Lyrically Speaking: Delving into the meaning of Yeah Yeah Yeahs song ‘Maps’
When you initially listen to Yeah Yeah Yeahs‘ debut album, Fever To Tell, the majority of tracks come across as aggressive and energetic. However, the biggest hit on that record is the complete antithesis of those two emotions, as Karen O delivers a heartfelt ode to her partner at the time. ‘Maps’ remains one of the band’s biggest songs, as Yeah Yeah Yeahs managed to capture something in those three minutes that the public could hold on to and seem reluctant to let go of.
All the band members have a writing credit on this track, but the lyrics are the product of Karen O alone, who said in an interview that it was her plan “to write a love song that stands the test of time,” O said. “That’s all I ever wanted to do. Especially as I’m a hopeless romantic.”
The lyrics in the song pertain to O’s relationship with Angus Andrew at the time. Andrew was the lead singer of the band Liars, and as such, given that both he and Karen O were enjoying moderate success, they were frequently on the road playing different gigs. Life touring is often described as a contradiction by musicians, given playing shows is a massive high, but prolonged periods away from loved ones is a deep low. Karen O and Andrew experienced this dialled to 11 as they were both frequently touring rather than just one of them being on the road whilst the other was at home, as is usually the case.
The chorus became famous almost overnight, which was a relief for Yeah Yeah Yeahs, given their first two singles from the album, ‘Date with the Night’ and ‘Pin’, flopped. There was something laced within the declaration of O’s, “They don’t love you like I love you,” that connected with those who listened and propelled the song to a hit. “By the time it came out, the label had given up on us,” confessed O, “Then ‘Maps’ really struck a chord with the public.”
O’s feelings at the time can be found throughout the lyrics, namely in the chorus and the song’s repetition. The chorus came from an email O sent Andrew at the time. “He was on tour, and we never saw each other, and I hated it,” she said, “So I emailed: ‘Why do they get to be with you? They don’t love you like I love you.’”
There is also frequent repetition throughout the song, as the line in the chorus is sung a total of 13 times. Additionally, the pre-chorus consists of “Oh, say, say, say, say,” sung over and over again. The repetition does not result from lazy lyric writing but reflects O’s perception of life on the road. It is a constant barrage of continued hellos and goodbyes, a repetition that would drive anyone wild, and something O conveys beautifully in the song.
Her longing for Andrew went beyond the words of the track as well. The music video sees O crying as she sings, tears which she now admits were real. Angus Andrew was supposed to come to the shoot but was late, so while missing him, she was forced to sing a song about how much she missed him. The words and structure of the piece have had a lasting impact, not only on fans but on fellow musicians as well. Kelly Clarkson has admitted the song played a big part in creating her hit ‘Since U Been Gone’, and Beyoncé sampled the track in her 2016 track, ‘Hold Up’.
