"Dream Girl Evil" is the frightening anthemic highlight of Florence + The Machine's latest album Dance Fever , sounding like the artist's own twisted take on a Rolling Stones-style rock storm. The song uses playful language to explore society's double standards for women, presenting Florence as both an angel and a devil.
As Florence Welch explained to The New York Times , the album, created during lockdown, is named after the dance mania, a strange phenomenon that took place between the 14th and 17th centuries. Over the centuries, hundreds of people danced to death in spontaneous mass groups. While quarantining at home in south London, the singer dined out, watched horror movies to learn more about the sinister undertones of Dance , and became obsessed with The Yellowjacket . The American thriller is set against the backdrop of a plane crash involving a high school football team, which, according to Welch, particularly inspired "Dreamgirls . "
“ Yellowjacket appealed to me because I’m fascinated by all things cult, but it also did a great job of depicting the violence of the hormonal changes of girlhood. I think as a young woman, it would feel very Brutal,” she explained. "That's what I'm trying to achieve with a song like 'Dream Girl Evil.' It can be dangerous for people to think you're being very nice. When you hear 'You're an Angel,' that seems like an easy place to fall. .When I see women, especially young women, being sloppy or violent or behaving badly, there's something liberating about not having to try to survive by being nice."
Elsewhere, she revealed that fellow musician Phoebe Bridgers introduced her to the work of Carmen Maria Machado and her charming horror fairy tales of flawed women and horrific visions.
See the full lyrics to "Dream Girl Evil" below.
"Nightmare Girl"
Well, did you miss me?
Walking on water just to kiss me?
Oh, come pick me up
Drag me out and destroy me
I've been waiting for you, I'm ready
Baby, tell me the bad news
Am I your dream girl?
You miss me in bed
But you can never hug me
Like me more in your mind
make me evil
Then I will become an angel
At least you'll sanctify me when I die
Dream about evil girls
Dream girl evil
Dream about evil girls
Dream girl evil
Well, did I disappoint you?
Did your mother make you sad?
Am I just reminding you?
Every girl that pisses you off?
make me perfect make me your fantasy
you know i deserve it
Well, take it out on me.
Am I your dream girl?
You miss me in bed
But you can never hug me
You like me more in your heart
make me evil
Then I will become an angel
At least you'll sanctify me when I die
Dream about evil girls
Dream about evil girls
Dream about evil girls
Dream about evil girls
Watch me flash (Flicker)
Your mother's projection (mother)
But don't come and cry (cry)
I'm not anyone's moral center (center)
it cannot accommodate
it cannot accommodate
it cannot accommodate
it cannot accommodate
it cannot accommodate
it cannot accommodate
it cannot accommodate
it cannot accommodate
it can't hold (dream girl)
it cannot contain (evil)
it can't hold (dream girl)
it cannot contain (evil)
it can't hold (dream girl)
it cannot contain (evil)
it can't hold (dream girl)
it cannot contain (evil)
