Figure It Out

"Figure It Out" by Royal Blood delves into themes of obsessive fixation, confusion, and the torment of unresolved feelings within a difficult relationship. The lyrics articulate a state of being completely consumed by thoughts of another person, to the point where it disrupts daily life, causing sleeplessness and emotional distress. The recurring line, "Trying to figure it out," serves as the central mantra of the song, highlighting a relentless and frustrating internal struggle to understand a complex emotional situation or the dynamics of a relationship where communication has broken down. Phrases like "Nothing better to do / When I'm stuck on you" emphasize a sense of helplessness and paralysis. The song captures the youthful, raw experience of trying to navigate intense emotions and the desperation that comes with being unable to find clarity or a way forward. It portrays a mind caught in a loop of analysis and anxiety, unable to either solve the problem or let it go.

The narrative voice in the song is one of youthful restlessness and intense fixation. The speaker portrays himself as just an ordinary person, someone attempting to find his way and make his mark, encapsulated in the phrase "trying to cut some teeth." However, this personal journey is completely overshadowed by an all-consuming obsession with another person. This fixation is a constant loop, a mental state he's "stuck" in with "nothing better to do." The core of his struggle is a desperate and unceasing effort to understand this situation, a sentiment hammered home by the relentless repetition of "trying to figure it out."

This internal turmoil manifests in physical symptoms, disrupting his basic functions. Sleep becomes elusive, and his dreams are tinged with violence or intensity, as suggested by "Blood is in my dreams." He feels a destructive force at play, personifying love as something that is "killing" him, all while he continues his futile attempt to find clarity. The obsession creates a sense of paralysis and frustration, as direct communication is impossible—"we're not allowed to talk it out." This restriction forces his feelings inward, intensifying his internal conflict.

In his desperation, he resorts to contrived scenarios to get closer to the object of his affection, admitting, "I broke my shoe, tripped and fell on you / But you didn't know I planned it out." This confession reveals a layer of calculation beneath the chaotic emotions, highlighting the lengths he'll go to for a moment of connection, even if it's based on a deception. The cycle of determination and failure is evident. He resolves to leave the situation behind ("I said I'd go, cause I won't see you later"), yet he remains trapped, admitting he's "still trying to figure it out." The song is a powerful depiction of being caught in a vortex of obsessive thought, unable to move forward or find resolution, endlessly circling the same unresolved feelings and questions.

"Figure It Out" was written by Royal Blood members Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher and released on August 18, 2014, as the fourth single from their self-titled debut album. The album was recorded between 2013 and 2014 at Rockfield Studios in Wales and produced by Tom Dalgety alongside the band. Interestingly, vocalist and bassist Mike Kerr initially thought the song was "quite a silly song" and found himself laughing while they were creating it. He specifically pointed to the ending, with its breakdown into a "one-string solo and the 'Billie Jean' groove," as something he thought was humorously absurd, making them question if they could "get away with this." Despite these initial feelings, the track became a key part of their debut album, which was a significant commercial success, becoming the fastest-selling British rock debut in the UK in three years. The band itself was formed in 2011, with the core duo of Kerr and Thatcher solidifying in 2013, building their sound around Kerr's unique and heavily effected bass guitar technique that allows him to emulate both a guitar and a bass.

The rhyme scheme in "Figure It Out" is straightforward and effective, primarily using couplets (AABB) within its verses, such as "sleep" and "dreams" paired with "me" and the title phrase. The simplicity of the rhyme scheme contributes to the song's direct and forceful impact, making the lyrics memorable and chant-like. The rhythm is a driving force, characterized by a heavy, mid-tempo 4/4 time signature that feels powerful and insistent. The main bass riff functions as the song's central rhythmic and melodic motif, creating a syncopated, bluesy swagger. The interplay between Mike Kerr's percussive bass playing and Ben Thatcher's powerful, often intricate drumming is the core of the song's groove. The rhythm is relentless and propulsive, mirroring the lyrical theme of a mind stuck in an obsessive, repetitive loop. The pacing builds in intensity from the verses into the explosive chorus, creating a dynamic rise and fall that enhances the song's emotional weight.

Musically, "Figure It Out" is a prime example of Royal Blood's signature stylistic technique: creating a massive rock sound with only a bass guitar and drums. Bassist Mike Kerr achieves this by using a complex setup of effects pedals (including octave pedals like the Electro-Harmonix POG2) and multiple amplifiers (both bass and guitar amps) to make his bass sound like both a rhythm guitar and a lead guitar simultaneously. This technique gives the song its characteristically heavy, riff-driven, and gritty texture without a traditional guitarist. The song is built around a brooding, blues-influenced bass riff that is both melodic and rhythmic. Kerr's vocal delivery is raw and powerful, conveying a sense of urgency and frustration that matches the lyrical themes. Ben Thatcher's drumming is intricate and dynamic, providing a powerful backbone that drives the song forward with relentless energy. The structure is relatively simple, relying on the repetition of the main riff and chorus to create a hypnotic, anthemic feel. The song's ending, which breaks down into a simple, single-note groove, was jokingly compared by Kerr to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," showcasing their willingness to incorporate unexpected rhythmic shifts.

"Figure It Out" played a significant role in establishing Royal Blood as a major force in modern rock upon its release in 2014. As a single from their self-titled debut, the song helped propel the album to number one on the UK Albums Chart, making it the fastest-selling British rock debut in three years. The album was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize in 2014 and contributed to the band winning Best British Group at the 2015 BRIT Awards. The track received significant airplay and became a fan favorite, known for its powerful live performances. "Figure It Out" also found its way into popular culture, being featured in the TV shows Gotham and Doctor Foster, the Entourage movie, and video games like Pro Evolution Soccer 2016, broadening its reach to a wider audience. The song, along with the album, was praised for its raw energy and innovative sound, proving that a two-piece band could create a sound as massive and compelling as a larger ensemble.

While the lyrics of "Figure It Out" are largely direct, they employ some evocative imagery to convey the protagonist's turmoil. The line "Blood is in my dreams" is a powerful metaphor for the intense, perhaps even violent, nature of his emotional state. It suggests that the conflict and anxiety aren't just conscious worries but have seeped into his subconscious, turning his rest into a place of distress. The phrase "Trying to cut some teeth" is an idiom for gaining initial experience in something. Here, it symbolizes a broader struggle with maturity and navigating the complexities of relationships for the first time, framing his romantic obsession as part of a difficult coming-of-age process. The act of contriving a fall—"I broke my shoe, tripped and fell on you... I planned it out"—symbolizes the desperate and somewhat manipulative lengths one might go to when direct communication or connection feels impossible. It represents a loss of authentic interaction in favor of staged events born from obsession.

The most prominent recurring element in "Figure It Out" is the lyrical phrase "Trying to figure it out." This line acts as the song's central thesis and refrain, appearing at the end of almost every verse and chorus. Its constant repetition drills down the theme of relentless, unresolved confusion and frustration, mirroring the obsessive loop the narrator is trapped in. Another recurring phrase, "Nothing better to do / When I'm stuck on you," reinforces the sense of paralysis and fixation that fuels the central conflict. Musically, the song is built on a recurring, gritty, and bluesy bass riff. This riff is the song's primary musical motif, instantly recognizable and serving as the foundation for the entire track. It's a sonic representation of the song's raw, brooding energy and is as crucial to the song's identity as the titular lyrical phrase.