Olivia Rodrigo has shed light on the deeper meaning behind her song 'Maggots for Brains', explaining the connection to the beloved TV series Sex and the City. The track appears on her latest album 'you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love', and the pop star has revealed that characters Miranda and Steve directly inspired the lyrics.
Olivia Rodrigo's Love for Sex and the City
During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Olivia Rodrigo discussed her admiration for Sex and the City. She confessed, "It's my favourite show. I love Sex and the City. I think I've watched every episode three times." The singer elaborated that multiple songs on her new album were influenced by the series, particularly the dynamic between Miranda Hobbes and Steve Brady.
What Does 'Maggots for Brains' Mean?
The phrase 'maggots for brains' is a creative twist on the idiom 'worms for brains', used to describe foolish or irrational behaviour. In the song, Olivia sings about having 'maggots for brains' when her partner is away, emphasising how drastically her behaviour changes. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of longing and emotional decay: "Everything feels mouldy like the fruit that's in my fridge / And everything that's funny, I wish I could tell to him / And sometimes, at a low point, I even wish for tragedy / 'Cause I know he'd come over and take real good care of me."
The Sex and the City Connection
Olivia explained the direct link to Sex and the City during her interview with Jimmy Fallon. She recalled, "When Miranda and Steve are getting back together, she's crying and she's like, 'Steve anytime something funny happens, I just want to tell you.'" The singer added, "I remember watching that and being like, 'Oh my God. I have to write a song about it.'" This moment of vulnerability between the characters resonated with Olivia, inspiring the heartfelt lyrics of 'Maggots for Brains'.
Olivia's Favourite Song on the Album
Speaking on the Popcast, Olivia described 'Maggots for Brains' as one of her "favourite songs" on the album. She said, "I think that when we made that one, sonically, I was like, 'Oh, yeah, this feels right and this feels like the point in time that I'm at.'" She also noted that the song represents her alternative take on rock music: "Making that song was like, 'Okay, I kind of figured out what I wanted the sound to be or what was gonna be different about this record.'"
Full Lyrics of 'Maggots for Brains' by Olivia Rodrigo
VERSE 1
My day is so mundane, I don't think I left the house
Drank a pot of coffee, tried to write, nothing came out
Somehow, it's the weekend, I'm still bored out of my skull
And I went to the party but only on principle
PRE-CHORUS
Empty, who can leave?
CHORUS
I'm a zombie in my body, I'm a train off of the track
I feel dirty, I feel rotten, and the colors are all flat
I'm a sad shell of a woman, and I've got maggots for brains
But that's just a thing that happens
When my, when my baby goes away
POST-CHORUS
When my baby goes away
He goes away
VERSE 2
Everything feels moldy like the fruit that's in my fridge
And everything that's funny, I wish I could tell to him
And sometimes, at a low point, I even wish for tragedy
'Cause I know he'd come over and take real good care of me
PRE-CHORUS
It's so weird (Oh), he's not here (Oh)
CHORUS
I'm a zombie in my body, I'm a train off of the track
I feel dirty, I feel rotten, and the colors are all flat
I'm a sad shell of a woman, and I've got maggots for brains
But that's just a thing that happens
When my, when my baby goes away
POST-CHORUS
When my baby goes away
He goes away, oh
BRIDGE
What can I do but think of you?
But think of you? (But think of you?)
What can I do but think of you? (What can I do?)
But think of you? (But think of)
CHORUS
I'm a zombie in my body, I'm a train off of the track
I feel dirty, I feel rotten, and the colors are all flat
I'm a sad shell of a woman, and I've got maggots for brains
But that's just a thing that happens
When my, when my baby goes away
POST-CHORUS
What can I do (When my baby goes away) but think of you?
But think of you? (Away, when my baby goes away)
What can I do (When my baby goes away) but think of you?
But think of you? (Away)
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