Straight for the Knife Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Spyron 

Cover art for Straight for the Knife lyrics by Sia

This is a great song.

She’s talking about being in a relationship with someone toxic and emotionally abusive.

She tries to be her best self, to entice him, to please him. But he delights in destroying her. The bit about being strapped to his chair... she’s stuck there because she’s addicted to him, not because he’s pretty.

The bit about being hungry for his bad loving. Toxic, abusive relationships can also be extreme and passionate. Addictive.

‘But will someone find me swinging from the rafters from hanging on your every word.’ Ouch. If you’ve ever been in one of these relationships that line cuts. These relationships drive you to your limits, they unmake you. They can kill you, or at least make you think you’re going to die (or want to die).

The chorus sums it all up pretty well. He starts the abuse, takes out the knife, and she prepares to take it. He looks her in the eye and turns the gas on high. It’s symbiotic. He loves to destroy her, she wants him to consume her.

But what’s left after that?