What do you think Fever means?

The Black Keys: Fever Meaning

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Album cover for Fever album cover

Song Released: 2014


Fever Lyrics


[Verse:]
Fever, where'd you run to?
Fever, where'd you run to?
Acting right is so routine
Fever, let me live a dream

Fever, I'm a slave to
No one misbehaved too
Fever, they're misunderstood
Wouldn't leave you if I...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    May 20th 2014 !⃝

    Drugs.

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    danielle.warren.522
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    Mar 26th 2015 !⃝

    "Dependence makes us desperate and willing to cling to whatever lie that presents itself."

    Be it drugs, religion or a woman. This song is about dependence itself and the desperation it causes.

    "Fever" is a brilliant song, especially with their choice of video. With the song alone, I initially came away with the obvious. "It's about heroin addiction." After the video came out, I was confused. Suddenly it seemed to be saying something about zealotry in religion.

    And then I realized, those are the subjects, not the themes. Upon inspection of the lyrics, I realized that the words are carefully chosen to be vague. The words could literally be applied to any form of addiction or dependence. The specifics implied, such as Heroin or Religion, are simply examples of the overarching theme.

    We all know how it applies to drug addiction, but look at the video again. It's more about the followers than the crooked evangelists. These people are so desperate for something to fill that void they relinquish free will to a man that is just using them. They throw their money at him because he promises to fill that void... just like an addiction.

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Jul 3rd 2015 !⃝

    I think the song really means. If you have steel beams you cant melt them with jet fuel. Sorry just realized u can post anonymously. And the song is about heroin.

  4. anonymous
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    Nov 19th 2022 !⃝

    If somebody see de video clip is on the face , is about faith, particularly i thing the video is a sarcarms about christian and how the people use the faith in your behalf.

  5. anonymous
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    Oct 22nd 2018 !⃝

    If you watched the unofficial music video for Weight of love.....you clearly know it is about a woman. The guy who made that music video (Theo Wenner) also directed Fever.

  6. anonymous
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    Nov 21st 2017 !⃝

    It reminds me of heroin and the withdrawals. Although I do look for that in muisc considering musicians and drugs go hand in hand. I saw someone say "what?! No Dan's a family man" well first of all that doesn't mean anything really. Maybe he's experienced it in the past, or maybe known someone close that's told him of this fever. Most songs people think are bout women or god usually are bout a drug. It does become your love, lol I believe someone once said " some people call god smack"
    I wanna know if he's ever had a heroin or opiate addiction.

  7. anonymous
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    Oct 15th 2017 !⃝

    I see it as the preacher is a con man from a poor background and fever represents his greed/obsession and part of his self-conscience knowing he is doing something wrong.Kinda makes sense with some of the lyrics and explains the donations in the video.

  8. anonymous
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    May 17th 2017 !⃝

    Like Dan is the preacher he is speaking of a prophecy or prophet...the fever. Why do you think the whole music video has a religious theme to it. Why do you think it shows so many shots of people speaking in tongues.
    He is talking about severe anxiety, or better yet his anxiety. Sorry but the black keys are not going to start writing songs about heroin. Dan is not a junkie. None of them are.

  9. anonymous
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    Feb 18th 2017 !⃝

    The song is definitely about heroin.Like somebody said before, if you've ever struggled with Heroin addiction every line make sense that it applies to that. There is no woman heis talking about because heroin addiction takes over your life you can't have a boyfriend or girlfriend heroin is your love and you don't have time for anything else. And fever, like said before, is it one of the first sign of withdrawal and heroin addicts usually have to get their heroin in the morningso they can function during the day and not be sick. That's why the song says something about looking at the horizon and knowing that the battle starts all over again. And trust me heroin addicts do not sleep in their always up early that's why they would see the Horizon because they have to get theit drug to function. I don't know, I guess other people can't really see what people that have struggled with heroin addiction can see the same interpretation out of that song. Songs always mean different things to different people which is a good thing I guess.

  10. anonymous
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    Feb 2nd 2017 !⃝

    It's not about heroin lol. Dan's a family man not a hardcore drug addict. It's about anxiety. Duh

  11. anonymous
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    Nov 14th 2016 !⃝

    I think he got addicted to something that feels good at the moment but has negative side effects such as a drug or alcohol and the lines "you know not to leave her" is him reminding himself or someone else not to let others fall into the habit.

