“Stoned at the Nail Salon” is a song by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde. It came out on July 22, 2021, as the second single from her third album, Solar Power. Lorde and Jack Antonoff wrote and produced the song.
The song is a folk ballad where Lorde reflects on the process of aging and the passage of time. Some critics liked its “somber,” “eloquent,” and “graceful” qualities, while others thought it was “dull” and “aimless.”
In this article, we’ll dive into the lyrics’ meaning.
Table of Contents
“Stoned at the Nail Salon” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
Got a wishbone drying on the windowsill in my kitchen
Just in case I wake up and realise I’ve chosen wrong
I love this life that I have
The vine hanging over the door
And the dog who comes when I call
But I wonder sometimes what I’m missing
In Verse 1, Lorde talks about having a wishbone on her windowsill and how she might realize she made the wrong choices in life.
She loves her current life, with a vine by her door and a responsive dog.
However, she sometimes wonders if there’s something missing or if she’s not making the right decisions.
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, my hot blood’s been burning for so many summers now
It’s time to cool it down, wherever that leads
In the Pre-Chorus, Lorde mentions her “fiery spirit” that has been burning for many summers. She suggests it’s time to cool down, but she’s uncertain about where that might lead her.
This part of the song conveys Lorde’s desire to calm down or change her approach to life, even though she’s unsure about the consequences or the direction it will take her.
[Chorus]
‘Cause all the beautiful girls, they will fade like the roses
And all the times they will change, it’ll all come around
I don’t know
Maybе I’m just stoned at the nail salon
Maybe I’m just stonеd at the nail salon again
In the Chorus, Lorde talks about how beautiful girls will eventually lose their beauty, and times will change, but she’s uncertain about it all.
She mentions being at the nail salon, possibly feeling mellow or reflective.
This part of the song expresses Lorde’s contemplation about the transient nature of beauty and the uncertainty of the future. She’s questioning the significance of it all while getting her nails done.
[Verse 2]
Got a memory of waiting in your bed wearing only my earrings
We’d go dancing all over the landmines under our town
But the sun has to rise
When it does, we’ll divide up the papers
Two former hell-raisers
I’m still crazy for you, babe
In Verse 2, Lorde reminisces about a memory of being in someone’s bed, wearing only earrings. They used to dance together and navigate challenges in their town.
However, she acknowledges that the sun has to rise, suggesting that their time together had to come to an end. Lorde mentions dividing up paperwork and describes both of them as “former hell-raisers.”
Despite the changes and the passing of time, she confesses that she still has strong feelings for the person she’s reminiscing about.
[Bridge]
Oh, make it good
Oh, make it good
I’d ride and I’d ride on the carousel
‘Round and ’round forever if I could
But it’s time to cool it down
Whatever that means
In the Bridge, Lorde sings, “Oh, make it good” and expresses a desire for things to be satisfying or meaningful. She likens her desire for satisfaction to riding a carousel endlessly.
However, she acknowledges that it’s time to cool down, even though she’s uncertain about what that means or where it will lead her.
[Chorus 2]
Spend all the evenings you can with the people who raised you
‘Cause all the times they will change, it’ll all come around
I don’t know
Maybe I’m just stoned at the nail salon
Maybe I’m just stoned at the nail salon again
In Chorus 2, Lorde advises spending time with the people who raised you because times will change and things will come full circle.
She expresses uncertainty about the future and acknowledges that she might be feeling mellow or reflective at the nail salon again.
This part of the song conveys Lorde’s reflection on the passage of time and her desire to appreciate the moments with loved ones before they change.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Stoned at the Nail Salon”
In the song “Stoned at the Nail Salon.” Lorde contemplates the choices she has made and the path she’s on, all while sitting at a nail salon, a seemingly mundane but contemplative setting. The song explores complex emotions and reflections that come with growing older.
In a 2021 interview with Billboard, Lorde said “Stoned at the Nail Salon” is a song about “rumination on getting older, settling into domesticity, and questioning if you’ve made the right decisions.”
In the song, Lorde expresses her love for her current life, with lines like “The vine hanging over the door” and “And the dog who comes when I call.” However, beneath this contentment lies a sense of longing and curiosity about what else life could offer.
She recognizes the passage of time and the inevitability of change, comparing the fleeting beauty of youth to wilting roses. She wishes to temper her passionate nature and seek a more stable existence: “My hot blood’s been burning for so many summers now, It’s time to cool it down, wherever that leads.”
The lyrics also recount a past romance, filled with nostalgia and the bittersweet acknowledgment that all good things must come to an end.
The song title, “Stoned at the Nail Salon,” appears to be metaphorical and is likely symbolic of a state of mind or a setting where one might engage in self-reflection and contemplation. It’s not about being under the influence of drugs at a nail salon. Instead, it uses the idea of being “stoned” to suggest a feeling of being relaxed, introspective, or contemplative.
The nail salon is a place where people often go to relax and pamper themselves. It’s a setting associated with self-care and personal grooming. It’s a place where Lorde can sit and think, allowing her thoughts to wander as she contemplates her life, decisions, and the passage of time.
In an interview with Apple Music, Lorde told Zane Lowe that the song is “one of the quietest, most introspective, and internal moments on the record…[it] was about the passage of time…a weird thing to even think about and be in conversation with.”
In the end, “Stoned at the Nail Salon” captures the essence of the song, which is all about self-reflection, growing older, and questioning the path one has taken in life while in a serene and contemplative setting.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.