Anger and lust my senses running amok
Bewildered and deluded, have I been hit by a truck?
When my tongue lay inside his lip
Felt like the time in the womb
But I woke up with a headache that split my skull
Alone in the room

I got down on the floor with my head pressed between my knees
Under the bed with my teeth sunk into my own flesh
I said "baby, oh sweetheart"

Lust turns to anger, a kiss to a slug
Something was sticky on your shag rug, look at the tile
I remember the way he groaned and moved with an animal skill
I rubbed my face in the sweat that ran down his chest
It was all very run of the mill
But I noticed his scent started to change somehow
His face went berserk and the veins bulged on his brow
I said "baby, oh sweetheart"

Bondage to lust, abuse of facility
Blackmailed emotions confuse the demon and devotee
I was sure his intentions were sweet
And that mine was as well
But a wish is a shot in the dark
When your coin's down the well

I got out in the hall with my teeth in my head
Up to my neck and I said, said, said dead
I said "baby, oh sweetheart"


Lyrics submitted by spliphstar

Up the Neck Lyrics as written by Christine Hynde

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Up The Neck song meanings
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3 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentWhere to start, it is one heck of a song that is for sure.
    delia17601on March 09, 2019   Link
  • 0
    General CommentA song of regret about her lover, who physically and emotionally battered her. Waking up the day after a night together, perhaps hung over, bewildered and in pain. My favorite Pretenders song for several reasons.
    BadBrain71on January 08, 2022   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is just one of many Pretenders songs from the first couple albums that combine intense emotion with beautiful lyrics and music
    michaeltv0on March 18, 2023   Link

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