Summary
At its core, “Cliché” by Machine Gun Kelly is a raw and honest song about a person who knows they are difficult to love but has found someone who makes them want to try. The singer sees himself as a “rolling stone,” someone who is always moving and can’t settle down, and he is fully aware of his own chaotic nature.
Despite this, he is asking for a chance at love, pleading with his partner to stay with him and build a life together, even though he admits they might be better off without him. In this article, we explore the meaning of this song, breaking down its metaphors and emotions. You can visit the home page of SongsDiscussion to explore the meaning of this song.
The “Rolling Stone” Dilemma: A Plea for Love Despite Flaws
The central theme of “Cliché” revolves around the singer’s self-awareness of his own shortcomings in a relationship. When MGK sings, “Baby, I’m a rolling stone,” he is using a well-known phrase to describe himself. A rolling stone is someone who is restless, never staying in one place for long, and because of this, they don’t form deep roots or connections. He knows his lifestyle is chaotic and unpredictable, which can be incredibly difficult for a partner to handle.
This isn’t an excuse but rather a confession. He lays his cards on the table from the very beginning. This honesty is a plea. He is essentially saying, “This is who I am, and I know it’s not easy. But I want you, and I’m asking if you can handle it.” The line, “I got a lotta right in me, but I don’t wanna say this wrong,” shows his fear and vulnerability. He has good intentions and genuine feelings, but he’s afraid his words or actions will fail to express the depth of his emotions, or that his chaotic nature will inevitably cause pain.
He is caught in a dilemma. He craves the stability and connection that love offers, represented by the idea of “making this home,” but his very nature as a “rolling stone” works against it. This internal conflict is the emotional heart of the song, making his request for his partner to “wait for me” and “stay with me” all the more powerful and sincere.
A Self-Aware Warning: “I’ll Say Sorry in Advance”
One of the most telling parts of the song is the line, “But I’ll say sorry in advance.” This single phrase speaks volumes about the singer’s past experiences and his self-perception. It’s a moment of brutal honesty, where he acknowledges that his behavior is likely to cause problems down the road. He understands that his “head’s a mess” and that this isn’t a temporary state but something that happens “every day.”
This apology isn’t a cop-out; it’s a warning sign. He is giving his partner an out, a clear picture of what they are getting into. He is not trying to pretend he is someone he is not. This act of apologizing for future mistakes shows a level of maturity and self-awareness. He recognizes his patterns and knows that even with the best intentions (“I’ll try my best”), he might fall short.
This vulnerability makes his plea more genuine. He is not just a reckless person asking for love; he is a self-aware person who understands the potential for heartbreak he carries. He is asking his partner to love him not in spite of his flaws, but with full knowledge of them. This makes the potential relationship feel more real and grounded, even amidst the singer’s chaotic energy. It’s a transparent negotiation for a love that can withstand the messiness he brings to the table.
The Hope of “Making a Home” Amidst Chaos
The idea of “home” is a powerful symbol in “Cliché.” For a self-proclaimed “rolling stone,” a person who is constantly on the move, the concept of home is not just a physical place. It represents stability, safety, comfort, and a sense of belonging—all things that a restless spirit struggles to find. When MGK sings, “Maybe we could make this home,” he is not just suggesting they move in together. He is asking if they can create that feeling of emotional sanctuary with each other.
This lyric shows a deep longing for change. The “rolling stone” is tired of rolling. He has found someone who makes him want to stop and build something lasting. The word “maybe” is crucial here, as it reveals his uncertainty. He doesn’t know if it’s possible for someone like him to settle down, but he is hopeful that with this specific person, it could work.
This desire for a home is contrasted with the urge to “run away with me.” It seems contradictory, but it actually makes perfect sense in the context of the song. He wants to escape his current life (“let’s leave this town”) but not alone. He wants to run away with her to start something new, to build their own world, their own “home,” away from everything else. This shows that for him, “home” is not a location but a person. She is the anchor he hopes will finally stop him from drifting.