  12. anonymous
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    Jan 24th 2016 !⃝

    If you are a regular heroin user you know that the immediate result of cessation brings forth first and foremost a fever. I think the song is about heroin. Even the album name, turn blue, makes me think of someone overdosing and turning blue from respiratory depression the primary cause of death for many heroin overdoses.

  13. anonymous
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    Sep 28th 2015 !⃝

    It's about his ex-wife. She's the fever preventing him from living his life.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  14. anonymous
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    Jun 13th 2015 !⃝

    She is real.
    "Fever where'd you run too?"
    He is simply and anxiously asking....where are you at? This woman he has met before.
    "Acting right is so routine, now fever let me leave a dream"
    Almost like a child asking to go play outside, instead of doing homework or chores. He is asking her what is it for? To him it seems like a waste, he would rather go play.
    "Fever I'm a slave to, no one misbehaved too." At this point he is trying to reason with her. Again, like a child in trouble for being mischievous. Trying to make her see, he has been good and possibly he's afraid to upset her.
    "Fever they're misunderstood"
    She has a stern judgment on those around him for perhaps, enabling his bad side. He's trying to tell her, that they aren't to blame. Defending them. Almost like he doesn't want her to look down on them.
    "Wouldn't leave you if I could."
    Therefore, if anything he could give her, a promise, that if it was possible he would not leave her. He wants to please her.
    "Fever 'cause I'm breaking, fever got me aching"
    He is now become psychically weak, and frustrated from this. Almost like he's in a manic episode. He is begging her to come save him.
    "Fever why won't you explain, break it down again."
    Like a child becoming irritable with a toy, they don't fully understand how to use. He doesn't understand. And wants so desperately to have her come back and retell what she has told him.
    "Fever got me guilty, just go ahead an kill me."
    Almost in a way resenting her now, because she has shamed him. And now he just doesn't care, as if he is saying there is nothing worse than this feeling you've caused me. Implying a threat.... he would let her destroy him, if she keeps refusing to give him what he desires.
    "Fever can you hear me?"
    Clinging onto the idea and memory of her. He is trying to make a telepathically connection* to her. He wants her to know he is suffering.
    "You shook me like I've never been, now show me how to live again."
    He is describing this experience he had with her. A new view on life, possibly awakened. He has become aware of this new reality and is asking for her guidance.
    "Used to be a blessing, but fever's got me stressing."
    This new gift she gave him, in the beginning he understood it, he was willing to use it. But now he is unstable and he can't control it as well. He's trying to make her see, he really needs her help again.
    "Realize I am to blame, but fever let me play the game."
    He comes to the conclusion he can not hid from his guilt but he is pleading with her to please let him still enjoy what he has.
    "Now if the cold pale light in your eyes, reaches those horizon lines, you not to leave her."
    He is describing the physical feeling he gets when he looks into her eyes. Almost as if he can see into her soul. It also, sounds like he is speaking of redemption day. Because now he is warning everyone not to do what he did. Forget what she has taught him.

    *Watch any live video of him playing the verse [Fever can you hear me] And notice how he almost always uses one or both hands to touch his head. He is trying in that moment to reach her.

    Also the importance of the music video having the whole revival televangelist theme is for a reason. They want to emphasize the part of speaking in tongues. Because I believe that is what she gave, not specifically speaking in tongues but a form of pressured speech.

    If you haven't had the chance to watch the music video weight of love.......do so.

  15. anonymous
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    Apr 26th 2015 !⃝

    Since a lot of people said it's about religion, I say it MIGHT be. I mean, seriously, TBK always made somewhat weird videos or that didn't let's follow a plot, so let's take that into consideration. For me, this song is about an over-consuming, overhelming love. A guy likes a girl, but likely, the girl broke up with him, or doesn't like him too much. Therefore, he's in this feverish situation when he doesn't know what to do. He tries to comfort himself, maybe even speak up to the girl until he confronts her about her heart of stone and lack of afection she's shown him. The Fever, is the depression, the anxiety, the panic attacks due to a break up or fight (he says 'used to be a blessing') The whole chorus is basically the internal monologue he has with himself, he even contemplates suicide because he lost his will to live, as the girl was his blood and soul.

  16. anonymous
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    Feb 19th 2015 !⃝

    Heroin

  17. anonymous
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    Jan 10th 2015 !⃝

    I feel like the 'fever' is his self conscience.

  18. anonymous
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    Nov 13th 2014 !⃝

    Replace God where it says fever. The song could mean many things, but when watching the video, it is definitely about God. And it says: Fever, where'd you run to? which translates to: God, where'd you run to?, etc.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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