Well there were 7 years between us seems that all my friends were right
That we can't survive on your bedroom eyes and a Spanish guitar
When we started this it was paradise, not just Bethnal green
And it's just not right this waiting game, making a cuckold of me

I can be as cruel as you
Fighting fire with firewood
I can be as cruel as you
Fighting lies with lies
If you need time

And it's just not like me to lash out, but enough is enough
Tell me what the others can do that I cant
Translucent and sun bleached skin, when did you get so LA
How can you desert me after all we've been through
Stuck on a dream that somewhere its better
You'll be the one missing out

I can be a cruel as you
Fighting fire with firewood
I can be as cruel as you
Fighting lies

Lies

If you need time



Lyrics submitted by true.love.way

Track duration: 03:39

"One Month Off" as written by Kele Okereke, Matt Tong, Russell Lissack, Gordon Moakes

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


One Month Off song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • +1
    My Interpretation:Maybe this is a stretch, but to me, I think the song is kind of a homage to the Shakespearean play: Othello. Here's why:

    I the beginning with the 7 year bit, I first it as he was 7 years her Senior. Anyway, the song is about cheating and the Rage of a man when he finds out his girlfriend is cheating. This is much like Othello's rage when he suspects Desdemona's infidelity. The whole song really does parallel the book as far the speak of lies and longing to be elsewhere while their own relationship slowly crumbles. Not to mention the use of the word "cuckold". Several times throughout the play it is used.

    And this might be a little bit racey, but, Kele (the lead vocalist of Bloc Party) is of African Decent and he sings about a Caucasian woman ("Tanslucent and sun-bleached skin"). Just a thought.
    Flag shrimpmeaning328on May 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Memory:I thought (and still think) it's about double cheating, until I saw the music video.

    I know it's sort of a breakup album and all, but having a bunch of fairy tale characters being victimized by the gritty outcomes of terrorism and war says something else too.

    Still, the lyrics do say a lot about commitment issues and revenge, so...
    Flag carbonbonsinon March 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i read the line 'i can be cruel' and immediately thought of 'Selfish Son', apparently Kele likes it

    But yeah i agree with most stuff said! A younger girl (7 yrs ofc) who he is dedicated to, is exploring and experimenting with other people and growing up, maybe not necessarily realising how much she's hurting him. This is tearing him apart, it seems like they're just two people in different places in life (i definitely know the feeling) where the relationship is sexually based ('bedroom eyes'/spanish guitar') and uneven levels of commitment.
    Flag crockfromtheblockon November 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the song's coming from a boy/man's point of view - he has strong feelings for a girl 7 years younger than himself. His friends say it's not right. He's playing a 'waiting game' - perhaps for the girl to be of age which is really getting him down.

    The girl doesn't want to wait around for him and begins to play round with other people to which he 'lashes out' and wonders 'what can they do, that I can't?'.

    'Stuck on a dream that somewhere is better, You'll be the one missing out' - As said before, the girl plays around with other people in the hope that she will find happiness. Kele is saying that in the end she will realise she's missed out on being with him.

    Basically he then has enough and decides to fight fire with fire as he's had enough.



    Flag thebackroomon April 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song and only just now found out
    what the name of it was! lolz I always get that
    "fire with firewood" stuck in my head!

    When I was in high school me and
    my "best friend" would share a book. I wrote
    the lyric "I can be as cruel as you" on some of
    my math HW to see if she would get it.
    She never did though..she wasn't the brighest
    crayon in the box! ahh hahahahahahah! I don't talk to
    that insulting "!!!SLUT!!!" anymore though.
    Ahhhh, the good life...

    and I agree w/ the former interpreters!
    Flag Udahoon August 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Amazing. Simply that. I love the repetition, I think it represents that he's trying to reassure himself that he will feel happy after getting the revenge he wants, (maybe, by cheating on his lover like they did to him), and that the awesome modulation, key change, and crash guitar at the end might represent that he was totally wrong, and he feels more destroyed than ever. Maybe he thought that person was "the one," and the time his so-called fantasy was over just pushed him off the edge.

    I love this song,
    Never change your ever changing and evolving ways, Bloc Party
    Flag blocboy5on August 14, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:She is 7 years younger than him and their relationship revolves around sex(That we can?t survive on your bedroom eyes) They are waiting for their relationship to get better, she cheats on him and she changes her image for the other guy.
    Flag ASGon March 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Memory:Did anyone else figure out what this track was called and think of "Two Months Off?"
    ...something to that perhaps?
    Flag TheiNhibitionon March 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Since this song has been getting a lot of airplay recently on the radio, it has grown on me. It was the one song on the album I just didn't like.

    It's obvious that the protagonsits partner is cheating but the song is basically what goes through your mind when you find out. One of my ex's did the dirty on me and I went through all these thoughts... Anger, hate and revenge. All of these are mentioned in this song.

    Eventually, he decides what to do "I can be a cruel as you/fighting firwe with firewood". Basically he is going to do the same back.

    Love the song and love the meaning. Sounds fantastic in the car as well! As do all Bloc Party songs
    Flag greatone1987on February 27, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:personally, i think of just resisting other's tension for awhile, but then realizing you must fight hard back. enough is enough.

    i must say i love the repitition cos it really gets the point across.
    Flag briandoodyon February 20, 2009   Link

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