Grand Romantic Gestures and Creating Memories
In the second verse, the song takes a turn towards impulsive, grand romanticism. The line, “Let’s leave this town, get married, go to Vegas and create nostalgia,” is a burst of spontaneous desire. This isn’t a carefully laid-out plan; it’s a fantasy born from the intense emotions of the moment. Vegas, in this context, symbolizes a quick, carefree commitment, a way to solidify their bond without overthinking it.
The idea of “creat[ing] nostalgia” is particularly interesting. Nostalgia is a feeling we have for the past. By saying he wants to “create” it, he means he wants to make powerful, lasting memories with this person right now. He wants to build a history with her, something they can look back on fondly. This is especially important for someone who feels the future is uncertain. He might believe that “this night might be our last,” so he wants to pack as much meaning and experience into their time together as possible.
This impulse is both romantic and a little desperate. It highlights the urgency he feels. He is so captivated by this person and so aware that it might not last that he wants to fast-forward to the good parts. The request, “Tell me, will you save this dance?” adds to this feeling. It’s a classic romantic trope, asking for a special moment set aside just for them, a memory to hold onto, which reinforces the theme of building a shared history, even if it’s a short one.
The Cliché of True Love: Embracing Sincerity
The title of the song, “Cliché,” is a key to understanding its message. The singer is fully aware that the things he is saying and feeling sound like lines from a romantic movie. Phrases like “I’ll try my best,” “save this dance,” and even the grand gesture of running away to Vegas are all common romantic tropes, or clichés. By acknowledging this directly with the line, “It sounds cliché, but,” he is stripping these phrases of their corniness and making them sincere.
He is essentially telling his partner, “I know this all sounds like something you’ve heard before, but when I say it, I mean it.” The fact that his head is a “mess” and his life is chaotic makes these simple, cliché feelings even more profound. For someone who lives in complexity, the simplicity of love is a powerful force. He is not trying to be poetic or original; he is trying to be honest in the most direct way he knows how.
This embrace of the cliché is what makes the song so relatable. Love often makes people feel and say things that have been said a million times before. The song argues that this doesn’t make the feelings any less valid or powerful. In fact, the narrator’s raw and vulnerable delivery gives these old phrases new life. He is proving that even the most overused words can hold deep meaning when they are spoken from a place of genuine, desperate love.
Metaphors Deep Dive
The lyrics of “Cliché” are filled with powerful metaphors that give the song its emotional weight. MGK uses these figures of speech to explain his complex feelings and internal struggles in a way that is both vivid and easy to understand.
“Baby, I’m a rolling stone”:
This is the song’s central metaphor. It comes from the old proverb, “A rolling stone gathers no moss.” Moss represents roots, stability, and growth. By calling himself a “rolling stone,” the singer is admitting that he is restless, constantly moving, and unable to settle down or form lasting attachments. This single image perfectly captures his fear of commitment and his chaotic lifestyle. It sets up the main conflict of the song: can a rolling stone stop rolling for the right person?
“I’ll give you oxygen to breathe me in”:
This is a fascinating and intense metaphor. On the surface, oxygen is essential for life, so he could be saying his love is life-giving. But it goes deeper. He is asking her to “breathe me in,” which means to take him in completely, to make him a part of her very being. He is offering himself as a vital element, suggesting an all-consuming, immersive kind of love. It also carries a hint of dependency; perhaps he needs her to breathe him in so that he can feel real and alive.
“Your name is in neon light in the sky when darkness surrounds us”:
This is a beautiful visual metaphor that highlights the importance of his partner. Darkness represents his chaotic life, his confusion, and his internal struggles (“my head’s a mess”). In the middle of all that darkness, her name shines like a “neon light.” Neon is bright, artificial, and impossible to miss. This means she is his single point of clarity, a beacon of hope and guidance. When everything else is dark and confusing, she is the one clear, shining thing that he can focus on.
