Parasite

Parasite by Jutes is a visceral exploration of a toxic, codependent relationship characterized by intense physical attraction and emotional destruction. The song employs the metaphor of a parasite to describe a lover or a feeling that drains the life out of the narrator, yet is welcomed with open arms.

The central theme is the duality of pleasure and pain (masochism). The lyrics explicitly invite harm ("Come fuck me up", "Eat me alive"), suggesting that the narrator finds a chaotic sense of "paradise" within this self-destructive cycle. The "sugar on my tongue" that turns pink could be interpreted as a literal reference to drugs or a metaphor for the initial sweetness of the relationship that quickly turns into a messy, chemical dependency.

Jutes has described the song as capturing the energy of an "after-hours spot" where the night has gone on too long and "pleasure tips into chaos." It reflects a state of being "unhinged" and chasing a high that one knows will end badly. The relationship is not just a romance but an addiction, where the partner is the drug that the narrator allows to consume them from the inside out.

The narrative begins with a vivid, sensory image of a substance dissolving on the tongue, turning pink, suggesting a chemical or intoxicating start to the interaction. The narrator acknowledges the mess they have become, setting a scene of disorderly intimacy, perhaps in a bathroom with imagery of sitting on a sink. There is a playful yet dark acknowledgment of a "dirty mouth" and a "sweet tooth," implying a craving for something that might be bad for them. The dynamic is established as one of dominance and submission, with the narrator mentioning keeping their partner "in their place."

The story escalates into a plea for destruction. The narrator explicitly invites the partner to "come fuck me up" and "eat me alive," embracing the role of prey feeding a predator. This central figure is labeled a "parasite," an organism that drains the host, yet the host is not resisting; they are demanding the consumption. The relationship is defined by this mutual toxicity where pain and pleasure blur.

As the narrative continues, the intensity heightens. The narrator describes a love so forceful it breaks things, painted in a monochrome of "all black everything," including physical restraints. The admission of being a "masochist" clarifies the motivation—they love the sickness of the bond. There is a moment of fragile intimacy amidst the chaos, watching a tear roll down the partner's thigh while looking into their eyes, equating this destructive view with "paradise." The song concludes with the repeated invocation of the parasite, cementing the narrator's resignation to, and enjoyment of, being consumed.

Parasite was released as a single on September 20, 2024 (though some sources might list it in the context of the album cycle extending into 2025). It serves as a key track on Jutes' third studio album, Dilworth. The song was written by Jutes (Jordan Lutes) alongside his frequent collaborator and producer Keith "Ten4" Sorrells, who also handled the production and mixing. The mastering was done by Emerson Mancini.

Jutes described the creation of the track as an effort to bottle an "animalistic and unhinged" energy. He noted that the song felt like the darker side of a night out, where things become sweaty, messy, and chaotic. The accompanying music video, directed by Tommy Kelly, was Jutes' first proper music video in years. Jutes cited the film The Matrix (1999) as a major aesthetic influence for the video, aiming to capture a similar dark, green-hued, cyber-industrial vibe. He even referred to himself playfully as the "Keanu of nu-metal" during the promotion.

The song generally follows an AABB or ABAB rhyme scheme with frequent use of slant rhymes (e.g., "tongue/become," "sink/pink"). This lack of perfect rhyme adds to the "messy" and unpolished feel of the narrative. The rhythm is driven by a propulsive 4/4 rock beat that feels urgent and driving in the verses, switching to a more stomp-like, heavy groove in the choruses.

The lyrical rhythm in the chorus ("Come fuck me up / Don't be shy") is punchy and staccato, matching the hits of the drums, which creates an anthemic, chant-like quality. The phrasing "Para-site" is often isolated or emphasized, turning the title itself into a rhythmic hook.

Musical Techniques: The song is a modern homage to Nu-Metal and Industrial Rock. It features a heavy, distorted bassline and down-tuned guitars that create a wall of sound during the chorus. The production utilizes dynamic contrast, moving from moody, atmospheric verses with "pitch-bending synths" and "haunting delays" to an explosive, high-energy chorus. A notable technique is the half-time breakdown, a staple of metalcore and nu-metal, which adds a heavy, rhythmic "headbanging" groove.

Vocal/Literary Techniques: Jutes employs a vocal style that ranges from an enticing tenor whisper to gritty, fried screams, mirroring the lyrical shift from seduction to aggression. Lyrically, he uses imperatives ("Come," "Take," "Eat") to establish the narrator's active role in inviting the chaos. The lyrics also use sensory imagery (taste of sugar, sight of pink, feeling of restraints) to make the experience visceral for the listener.

Parasite is part of the broader 2020s Nu-Metal revival, where artists blend contemporary pop and rap melodies with the heavy, downtuned aesthetics of late 90s/early 2000s metal (similar to artists like Machine Gun Kelly or Sueco). The song has been noted for its Deftones-inspired sexuality and heaviness, helping to solidify Jutes' pivot from hip-hop/pop towards a more distinct Alternative Rock/Metal sound.

The music video's explicit homage to The Matrix taps into the persistent "Y2K" nostalgia in pop culture. While not a massive mainstream chart-topper, the song garnered significant engagement within the alternative music scene and was a highlight of Jutes' "Dilworth" album cycle and his live performances on tour.

The song relies heavily on dark, biological, and industrial imagery to convey its themes:

• The Parasite: The central metaphor for the partner or the addiction. Unlike a symbiotic relationship, a parasite takes without giving back, eventually killing the host. By calling the partner a parasite, Jutes acknowledges they are being drained, yet the line "eat me alive" signifies voluntary submission to this draining process.
• Sugar turning pink: This image in the opening line serves as a symbol for chemical alteration or the mixing of innocence (sugar) with something bodily or toxic (pink/blood). It sets the stage for a transformation from sweet to dangerous.
• Restraints and "In your place": These symbols of bondage and control highlight the power dynamics at play. The relationship isn't equal; it's a struggle for dominance where the narrator finds pleasure in both controlling ("keep you in your place") and being destroyed.
• Paradise vs. Die: The juxtaposition of these two words suggests that for the narrator, the ultimate high (paradise) is synonymous with the ultimate low (death/destruction), reinforcing the theme of fatal attraction.

"Come fuck me up" / "Eat me alive": This hook is the emotional core of the song. Its repetition transforms it from a request into a desperate mantra, emphasizing the narrator's fixation on their own undoing.

"Parasite": The title word recurs as a tag, often at the end of the chorus or in the outro. It serves as the final judgment on the partner, a reminder of what they truly are despite the narrator's infatuation.

"A little sugar...": The opening motif of sweetness turning into a mess establishes the cycle of the relationship—starting with a rush and ending in chaos—which the song musically replicates.