Candy

Bikini Kill's song 'Candy' delves into themes of submission, power dynamics, and the complexities of desire. The lyrics are raw and unfiltered, reflecting the band's punk ethos and feminist stance. The opening lines, 'I swallow my pride / I chewed on your sores,' set a tone of self-sacrifice and degradation. The act of swallowing pride and enduring pain can be seen as a metaphor for the compromises and emotional labor often expected in relationships, particularly from women. The line 'I swallowed your cum, it's just my part in it' starkly illustrates the physical and emotional submission, highlighting the transactional nature of the relationship described in the song.

The repetition of 'Just the way it is / Just the way it seems to stay' suggests a sense of resignation and inevitability. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the societal norms that perpetuate these power imbalances. The protagonist seems to accept their role, even if it is uncomfortable or degrading, because it is seen as an unchangeable aspect of their reality. This resignation is further emphasized in the lines 'Close my eyes / Just try and shut my little tiny mouth, now,' indicating a forced silence and suppression of one's own voice and desires.

The chorus, 'Don't try and fight me / 'Cause I surround you / I really like it, baby / I want to be your candy,' adds another layer of complexity. The desire to be 'candy'—something sweet, desirable, and consumable—reflects a longing for acceptance and affection, even if it means being objectified. This duality of wanting to be desired while also feeling trapped in a submissive role captures the conflicting emotions many people experience in imbalanced relationships. Bikini Kill uses stark, provocative imagery to challenge listeners to think critically about the roles we play and the power dynamics at work in our personal lives and society at large.