Play Nice
Unveiling Truth in Melody: Skylar Gudasz's Play Nice
Lyrics
decent at pleasantries
Skilled in social pleasantries.
my heart's in my chest
Expressing emotional vulnerability; heart is in the chest.
my p's & q's on my sleeves
Being careful with words and actions; maintaining decorum.
but I ain't no fool & I ain't naive
Not gullible or lacking in wisdom.
you can't tell right from wrong
Inability to discern right from wrong.
so I had to write it down
Writing down the definition of right and wrong for someone.
for you in a fucking love song
Expressing frustration by putting it into a love song.
I ain't no fool & I ain't naive
Reiteration of not being foolish or naive.
you say play nice
Advice to behave in a friendly manner.
babe I stay nice
Claiming to generally be nice.
until I need to be mean
Willingness to be mean when necessary.
& you like your women sweet
Describing a preference for women who conform to societal expectations.
dolled up and gagged in dirty magazines
Portraying women in a submissive and objectified manner.
well I ain't no silent doll and I ain't that sweet
Rejecting the stereotypical image of a submissive woman.
you say play nice
Repeating the advice to play nice.
babe I ain't nice
Denying the inclination to be nice.
when I am told to be
Being nice only when instructed to be.
you think I'm nice
Questioning the belief in personal niceness.
that's a dirty lie
Challenging the perception of being nice as untrue.
you've been told to believe
Indicating external influence on the perception of niceness.
that I'm sugar, syrup, saccharine
Describing oneself with sweet and sugary metaphors.
that I'm all lavender & tangerine
Using contrasting imagery to challenge a superficial perception.
& if you tell me to smile please
Defiance against being told to smile; asserting independence.
I'll make sure to show you my teeth
Willingness to show aggression if provoked.
& play nice, babe, I'm as nice as a guillotine
Reiteration of the willingness to play nice with a dark undertone.
you say play nice, babe, I'm as nice as gasoline
Comparing oneself to gasoline, implying potential volatility.
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