The Motels album cover

The Motels – Total Control Lyrics

Alternative

Looking counter clockwise
Knowing what could happen
Any moment maybe you maybe even you
Steadfast collapse
Always certain any moment
Maybe you maybe you
Maybe even you
Recline complete dream too sweet
I can't do it not with you
Not even with you
Maybe never with you

And I'd sell my soul for
Total control
Yeah, I'd sell my soul for
Total control

Street wet tonight, lovers touch
It's pure delight
Always certain any moment
Maybe even you
Stay in bed stained sheets
My head hurts I repeat
Maybe you maybe you maybe even you

And I'd sell my soul for
Total control
Yeah, I'd sell my soul for
Total control
Ooh I'd sell my soul for
Total control over you
Over you
Total control over you

Street wet tonight, lovers touch
It's pure delight
Always certain any moment
Maybe even you
Stay in bed stained sheets
My head hurts I repeat
Maybe you, maybe you, maybe even you

And I'd sell my soul for
Total control
Yeah, I'd sell my soul for
Total control
Ooh, I'd sell my soul for
Total control over you
Over you
Total control over you

Over you
Total control over you
Over you
Total control over you
Over you
Total control over you

About This Song

"Total Control" by The Motels is a haunting new wave track that explores themes of obsession, desire, and the desperate need for certainty in relationships. The song captures the anxiety of romantic uncertainty through fragmented, stream-of-consciousness lyrics that convey a narrator willing to sacrifice everything-even their soul-for complete emotional dominance over another person. Musically, it features The Motels' signature blend of post-punk urgency and atmospheric synth-pop, with Martha Davis's distinctive vocals delivering the lyrics with a mixture of vulnerability and intensity. The song's repetitive, almost hypnotic structure mirrors the obsessive mindset it describes, while the dark undertones reflect the new wave era's exploration of psychological complexity. Its enduring appeal lies in how it captures the uncomfortable truth about how fear of rejection can drive people to crave unhealthy levels of control in their relationships.

Comments (2)

  • Anonymous
    is she in love or a victim of abuse...or maybe both?
  • Anonymous
    Id say she/he still thinks of someone and wants them but for whatever reason cant have them.