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

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)

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

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)

4, 7, 2, 3, 9, 8, 5, I gotta breathe to stay alive
And 1, 4, 2, 9, 7, 8, feels like I'm gonna suffocate
14, 16, 22, this skin that turns to blister blue
Shoulders toes and knees, I'm 36 degrees
Shoulders toes and knees, I'm 36 degrees
Shoulder toes and knees, I'm 36 degrees
Shoulders toes and knees, 36 degrees


Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by fahmy, TheManWhoSoldTheWorld, CheckYourHead

36 Degrees Lyrics as written by Stefan Olsdal Brian Molko

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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36 Degrees song meanings
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64 Comments

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  • +6
    General Comment

    As an introvert i can definitely relate to this. I think what the whole song is saying that there's nothing wrong with being introverted. 36 degrees is normal body temperature (in celcius). I.e its his normal state of existence and there's nothing wrong with him like many people assume there is something wrong with an introvert. 'I've never been an extrovert But I'm still breathing ' and I've always been an introvert Happily bleeding back this up.

    However it can often cause problems in relationships when you need space to be alone and the other person doesn't accept that. From this point on the relationship 'falls apart' no matter how 'tight' you used to be. 'I've gotta breathe to stay alive And 1 4 2 9 7 8 Feels like I'm gonna suffocate 14 16 22'

    'Waxing with a candlelight And burning just for you ' i think this refers to the way in which being around people often 'burns out' introverts who need to be alone at times, but he was exhausting himself by being around this person/ living a more extroverted lifestyle than normal, just for his partener

    cypherssteakon January 11, 2015   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    36 degrees refers to body temperature in Celcius. This converts to 97 degrees F, right in the range for normal body temperature. Also the numbers, as per Brian, "just seemed to fit."

    tfwoon August 18, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    the normal body temperature is around 37.5 degrees.. whenever brian molko introduces this song at concerts he says: "This is a public safety message, everyone should drink at least one pint of water every hour because we don't want anybody over-heating. We all know that the average body temperature is 37.5 degrees, this song is 36 degrees."

    nirvana_is_foreveron July 07, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    14 is the age Brian Molko lost his virginity 16 is when he lost it to another guy and 22 is when he had is first threesome.

    as for the rest of the numbers I don't know but some friends and I have speculated that 4723985 is the number of the french girl he lost it to or maybe the old phone number for the apartment he shared with Stef when they were first starting out.

    142978 we have no clue whatsoever

    and 36 degrees is body temperature

    Jade_Viperon April 09, 2008   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning

    I've always understood this song as an sarcastic ''I'm alright'' since he's singing about an introvert person. 36,6 degrees Celsius is the typical body temperature, at least in Europe.

    Druvisyoon March 03, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    supposedly this song is about the perfect temperature to have sex at.

    SlashedStaron July 02, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    riiiight...

    nirvknot210on July 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    actually, i believe the 36 degrees refers to a 36 degree angle because he has his shoulders touching his toes and he is bent back with his knees being the center point, tho i dunno why or what the significance is....anyone?

    faminecowon August 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I read somewhere that 36 degrees is the temperature that your body drops to if you have drunk way to much. And the numbers are either random or the phone number of a cheap curry shop in London.

    Bluemudon August 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    36 degrees celcius is pretty normal, maybe a little too cold, but why would he sing "this skin that turns to blister blue"? Sounds as if he's cold.

    Dreamlandscapeon April 26, 2003   Link

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