“Maybe we could make this home”:
In this context, “home” is not a physical house but a metaphor for emotional safety, stability, and belonging. For a “rolling stone” who has never had a place to truly belong, the idea of “making a home” is the ultimate goal. He is suggesting that together, they can build a sanctuary. Home becomes a shared feeling, a state of being with each other, rather than a place on a map. It’s the final destination for his restless heart.
FAQs about the Lyrics of “Cliché”
Here are answers to 20 common questions about the specific lines in the song.
What does “Tell me, would you wait for me?” mean?
It’s a direct plea for patience. The singer knows he is a work in progress and is asking his partner if she is willing to wait for him to figure things out and become the person she deserves.
Why does he call himself a “rolling stone”?
This means he is a restless person who can’t stay in one place for long. It implies a lifestyle that is unstable and lacks deep roots, which makes a committed relationship difficult.
What is the meaning of “I got a lotta right in me”?
This line means that despite his flaws and chaotic nature, he has good intentions and a good heart. He wants to do the right thing, especially by this person.
Why is he worried about saying things wrong (“But I don’t wanna say this wrong”)?
He is afraid that his words won’t accurately express how much he cares. He values this connection so much that he’s scared of messing it up by saying the wrong thing.
What does “Maybe we could make this home” signify?
It signifies a desire for stability and emotional safety. “Home” isn’t just a place; it’s a feeling of belonging that he hopes to create with his partner.
Why would he suggest she is “better off alone”?
This is a moment of self-aware honesty. He knows that being with him will be difficult and potentially painful, and he acknowledges that she might have an easier and happier life without him.
What’s the significance of “I like that you like me”?
It’s a simple, pure expression of joy and perhaps surprise. He might have low self-esteem, so the fact that this person he admires actually likes him back is a source of genuine happiness.
What does “I could close my eyes and draw your face” imply?
It implies a deep level of intimacy and obsession. Her image is so perfectly memorized and ingrained in his mind that he knows every detail of her face by heart.
What does “I’ll give you oxygen to breathe me in” mean?
It’s a metaphor for an all-consuming love. He is offering himself as something vital, asking her to fully absorb him into her life, to make him a part of her.
Why does he say “sorry in advance”?
He is apologizing for future mistakes he knows he is likely to make due to his chaotic nature. It’s a warning and an admission of his own flaws.
What does he mean by “My head’s a mess”?
He is describing his mental state as being chaotic, confused, and filled with turmoil. This is a constant state for him (“It’s like that every day”).
Why does he say “It sounds cliché, but”?
He acknowledges that his romantic feelings and promises sound like overused lines from a movie, but he wants to assure her that his feelings are sincere and genuine.
What is the meaning behind “Your name is in neon light in the sky”?
It means that she is his beacon of hope and clarity. In his dark and confusing world, she is the one bright, clear thing that stands out and guides him.
What does the “darkness surrounds us” refer to?
The “darkness” refers to his chaotic life, his internal struggles, negative outside influences, and the general difficulties they might face as a couple.
Why does he suggest they “leave this town, get married, go to Vegas”?
This is an impulsive, romantic fantasy. It shows a desire to escape their current situation and make a grand, spontaneous commitment to solidify their bond.
What does it mean to “create nostalgia”?
He wants to make powerful and happy memories with her in the present moment that they can look back on fondly in the future. It’s about building a shared history.
What is the meaning of “Tell me, will you save this dance?”?
It’s a classic romantic request for a special, intimate moment set aside just for the two of them. It’s about creating a cherished memory.
Why does he feel his “knees get weak beneath me”?
This is a physical reaction to his intense emotions for her. It shows how profoundly she affects him, making him feel vulnerable and overwhelmed with love.
What does he mean by “I know this night might be our last”?
This reveals his insecurity and the fragility of their situation. He fears that because of his own issues or external circumstances, their time together might be very limited.
Why is the line “Tell me, would you wait” repeated so much at the end?
The repetition emphasizes his desperation and the urgency of his plea. It becomes a chant, a mantra that shows how much her patience and commitment mean to him. It is the single most important question he needs an answer to.