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  1. Tracks
  2. Charli xcx
  3. Mess

TRACK

Charli xcx

Mess

Release date: 16th July 2017

Spotify More on Charli xcx

About This Track

‘Mess’ by Charli xcx is a 2017 song that frames a relationship as self-destructive, with images of lethal bravado and collapse, culminating in the sense of an unavoidable accident, “Look out, it’s a car crash”. The verses move from performative gestures to reckless, harmful action, while the refrain-like lines insist that the love is unravelling and yet insist on not letting it properly end, even as everything tips into finality. The overall tone is frantic and doomed, a loop of denial and disaster.

"Mess" is a track by Charli xcx, released 16th July 2017. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 19 articles about Charli xcx.

About the Artist

Charli xcx

Charli xcx

Lyrics

Mess

[Verse 1]

Blew a kiss with a shotgun

Then I swallowed your pill straight down, down, down

Yeah, the love's coming undone

But we can't let it die we drown, drown, drown

[Pre-Chorus]

This is the final time

Got to give up 'cause it's over

This is so over

Look out, it's a car crash

Yeah, I'm gonna take off over and out

[Chorus]

We're making a mess here together

We drilled a hole in the roof

Because of a misunderstanding

Never been further from you

We're bringing out horses and lasers

We act like we're sniffing glue

So sick of the stranger within me

Sick of the stranger in you

[Post-Chorus]

We're making a mess

We're making a mess

We're making a mess

We're making a mess

[Verse 2]

Burn a hole in the paper

But we can't let a fire start to spread

'Cause we locked up our bodies

Might as well start sleeping with the dead

[Pre-Chorus]

This is the final time

Got to give up 'cause it's over

This is so over

Put your hand on your mouth boy

'Cause I'm blocking out all those words you said

[Chorus]

We're making a mess here together

We drilled a hole in the roof

Because of a misunderstanding

Never been further from you

We're bringing out horses and lasers

We act like we're sniffing glue

So sick of the stranger within me

Sick of the stranger in you

[Post-Chorus]

We're making a mess

We're making a mess

We're making a mess

We're making a mess

[Bridge]

Let's make a mess here together

Let's drill a hole in the roof

I'm loving this misunderstanding

Never been further from you

Let's bring out the horses and lasers

Let's act like we're sniffing glue

So sick of the stranger within me

Sick of the stranger in you

[Chorus]

We're making a mess here together

We drilled a hole in the roof

Because of a misunderstanding

Never been further from you

We're bringing out horses and lasers

We act like we're sniffing glue

So sick of the stranger within me

Sick of the stranger in you

[Outro]

We're making a mess

We're making a mess

We're making a mess

We're making a mess

We're making a mess

We're making a mess

We're making a mess

We're making a mess

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

Mess

2017
Listen
Release year
2017

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  • 20secondsnow (Demo)
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  • Chains of Love
  • House featuring John Cale
  • Everything is romantic featuring caroline polachek (Wuthering Heights Remix)*
  • Nasty French
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  • Vehicle References in Charli XCX Songs

    • View all tracks by Charli xcx →

    Credits

    Production & Engineering

    Writer
    Ana Diaz, Charli xcx, Patrik Berger
    Producer
    Patrik Berger
    READ MORE ABOUT CHARLI XCXREAD MORE ABOUT CHARLI XCXREAD MORE ABOUT CHARLI XCXREAD MORE ABOUT CHARLI XCX
    READ MORE ABOUT CHARLI XCXREAD MORE ABOUT CHARLI XCXREAD MORE ABOUT CHARLI XCXREAD MORE ABOUT CHARLI XCX
    Charli xcx has shared ‘Wink Wink’ from her upcoming album, ‘Music, Fashion, Film’
    News

    Charli xcx has shared ‘Wink Wink’ from her upcoming album, ‘Music, Fashion, Film’

    New single arrives ahead of forthcoming album, due next month.

    26 Jun 2026 • 7:58 am
    Charli XCX works it out on the remix with Lorde for a new version of 'Girl, So Confusing'
    News

    Charli XCX works it out on the remix with Lorde for a new version of 'Girl, So Confusing'

    The track, which was speculated by fans to refer to Lorde, now packs a new verse in which she responds to the original.

    21 Jun 2024 • 11:19 am
    Vroom vroom, Charli XCX is back in her car with her new Barbie movie soundtrack offering, 'Speed Drive'
    News

    Vroom vroom, Charli XCX is back in her car with her new Barbie movie soundtrack offering, 'Speed Drive'

    It follows up on previous Barbie offerings, including Dua Lipa's 'Dance The Night Away', Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice's 'Barbie World', and PinkPantheress' 'Angel'.

    30 Jun 2023 • 9:06 am
    Charli XCX is going to release a documentary film of her time making lockdown album, 'how i’m feeling now'
    News

    Charli XCX is going to release a documentary film of her time making lockdown album, 'how i’m feeling now'

    Keep an eye out for more news soon.

    16 Jul 2020 • 3:53 pm
    Charli XCX is dropping her Christine and the Queens team up 'Gone' next week
    News

    Charli XCX is dropping her Christine and the Queens team up 'Gone' next week

    Premiered at Primavera earlier this year, the latest taster of 'Charli' is imminent.

    11 Jul 2019 • 8:18 am
    Charli XCX and Post Precious have done a "special remix" of Wolf Alice's 'Don't Delete The Kisses'
    News

    Charli XCX and Post Precious have done a "special remix" of Wolf Alice's 'Don't Delete The Kisses'

    It drops tomorrow on Beats 1.

    2 Jan 2018 • 6:41 pm