La Roux album cover

La Roux – Tigerlily Lyrics

Pop

Well tonight out on the streets I'm gonna follow you
And tell you all about a scene that you would kill for
You're gonna love what's burning right in front of you
But you won't see it by the light of the sun
Come out, tigerlily, you're caressing me
I'll take you up, I'll turn you on, I'll take your apathy
I wouldn't lie to you, blossom, won't you let it go?
I'm gonna give you all you want, and don't you know?

That you
I know you better than this
I could be here when you call
I'll make you top of the list
And in the crush of the dark
I'll be your light in the mist
I can see you burning with desire for a kiss
Psychobabble all upon your lips

Well, they can sell it all they want but you cannot agree
I don't like the taste of their morality
You'll find your bread and your butter where you fake it
And put your face in the gutter of a snake pit
But our communication is telepathy
What you give is what you get out of us naturally
And we can wait 'til the shadow grows long
And turn the page of a story that has long since found a home

I know you better than this
I could be here when you call
I'll make you top of the list
And in the crush of the dark
I'll be your light in the mist
I can see you burning with desire for a kiss
Psychobabble all upon your lips

Have you ever felt like you're being followed?
Or watched the ones that held your stare?
Turned around to see who's behind you
To find there's no one there?
Lurking in the dark
'Cause someone breathes you night and day
There's a friend who wants so much more
And if they can't have you, they'll never let you walk away

And in the crush of the dark
I'll be your light in the mist
I can see you burning with desire for a kiss
And in the crush of the dark
I'll be your light in the mist
I can see you burning with desire for a kiss
Psychobabble all upon your lips

About This Song

"Tigerlily" is a seductive nocturnal anthem that explores themes of awakening someone from emotional numbness and drawing them into a world of intense, possibly dangerous passion. The song's narrator positions themselves as a predatory yet alluring figure who promises to show their target "a scene that you would kill for" - something thrilling that can only be experienced in darkness, away from the harsh reality of daylight. The titular "Tigerlily" represents someone beautiful but dormant, perhaps sheltered or apathetic, whom the narrator wants to "turn on" and strip of their emotional detachment. There's an underlying tension between genuine care ("I know you better than this") and manipulation, as the narrator claims they can provide everything their target wants while simultaneously stalking them through the streets. Musically, the track exemplifies La Roux's signature retro-futuristic sound, blending 1980s synth-pop with modern electronic production to create an atmosphere that's both nostalgic and eerily contemporary. The pulsing synthesizers and Elly Jackson's distinctive falsetto vocals create an intoxicating sonic landscape that mirrors the song's themes of seduction and transformation. The track resonated with listeners because it captured the complex dynamics of desire and power in relationships, wrapped in an irresistibly danceable package that made dark themes feel euphoric. Its success helped establish La Roux as masters of emotionally complex pop that operated on multiple levels simultaneously.

Comments (11)

  • Anonymous
    Great song!
  • Anonymous
    is that vincent price doing the creepy voice over?
  • Anonymous
    yeh i love this song. best one on the album altho false intentions is close.
  • Anonymous
    saw these guys at parklife in perth was insanse so many people love that song..
  • Anonymous
    in response to anonymous..it's Elly's father doing the voiceover. (elly = la roux)
  • Anonymous
    this song was about girl Ellie called Tigerlily. But I´m not sure whether she´s lesbian or bisexual.
  • Anonymous
    fantastic song! I can't stop listening it!
  • Anonymous
    I love the drums in this song. Just make you wanna move around to the beat. For some reason it won't let me post a comment without having at least 75 characters so I'll just add this so it can be posted :)
  • Anonymous
    i fail to see why some people think theres a man involved in this besides the guy voice later on.. shes caressing a flower... obviously the flower is a girl. i effin love this song
  • Anonymous
    Good song... I could do without "The Monster Mash," though. It didn't need that.
  • Adela Flores
    I so love this song!