slip, why'd I do those things I did?
I can taste it now, oh no

I'll try my best, how much do I invest?
Like cardiac arrest, high voltage in her lips
I'll try my best, how much do I invest?
Like cardiac arrest, high voltage when we kiss

My innards turn, your eyes, they roll, I'll be there to take the fall
I can feel it now, oh no
Same old story since day one, but I've got no place to run
I can see it now, oh no

I'll try my best, how much do I invest?
Like cardiac arrest, high voltage in her lips
I'll try my best, how much do I invest?
Like cardiac arrest, high voltage when we kiss

High voltage in her lips, they catch me when I slip
High voltage in her lips, they catch me when I slip

I'll try my best, how much do I invest?
Like cardiac arrest, high voltage in her lips
I'll try my best, how much do I invest?
Like cardiac arrest, high voltage when we kiss

Like cardiac arrest, high voltage in her lips
Like cardiac arrest, high voltage when we kiss

I'll try my best, how much do I invest?
Like cardiac arrest, high voltage in her lips
I'll try my best, how much do I invest?


Lyrics submitted by wonderspark, edited by strykerchick

Cardiac Arrest Lyrics as written by Gavin Austin Bennett Christopher Michael Bowman

Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Cardiac Arrest song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

5 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +5
    My Interpretation

    "I've been trying to keep my grip Yeah I think I'm over this I can hear it now, oh no, oh no"

    When you try to get over someone or something, then you start to feel over it and you feel good about that. Then someone will say something that reminds you of what you're trying to forget, then you think about them or it again.

    "Yeah my tongue will let it slip Why'd I do those things I did I can taste it now, oh no, oh no"

    Sometimes you mess up, and you yourself will mention something that reminds you of a person, situation, ect. He feels he messed up and has realized this. Now he's asking himself why. It's getting so bad he can "taste" it.

    "I'll try my best How much do I invest Like cardiac arrest High voltage in her lips I'll try my best How much do I invest Like cardiac arrest High voltage when we kiss"

    This part just tells me the song is about a girl. So I think this whole hook is about him loving this woman, but can't quite "catch" her. He wants to try his best to get her, but he does'nt want to go overboard with it, so he doesn't know how much to invest. And this woman's lips to him are like high voltage, and when he thinks of kissing her he's so overwhelmed it's like being put in cardiac arrest.

    "My innards turn, your eyes they roll I'll be there, you take the fall I can feel it now, oh no, oh no Same old story since day one But I've got no place to run I can see it now, oh no, oh no"

    First it's actually "I'll be there, to take the fall" So he gets that butterfly feeling in his gut from her, but her eyes just roll, which makes me think this girl has no interest. Even though she doesn't, he'll still take falls for her, in hopes she will change her mind. He can feel her dis-interest now.

    "Same old story since day one But I've got no place to run I can see it now, oh no, oh no"

    He's been trying to catch this woman, asking her out, but she keeps making up excuses. He's fallen in love with this woman, and he doesn't want to go for anyone else. But he's finally seeing that it's just not going to happen.

    "High voltage in her lips They catch me when I slip"

    I think this is just him saying if he was to have her and be able to kiss her, the mistakes he's made would not matter, and his problems would slip away.

    Guilitineon May 15, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I'm not going to break it down, its a simple but powerful song. We all have different experiences so not everyone believes the same thing.

    I personally really feel this song, to me he is describing an an emotionally and mentally abusive girlfriend. And how its been so long, but it really is the same evil nonsense (same old story as day one, but ive no where to run). Ive been there. A battered man with nowhere to go and feeling stuck because of the sexist child custody laws. Turned out I was ignorant. My children and I are free of that cvnt.

    I love this song that is all

    lickemon December 01, 2014   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    "I've been trying to keep my grip, yeah I think I'm over this I can hear it now, oh no, oh no"

    I've been trying to not get swept away by falling head over heels for this girl. Yep, I'm good... nope, I'm not.

    "Yeah my tongue will let it slip, why'd I do those things I did? I can taste it now, oh no, oh no"

    Aaand... not all lyrics contribute to the context of the song. Some lyrics are just there for the rhythm. Bad Suns agrees- check out this interview groundsounds.com/2014/02/20/interview-bad-suns/. Just based on the interview... this song might actually mean less than anyone thinks!

    "I'll try my best, how much do I invest? Like cardiac arrest, high voltage in her lips I'll try my best, how much do I invest? Like cardiac arrest, high voltage when we kiss"

    I will do my damnedest to keep this woman. But how much do I put into this? (Maybe cuz he likes her more than he thinks she likes him? Maybe cuz he's made mistakes in the past- check out the previous verse?) Because it's super intense when we kiss

    "My innards turn, your eyes they roll I'll be there to take the fall; I can feel it now, oh no, oh no Same old story since day one, but I've got no place to run I can see it now, oh no, oh no"

    So when they kiss, his stomach drops (good sign!), and her eyes roll up in her head. (If you've never made a girl's eyes roll up in her head when you're kissing her, then you need some skillz.)

    Next line- he'll be there to catch her when she comes back to herself after being kissed silly; or, he's willing to be the first to fall in love here.

    Next line- "same old story" either refers to personal history with falling in love, or the idea that "love makes the world go round".

    "High voltage in her lips, they catch me when I slip"

    Yeah, so, first they still have a strong connection- the high voltage- and second, her kisses catch him when he slips- makes a mistake, falls into a bad mood- then she's pretty darned interested.

    @Guilitine- it's so interesting that we have such different interpretations. I wonder if it reflects our personal history and current relationship/ relationship status.

    mlefcourton September 03, 2014   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    My favorite song

    jocelynoliviaon December 04, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I don't. Thinks it's about an abusive girlfriend I think it is more of a man that meant to haze a woman and he ended up liking her, but the things he did can't. Be erased, so he has to fight against his feelings., he never knew she had felt the same way.

    cinnamon#1on September 14, 2015   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. 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" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.