Snakes Lyrics
[Intro: Dan Smith]
Ooh, I'm not ready
Ooh, I'm not ready
Ooh, I'm not ready
Ooh, I'm not ready
[Verse 1: Dan Smith]
Snakes are biting at my heels
The worries that refuse to let us go
I’ve been kicking them away
And hoping not to let them take control
[Pre-Chorus 1: Dan Smith]
Ooh, I’m not ready
Drink to escape their bites
Show me distraction
Even for just one night
[Chorus: Dan Smith]
'Cause it's easier to bury
My head in the sand sometimes
Yes, it's easier to bury
My head in the sand sometimes
And I know, I know, I know
It's not the right way to go
But I pray for the ground to swallow me who-ole
Ooh, I'm not ready
Ooh, I'm not ready
Ooh, I'm not ready
Ooh, I'm not ready
Ooh, I'm not ready
Ooh, I'm not ready
[Verse 1: Dan Smith]
Snakes are biting at my heels
The worries that refuse to let us go
I’ve been kicking them away
And hoping not to let them take control
[Pre-Chorus 1: Dan Smith]
Ooh, I’m not ready
Drink to escape their bites
Show me distraction
Even for just one night
[Chorus: Dan Smith]
'Cause it's easier to bury
My head in the sand sometimes
Yes, it's easier to bury
My head in the sand sometimes
And I know, I know, I know
It's not the right way to go
But I pray for the ground to swallow me who-ole
Ooh, I'm not ready
Ooh, I'm not ready
[Verse 2: Dan Smith]
Now these days are feeling dark
We're struggling to figure out last year
When the woman on the news
Keeps saying things that no one wants to hear
[Pre-Chorus 2: Dan Smith]
Ooh, I’m not ready
Drink to escape our minds
Show me distraction
Even for just one night
[Chorus: Dan Smith]
'Cause it's easier to bury
My head in the sand sometimes
Yes, it's easier to bury
My head in the sand sometimes
And I know, I know, I know
It's not the right way to go
But I pray for the ground to swallow me who-ole
Yes, I pray for the ground to swallow me who-o-ole
Ooh, I'm not ready
Ooh, I'm not ready
[Intermezzo]
"Come on, boys. Let's go tear this place apart!
(Woo, Oh!)"
Now these days are feeling dark
We're struggling to figure out last year
When the woman on the news
Keeps saying things that no one wants to hear
[Pre-Chorus 2: Dan Smith]
Ooh, I’m not ready
Drink to escape our minds
Show me distraction
Even for just one night
[Chorus: Dan Smith]
'Cause it's easier to bury
My head in the sand sometimes
Yes, it's easier to bury
My head in the sand sometimes
And I know, I know, I know
It's not the right way to go
But I pray for the ground to swallow me who-ole
Yes, I pray for the ground to swallow me who-o-ole
Ooh, I'm not ready
Ooh, I'm not ready
[Intermezzo]
"Come on, boys. Let's go tear this place apart!
(Woo, Oh!)"
[Bridge: Kyle Simmons]
'Cause I know life is simple when
I can just ignore it all
'Cause I know, 'cause I know, 'cause I know
Life is simple when
I can just ignore it all
'Cause I know, 'cause I know, 'cause I know
[Pre-Chorus 3: Dan Smith, Kyle Simmons]
If I’m not ready ('Cause I know, 'cause I know, 'cause I know)
Snakes will consume me whole ('Cause I know, 'cause I know, 'cause I know)
If I'm not steady ('Cause I know, 'cause I know, 'cause I know)
Maybe they'll take control ('Cause I know, 'cause I know, 'cause I know)
[Chorus: Dan Smith]
But it's easier to bury
My head in the sand sometimes
Yes, it's easier to bury
My head in the sand sometimes
I know, I know, I know
It's not the right way to go
But I pray for the ground to swallow me who-ole
Yes, I know, I know, I know
It's not the right way to go
But I pray for the ground to swallow me who-o-ole
'Cause I know life is simple when
I can just ignore it all
'Cause I know, 'cause I know, 'cause I know
Life is simple when
I can just ignore it all
'Cause I know, 'cause I know, 'cause I know
[Pre-Chorus 3: Dan Smith, Kyle Simmons]
If I’m not ready ('Cause I know, 'cause I know, 'cause I know)
Snakes will consume me whole ('Cause I know, 'cause I know, 'cause I know)
If I'm not steady ('Cause I know, 'cause I know, 'cause I know)
Maybe they'll take control ('Cause I know, 'cause I know, 'cause I know)
[Chorus: Dan Smith]
But it's easier to bury
My head in the sand sometimes
Yes, it's easier to bury
My head in the sand sometimes
I know, I know, I know
It's not the right way to go
But I pray for the ground to swallow me who-ole
Yes, I know, I know, I know
It's not the right way to go
But I pray for the ground to swallow me who-o-ole
About
Genius Annotation
“Snakes” uses the reptiles as a symbol for anxieties that the singer refuses to deal with, allowing them to haunt his life.
Also, during Bastille’s performance at EXIT Festival 2016, Dan explained the meaning of “Snakes”:
This song is called Snakes and it’s about going out and getting drunk on a friday night.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Good Grief
- 2.The Currents
- 4.Warmth
- 5.Glory
- 6.Power
- 7.Two Evils
- 9.Lethargy
- 11.Blame
- 12.Fake It
- 13.Snakes
- 15.Way Beyond
- 16.Oil on Water
- 17.Campus
- 18.Shame
- 19.The Anchor
Credits
Writer
Keyboards
Guitars
Drums
Background Vocals
Vocals
Release Date
September 9, 2016
Snakes Live Performances
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