THE BEST BEFORE DATE - 2003 - Pass This On by The Knife

 

The Knife have contrived a visual absence from their record artwork and promotional videos. Choosing usually to substitute their presence with that of someone else miming to the music. Pass This On is from their second album Deep Cuts. There is a strangeness to the disjuncture between the music and a female impersonator lip synching to the vocals of Karen Dreijer and the performer miming in front of a hostile unwelcoming working class club. There is an air of potential violence, which slowly is subverted as all bar one women start to dance to the music.

The song itself is about a woman who is in love with someone but cannot tell them, and are using his sister as intermediary. As with all work by The Knife, this might appear to be a straight forward song, but there is always an oddness which does not sit easy. Trying their best to mislead you, misdirect and unnerve your expectations. Is this persons attention unwanted? Are they stalking this person?

'I'm in love with your brother
What's his name
I thought I'd come by
To see him again
When you to dance
Oh what a dance
When you to love
Oh what a love
does he mention my ache love
Or is he more in to young girls with dyed black hair

I'm in love with your brother
I'd thought I'd come by
I'm in love with your brother
Yes I am
But maybe I
Shouldn't ask for his name
And you dance
Oh what a dance
And you laughed
Oh what a laugh
Does he know what I do and
You'll pass this on, won't you and?
If I asked him once what would he say
Is he willing,
Can he play?

He wasn't really looking for some more of it
Found company on the dancefloor and
Does he know what I do and
You'll pass this on, won't you and?
Does he know what I do and,
You'll pass this on, won't you?
And if I ask him once,
What would he say?

Is he willing, can he play?