Chocolate

The song “Chocolate” by The 1975 is a narrative about youthful rebellion, boredom, and minor delinquency in a small town. The central and most widely understood meaning is that “chocolate” is a euphemism for marijuana. Lead singer Matty Healy has described the song as “a love letter to the authority figures in our town,” detailing the dynamic between bored young people and equally bored police. The lyrics depict the experience of driving around with friends, smoking weed, and trying to evade law enforcement. Lines like, “And my car smells like chocolate” and “Now you're never gonna quit it / If you don't stop smoking it” directly allude to this theme. The song captures the feeling of having limited options for self-expression, leading to this form of escapism. It’s not necessarily a celebration of drug use, but rather a portrayal of a specific, rebellious phase of life experienced by the band members in their youth.

The narrative unfolds with a group of friends navigating the confines of their small town, engaging in rebellious behavior. The central theme revolves around their casual use of marijuana and their attempts to evade the local police, whom they refer to as “the boys in the blue.” The car they drive in is a key setting, a mobile sanctuary where they partake in their illicit activities, to the point that the vehicle smells distinctly of “chocolate,” their coded term for cannabis. There's a palpable sense of youthful defiance and a pact among them to never abandon their lifestyle, a sentiment repeated as a form of self-assurance and group solidarity. They are described as being dressed uniformly in black, a visual signifier of their shared identity and perhaps their subtle, collective rebellion. The lyrics capture the internal monologue of the narrator, who is constantly thinking about what to do and say, reflecting a low-level paranoia and the need to stay cool under pressure. The phrase “guns hidden under our petticoats” is a striking and provocative metaphor. It doesn't refer to literal weapons but rather symbolizes the hidden transgressions and the way they perceive the authorities view them—as deceptively troublesome youths from a seemingly proper, middle-class background. The song encapsulates a cycle of boredom, minor law-breaking, and the thrill of the chase, painting a vivid picture of adolescent restlessness and the creation of a private world with its own rules and language, away from the prying eyes of an overbearing local authority.

“Chocolate” was written by all four members of The 1975: Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann, and Ross MacDonald. The song was one of the first three tracks, alongside “Robbers” and “Sex,” written for their debut self-titled album. Matty Healy has stated that the song was inspired by their real-life experiences growing up in Wilmslow, a suburb of Manchester, and their interactions with local police due to their habit of smoking marijuana. He described these interactions as resulting from mutual boredom. The song was recorded in 2012-2013 at the Motor Museum studios in Liverpool with producer Mike Crossey, who was introduced to the band during the recording of their “Sex” EP. The band and Crossey were reportedly “pretty unashamed” about wanting the song to be a commercial success. Crossey’s production focused on creating a strong groove and a distinct sonic “fingerprint” for the band, drawing some inspiration from the “bottom-end vibe” of Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks.” The track first appeared as the second song on their third EP, “Music for Cars,” released on March 4, 2013, and was later included as the fourth track on their debut album, “The 1975,” released on September 2, 2013.

“Chocolate” is characterized by a brisk tempo of 100 beats per minute and a constant, driving rhythm that gives the song its kinetic, road-trip feel. The rhythmic structure is built on a clap-happy drum beat and a bouncy, syncopated interaction between the bass and drums, which producer Mike Crossey worked to perfect to establish the right “groove.” Lyrically, the rhythm of the vocal delivery is often rapid and conversational, with long lines of prose-like lyrics. However, the chorus introduces a more staggered, punchy rhythm with significant pauses between phrases: “Oh we / go / where nobody knows / with guns hidden under our petticoats.” This technique makes the melody and lyrics exceptionally catchy and memorable. The rhyme scheme is relatively simple and effective, often following an AABB pattern within verses (e.g., “blue”/“do,” “toe”/“petticoats”), which enhances the song’s pop sensibility and sing-along quality.

Musically, “Chocolate” is defined by its bright, intricate, and highly melodic lead guitar riff, which is instantly recognizable and runs throughout the song. The song employs a blend of indie pop, funk, and alternative rock, creating an upbeat and danceable feel that contrasts with the slightly paranoid lyrical theme. Matty Healy’s vocal delivery is distinctive; it's rhythmically talkative and sung in his natural Mancunian accent, which was noted for its authenticity at the time. The production, handled by Mike Crossey and the band, features a crisp rhythm section and layers of atmospheric sounds, including electronic synthesizers and unique percussion like tambourines and body hits, aiming for a sound reminiscent of 1980s film soundtracks. Lyrically, the song uses a conversational, narrative style, creating a sense of immediacy and relatability. The repetition of key phrases like “No we're never gonna quit it” acts as a powerful, defiant hook.

“Chocolate” is widely regarded as The 1975's breakthrough hit, propelling them from a new band releasing EPs to mainstream recognition. Upon its release in 2013, the song received significant airplay, particularly on BBC Radio 1, where listeners voted it the #1 best song of the preceding five years in a poll. It became the band's first single to achieve major chart success, peaking at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart and also charting in the US, where it reached number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was instrumental in the success of their self-titled debut album, which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart. To date, “Chocolate” remains the album's most-streamed track, with over 136 million streams in the UK alone as of 2023. Its success established the band's signature sound—a blend of indie-rock guitars and pop sensibilities—and cemented their reputation as astute observers of youth culture.

The most prominent metaphor in “Chocolate” is the title itself, which serves as a code word for marijuana. This substitution creates a layer of lyrical subterfuge that mirrors the characters' actions of hiding their activities from the police. The phrase “guns hidden under our petticoats” is another significant metaphor. Matty Healy clarified that this line is not literal but represents how the authority figures in their town viewed the middle-class youth. The “petticoats” symbolize a kind of prim, upper-middle-class facade, while the “guns” represent the disruptive, rebellious potential the police perceived underneath. The car, a recurring image, symbolizes a space of freedom and escape, a private world for the youths. The act of being “dressed in black from head to toe” symbolizes their unity, their shared identity as outsiders, and a subtle uniform of rebellion.

The most significant recurring musical motif is the vibrant, clean-toned opening guitar riff, which serves as the song's primary hook and is woven throughout the entire track. Lyrically, several phrases are repeated to emphasize the song's central themes. The defiant declaration, “No we're never gonna quit it,” is a recurring refrain that functions as the group's mantra, reinforcing their rebellious stance. The phrase “with guns hidden under our petticoats” is also repeated, highlighting its importance as a central metaphor for their hidden transgressions. The mention of “chocolate” itself, referring to the smell in the car, is a recurring motif that anchors the song's central euphemism. The image of running from “the boys in the blue” (the police) is another key recurring element that drives the narrative of escape and evasion.