You’re cussing a storm in a cocktail dress
Your mother wore when she was young
Red sun saint around your neck
A wet martini in a paper cup
You’re a wasp nest

Your eyes are broken bottles
And I’m afraid to ask
And all your wrath and cutting beauty
You’re poison in the pretty glass
You’re a wasp nest

You’re all humming live wires
Under your killing clothes
Get over here, I wanna
Kiss your skinny throat
You’re a wasp nest



Lyrics submitted by nicorobin, edited by T_D_Phoenix

Track duration: 03:22


Wasp Nest song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +1
    My Interpretation:Okay guys, this is just my spin on the song - you could either agree with it or don't agree with it. Please don't flame me for my POV on this song. We all have different or opposing opinions/views, and that's totally okay.

    They way I see it, this couple have broken up but bump into each other after they've separated, (maybe in a bar/club) and they reconcile. Past: He fell in love with her, but she didn't reciprocate his feelings, so that's why they went their separate ways - she had broken his heart, she rejected him, etc.

    Present: But he's still in love with her, which is how I interpret "A wet martini in a paper cup" - he thinks she's gorgeous, he's always found her attractive, and in his estimation, the dress she's got on (the "cocktail dress") isn't flattering her at all.

    "Your eyes are broken bottles
    And I’m afraid to ask"

    To him, she looks just utterly sad and broken - he can tell that she's going through an emotional upheaval. He knows how to read her emotions, her state of being well enough to know this. He can tell that she's been struggling with some emotional conflict - maybe even their relationship, which didn't work out. The way I see it, he could be hoping that she's been missing him as much a he's been missing her. He's clinging to that hope, that hope that she is in love with him, too.

    "Get over here, I wanna kiss your skinny throat"

    I think this articulates his feelings for her - he's missed her like crazy, and do you love me, and he wants her back, and why can't they be together? all thrown into one simple statement.

    And that's the way I see it, peeps. Am I over-analysing this song? Yeah, maybe. But I LOVE this song! This interpretation came to like an epiphany, a bolt right out of blue. I had to share it.

    ~E.

    P/S: Could anyone tell me what 'red sun saint' means? Is it some kind of talisman she's wearing?
    Flag Uranus_Geon May 07, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Some person on YouTube thought the first line was "Your cousin is stoned in a cocktail dress" and now that's all I can hear.
    Flag Aquarius121on August 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The narrator is tickled by this lady he is infatuated with. I am not sure if he has been dating her for a while or if she is new. Maybe we know he has been seeing her for a while as he writes "a cocktail dress that your mother wore." This could mean he knows her and has known her, he knows her family and such. OR, this lady is wearing a really out of fashion dress. He then juxtaposes "wet martini in a paper cup." When one thinks martini, they think of class and fancy...but a martini in a paper cup? "Eyes are broken bottles..and Im afraid to ask". She's got some issues, but the narrator doesnt really think that much of her issues. He just states he "is afraid to ask". He then goes on to say "your all humming live wires under your killing clothes." She is on fire underneath as well. Wasp nest means she has some issues and is on fire. This lady needs to get herself together. I'm thinking the narrator and this lady had a fight before their party. He is trying to make the best of it by looking at all her quirks despite that she needs to put herself together.
    Flag MySPoiledEaron June 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:wasp = W.A.S.P. (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant)? If viewed in that way the song takes on a whole separate meaning about class perhaps. The other alternative is that the woman is just trouble, but attractive nonetheless. The guy knows she's trouble and yet he can't stop himself from kissing her throat. The humming is great imagery too - reminds me of a swarm of bees buzzing about. Damn, this band is good.
    Flag asSTARSfallxon June 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:fuck this song is good
    Flag jasono52on September 09, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Wasp nest women are irresistable, they're all honey and needles (broken bottles, live wires). This is a song about the last moments of luring and the first moment of giving in, and it's done in such a raw and refined way that listeners can see that humming throat themselves.
    Flag floodlineon August 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yes! I submitted corrections and they fixed it! Great song, one of my favorites.
    Flag twist-tieon July 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:you're cussing a storm... not a stone, thats wrong
    Flagged triciaagogoon June 10, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:you're cussing a storm... not a stone, thats wrong
    Flagged triciaagogoon June 10, 2007   Link

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