Don’t say you love me ’cause I can’t say it back
Don’t say you’re sorry ’cause you’ve done nothing bad
Swallow my feelings, but won’t swallow my pride
You know I’ve got a suit of armor on, you’ll never see me cry
I hate the silence (Ah-ah), that’s why the music’s always loud
So many problems (Ah-ah), I try to drown ’em out
1000 bottles (Ah-ah), collecting souvenirs
You know it’s so hard to admit it
But the only good inside of me is you
I take all of these blue and yellow pills
But nothing seems to last like you
You’re chasing after something that you’ll never catch
Whoa
Like a white Mercedes, always been running too fast
When your heart is breaking, you keep on taking me back
Hate myself, I really love you
Hurting you feels like I’m hurting as well
All I know is I don’t deserve you
You’re so forgiving (Ah-ah), my friends think you’re the best
From the beginning (Ah-ah), your friends said it wouldn’t last
But this connection (Ah-ah), it’s something they don’t see
You know it’s so hard to admit it
But the best damn part of me was always you
I take all of these blue and yellow pills
But nothing seems to last like you
You’re chasing after something that you’ll never catch
Whoa
Like a white Mercedes, always been running too fast
When your heart is breaking, you keep on taking me back
Hate myself, I really love you
Hurting you feels like I’m hurting as well
All I know is I don’t deserve you
I don’t deserve you, I don’t deserve your love
One day I’ll pull through and I’ll be good enough
I don’t deserve you, I don’t deserve your love
Oh, your love, yeah
I don’t deserve you, I don’t deserve your love
One day I’ll pull through and I’ll be good enough
I don’t deserve you, I don’t deserve your love
Oh, your love
Like a white Mercedes, always been running too fast
When your heart is breaking, you keep on taking me back
Hate myself, I really love you
Hurting you feels like I’m hurting as well
All I know is I don’t deserve you
All I know is I don’t deserve you
All I know is I don’t deserve you
All I know is I don’t deserve you
Vulnerability Behind the Armor
“White Mercedes” by Charli XCX is a strikingly honest exploration of emotional conflict and self-worth in relationships. The lyrics reveal the singer’s struggle with accepting love, weighed down by guilt and self-doubt. The recurring metaphor of the “white Mercedes”—a symbol of speed, luxury, and fragility—mirrors the fast-paced, tumultuous nature of her feelings. Charli admits to hiding her emotions behind a metaphorical suit of armor, fearing vulnerability yet deeply aware of the love she receives.
The Weight of Love and Regret
Throughout the song, Charli wrestles with her sense of not deserving her partner’s unwavering forgiveness and affection. References to “blue and yellow pills” allude to attempts at coping with pain, but ultimately, nothing compares to the comfort and value of genuine connection. The song’s chorus powerfully captures the cycle of self-sabotage and remorse, as she grapples with hurting someone she cares about and the hope that one day she’ll feel worthy of their love.
Song Credits
- Artist: Charli XCX
- Songwriters: Charlotte Aitchison, Andrew Watt, Ali Tamposi, Tor Erik Hermansen, Michael Foster
- Release Year: 2019
- Label: Atlantic Records