Kali Uchis

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Gone before sunrise
Never sleep on the game, we're all shaking the dice
Now, if you roll 'em hard enough, could change your life
I'm on a roll on my own, I came to fight, I came to fight

[Pre-Chorus 1]
What do I do it for?
I've been working so hard just to give you more
Gotta get right
What do you do it for?
When the rest of the world is falling through the floor
You gotta get right

[Chorus]
'Cause you know better, you know, you know
You know better, you know, you know
You know better, you know, you know
It's your teeth in my neck, your teeth in my neck

[Verse 2]
Some people worship, diamonds and pearls, silver and gold
Just to hold it, they'd give anything in the world
Kill us all off, they'd take our worth they pay us dirt
Is it worth it? Is it worth it?
[Pre-Chorus 2]
What do I do it for?
I've been working so hard just to give you more
Gotta get right
What do you do it for?
Rich man keeps getting richer, taking from the poor
You gotta get right

[Chorus]
'Cause you know better, you know, you know
You know better, you know, you know
You know better, you know, you know
It's your teeth in my neck, your teeth in my neck

[Bridge]
Don't you wanna get to know you?
Baby, take it slower, slower
Wow, baby, take it slow

[Chorus]
'Cause you know better, you know, you know
You know better, you know, you know
You know better, you know, you know
It's your teeth in my neck, your teeth in my neck

Have you ever experienced the frustration of having your art and vision appropriated by others, especially those in the music industry? Kali Uchis, a renowned singer and songwriter, knows this feeling all too well. In her song Your Teeth In My Neck, Kali addresses the issue head-on and describes how she feels like a vampire's victim, depleted and drained by those who take advantage of her work. Through powerful lyrics and haunting music, she conveys her sense of confusion and disillusionment with the music industry, wondering if it's all worth it in the end.

About Your Teeth In My Neck

Your Teeth In My Neck is a song that showcases Kali's unique style and ability to convey complicated emotions through her music. Released in 2018, the song is part of her debut studio album, Isolation. In an interview with Noisey, Kali spoke about the inspiration behind the song, saying that it came from her experiences of dealing with music industry professionals who didn't have her best interests at heart.

The song starts with an eerie beat and synth that sets the mood for what is to come. Kali's vocals then kick in, and she sings about how people in the music industry have been stealing her ideas and appropriating her artistic vision. The first verse describes Kali's feeling of being victimized by these people:

Thought you knew me / But I'm not lonely / They keep tryna' clone me / I'm just tryna' find some / Trustworthy, hmmm / People never seem to stay

These lines reflect the exhaustion and frustration that Kali feels at the hands of those who are supposed to be helping her career. She can't trust anyone and feels like no one truly understands her or her work.

The chorus then comes in with a powerful repetition of the line "Your teeth in my neck." This is a metaphor, referencing the vampire's bite, which drains the life out of its victim. Kali uses this image to convey her sense of depletion and exhaustion at the hands of those who are sucking her artistic vision dry.

In the second verse, Kali wonders why she keeps pursuing a career in music, given all the hardships and frustration she experiences:

What do I do it for? / I've been working so hard just to give you more

Through these lines, Kali articulates the fundamental question that drives many artists to pursue their craft – what is the point of all this hard work and dedication if no one truly appreciates or understands it? It's a deeply human and existential question that many creative people grapple with throughout their careers.

The song ends with an outro that builds on the vampiric imagery introduced earlier. Kali sings about someone draining the life out of her, using her art for their own benefit. The outro is haunting and ethereal, leaving the listener with a sense of unease and despair at the powerful emotions Kali is conveying through her music.

Your Teeth In My Neck is a powerful song that showcases Kali Uchis' immense talents as a singer, songwriter, and musician. It's a deeply personal and emotional song that speaks to anyone who has ever felt misunderstood, drained, or exploited in their creative endeavors. Through her haunting lyrics and music, Kali invites us to share in her struggles and her triumphs, reminding us of the power of art to transcend even our darkest experiences.

• Release Date: April 6, 2018
• Artist: Kali Uchis