What is the Arctic Monkeys song 'Body Paint' about? (2025)

“For a master of deception and subterfuge, you’ve made yourself quite the bed to lie in.” – Arctic Monkeys

The space between Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino and The Car was like a strange waiting game. The harshest Tranquility critics shunned any possibility of a noteworthy comeback for the Sheffield quartet. At the same time, its biggest defenders couldn’t wait to see what could possibly follow such an otherworldly, lounge-leaning fireball of laid-back baroque.

But then came The Car, devoid of any large-scale engine or flashy modifications, subtle in its beauty yet bold in its natural ability to charm and delight. Some referred to it as the Monkeys’ best effort yet, and others—the sceptics—labelled it another failed effort by a band who could no longer maintain relevance, no matter the newfound length of Alex Turner’s post-Tranquility hairdo.

To tease the band’s long-awaited seventh record, ‘Body Paint’ followed the laid-back, jazz-inspired ballad ‘There’d Better Be A Mirrorball’. Similar in instrumental beauty but easy on the romanticism, it presented the band with a sensual, gritty edge distinctive from the previous 1970s sounds of the sixth record. It was unexpected because it was completely expected, showcasing Turner’s lyricism in its signature poetically jumbled fashion.

The difficulty with analysing Turner’s ramblings is that they rarely give the game away, even when the metaphors are as simple as figuratively catching your warmth from the safety inside a “tanning booth” rather than experiencing emotion outside, lest the sun “catch you crying”. It’s genius, really, the way every word to ‘Body Paint’ feels nostalgic yet brimming with the promise of something new and exciting, as the obscurity of them provides a glimpse into the elusive frontman like stumbling across a four-leaf clover in the haze of moonlight.

From the moment the song starts, it’s clear Arctic Monkeys prioritised the beauty of the song’s arrangements, where every note, guitar solo, and melody appears rife with references and associated emotions enough to warrant endless interpretations. As Turner later reflected, “It’s as much about the musical ideas as the lyrics”. Just like the mystique of earlier his ‘505’, ‘Body Paint’ emerged as a faceless entity, poised to be misconstrued as anything imaginable.

So, what is ‘Body Paint’ about?

Turner’s ongoing withdrawal from confirming or denying any official meaning behind ‘Body Paint’ points to an array of possibilities. Firstly, considering his “it’s about the musical ideas” line, ‘Body Paint’ continues the overwhelming emotional intensity of ‘Mirrorball’ with its varying musical segments representing different facets of existential experience.

From the melancholic introductory piece and the reflective verse to the downbeat yet catchy chorus and the ripping guitar solo mid-song, ‘Body Paint’ upholds Turner’s wistful edge without compromising on ambiguity. Just like the various convoluted twists and turns within every Tranquility song, ‘Body Paint’ could yield a multitude of meanings—including disillusionment with show business, the pressure of consumerist conformity, Turner’s grapples with shunning expectation, or in a more nuanced interpretation, romantic disloyalty.

From the opening line, which includes Turner singing about reaping what you sow, there’s an aura of cowering away tucked within its poeticism, similar to the singer’s previous affairs with occupying the shadows amid the Monkeys’ ongoing fame but without the conviction usually associated with someone appearing so reprimanding. Despite the obvious notes of betrayal, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to assume Turner is referring to his own mishaps in the second person, especially when placing the notion of body paint in a position of masking someone’s actions.

That said, the song’s orchestral, moody feel does point to a more open reading where the visceral nature of the sweeping strings and tension of the accompanying arrangements take precedence over any simplistic perception. It’s a complex execution that shines through its contemplative pace, allowing relief from that strange space between knowing what you think versus how you feel.

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