36 Degrees Lyrics
We were tight, but it falls apart as silver turns to blue
Waxing with a candlelight, and burning just for you
Allocate your sentiment, and stick it in a box
I've never been an extrovert, but I'm still breathing
[Chorus]
Someone tried to do me ache
Someone tried to do me ache
Someone tried to do me ache (it's what I'm afraid of)
Someone tried to do me ache (it's what I'm afraid of)
[Verse 2]
With hindsight, I was more than blind, lost without a clue
Thought I was getting carat gold, and what I got was you
Stuck inside the circumstances, lonely at the top
I've always been an introvert
Happily bleeding
[Chorus]
Someone tried to do me ache
Someone tried to do me ache
Someone tried to do me ache (it's what I'm afraid of)
Someone tried to do me ache (it's what I'm afraid of)
[Outro]
Four, seven, two, three, nine, eight, five
I gotta breathe to stay alive
And one, four, two, nine, seven, eight
Feels like I'm gonna suffocate
Fourteen, sixteen, twenty-two
This skin that turns to blister blue
Shoulders toes and knees, I'm thirty-six degrees
Shoulders toes and knees, I'm thirty-six degrees
Shoulder toes and knees, I'm thirty-six degrees
Shoulders toes and knees, I'm thirty-six degrees
Shoulder toes and knees, I'm thirty-six degrees
Shoulder toes and knees, I'm thirty-six degrees
About
‘36 Degrees’ was released as the third single from Placebo’s debut album, peaking at number 80 on the UK Singles Charts. The music video features the band playing instruments under water. During the Once More With Feeling DVD commentary, the band revealed they were held down with weights, and would only play their instruments for 30 second bursts, receiving oxygen from the tanks of professional divers.
The track has gone through several different arrangements, most notable being the 2005 version which was released on the “Song To Say Goodbye” single. It also received a remake for their special 2015 MTV Unplugged performance.
In 1998 Brian explained:
It’s called that because 36 degrees is close to body temperature. I guess it’s all body metaphors. The sleeve has an arm and a leg wrapped in clingfilm, like they’re being preserved. And you can put something in clingfilm and stick it in the refrigerator, or stick it in a microwave and warm it up or cool it down.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning