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Kiss with a Fist Lyrics

You hit me once
I hit you back
You gave a kick
I gave a slap
You smashed a plate over my head
Then I set fire to our bed

You hit me once
I hit you back
You gave a kick
I gave a slap
You smashed a plate over my head
Then I set fire to our bed, oh

My black eye casts no shadow
Your red eye sees nothing
Your slap don't stick
Your kicks don't hit
So we remain the same
Love sticks
Sweat drips
Break the lock if it don't fit

A kick to the teeth is good for some
A kiss with a fist is better than none

A kiss with a fist is better than none

I broke your jaw once before
I spilled your blood upon the floor
You broke my leg in return
So sit back and watch the bed burn
Love sticks
Sweat drips
Break the lock if it don't fit

A kick in the teeth is good for some
A kiss with a fist is better than none, oh

A kiss with a fist is better than none

You hit me once
I hit you back
You gave a kick
I gave a slap
You smashed a plate over my head
Then I set fire to our bed, oh

You hit me once
I hit you back
You gave a kick
I gave a slap
You smashed a plate over my head
Then I set fire to our bed
Song Info
Submitted by
claire16 On May 31, 2008
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Cover art for Kiss with a Fist lyrics by Florence + the Machine

Quote from Florence and the Machine's myspace page: "Kiss with a fist is NOT a song about domestic violence. it is about two people pushing each other to phsycological extremes because they love each other. the song is not about one person being attacked, or any actual physical violence, there are no victims in this song. sometimes the love two people have for each other is a destructive force. but they cant have it any other way, because its what holds them together, they enjoy the drama and pushing each others buttons. the only way to express these extreme emotions is with extreme imagery, all of which is fantasism and nothing in the song is based on reality.

leona lewis's bleeding love isn't actually about her bleeding. this isnt really about punching someone in the face. thank you and goodnight."

I obviously couldn't put it better, because I'm not the artist. But that's what I always thought of when I heard this song. A very self destructive/violent couple, not physically but mentally and emotionally. It's just a very passionate romance.

Not Valid

that's what i thought :] i love this song x

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Well gee, that's funny because in the music video, she is DEFINITELY punching some guy in the face. Whatdumb? "Thank you and goodnight!" :P

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Cover art for Kiss with a Fist lyrics by Florence + the Machine

Better THAN none. THAN THAN THAN BETTER THAN NONE. than.

Lyric Correction
Cover art for Kiss with a Fist lyrics by Florence + the Machine

my interpretation of this song seems completely different to everyone elses.

my thought was that the song was about two people who felt very strongly towards each other, but either one or both of them were already in relationships. they couldn't finish it and didn't want to cheat, so the only way they could be strongly passionate with each other was to beat each other up. they burnt the bed to remove the temptation to do anything else on it. the whole "a kiss with a fist is better than none" refers to the fact they can't kiss each other properly, but by hitting each other, they're at least gaining some physical contact that no-one can deem as morally wrong in the sense of cheating. so i guess in a way it's sadomasochistic, but it's just a song about making the best of a situation (break the lock if it don't fit). i also thought the "slaps don't stick, your kicks don't hit" bit was demonstrating that they didn't feel any pain out of what they were doing. and the "so we remain the same" bit was referring to how they had not technically cheated and became bad people. also, the chorus comprises of two people taking it in turns to assualt each other, which i think is like them creating their own version of a "give-and-take" relationship.

i know the song is provoking because people get angry about songs that might condone domestic violence (quite rightly) but i think the variety of interpretations demonstrates what a great song it is. one of my all time favourites :)

My Interpretation

interesting intrepretaion... sounds like wat my bf would say teehee.

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Cover art for Kiss with a Fist lyrics by Florence + the Machine

i love this song so much :) my summer anthem :D

Cover art for Kiss with a Fist lyrics by Florence + the Machine

It's clearly not about domestic violence - if it was, she wouldn't be hitting back. It's metaphorical for a relationship full of non-physical fights. She's saying fighting is better than having no relationship, or a relationship without fights - fighting is actually a very healthy sign in a relationship.

Out of curiousity, what exactly in this song makes it "clearly not about domestic violence"? Not what she said on myspace, but what in the song makes that so clear? Because I can't find it anywhere. I think that the band was covering their ass with the comment on myspace, and that people here are defending it because they don't want to like a song that's about domestic violence. There isn't a single line in the song that even hints that it is a metaphor.

I will say that I love this song, and I don't think it's...

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Technically, I agree with you, afbound, that it's not quite so clear that it's not about domestic violence. In fact the only lines in the song that hint to that would be "your slaps don't stick / your kicks don't hit / so we remain the same" which is ambiguous at best. However, taking into account the tone of the song, one (such as myself) might get the impression that it's not to be taken literally, as supported by an interview with the writer.

My introduction to this song was from the radio, and the DJ announced that he'd spent...

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Never said my opinion was the end all, or that differing opinions are ignorant. I just think that with what they said, it makes sense that it's metaphorical, and that's how I've always seen it (personally). I just don't like that some may say the song is endorsing physical violence or something, because I don't think it is and some people have implied that.

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Cover art for Kiss with a Fist lyrics by Florence + the Machine

first saw this on 4music advert and looove it. ^^^i agree proper summer tune (: about mental torture [rather than physical violence] in a relationship, i believe. Bascially two people constantly trying to score points off each other.

Cover art for Kiss with a Fist lyrics by Florence + the Machine

it is metaphorical, and florence and the machine are of course covering themselves they dont want people thinking their sadomasochists lol. Of course to the casual listener would seem to be a about violence, but what i actually think its about is a turbulent relationship where a couple are the opposite of each other so they both get on each others nerves alot but they still love each other even after all the arguments and even though they know they will continue to fight

'my black eye cast no shadow your red eye sees no pain' - this i believe refers to the fact that the argument was petty and didn't effect the way they feel for eachother

'broke your jaw once before spilt your blood upon the floor you broke my leg in return sit back and watch the bed burn' - this is saying they have argued but afterwards they can lay back appologize let the moment pass/allow the flames to die out then have a laugh about the whole thing.

this is what i think its about hope i helped (rate if i did lol)

Cover art for Kiss with a Fist lyrics by Florence + the Machine

i absolutely love it!! its ridiculous that she had to actually explain that the song wasn't about endorsing violence, thats sad, ignorant people

I definitely needed an explanation considering in the music video, she is definitely punching some dude straight in the face. I think it's ridiculous you find that ridiculous. Just because you want this song to fit into some happy mold for you, doesn't make it obvious to the world, especially those of us who have been in abusive partnerships.

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Cover art for Kiss with a Fist lyrics by Florence + the Machine

so catchy (:

Cover art for Kiss with a Fist lyrics by Florence + the Machine

LOL who the hell thought this was about domestic violence or abuse or something shit? Seriously, what? Haha.

This is exactly my kind of relationship. Teasing, tormenting, criticizing and just being mean to my sweetheart... I can't help it, it's just how I love someone. (I also shower them with kisses, of course. with fists.)

I discovered it from Jennifer's Body (hated the movie, but the soundtrack is so good, I'm thinking of buying the CD), and just... fell in love.

One of my favorite songs ever.

Oh and her performance is just perfect. I love her voice and the way she sings just fits these lyrics.

My Opinion

Typo.

some shit *

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