Unboxing Lyrics: 5sos Edition *ALBUMS ONLY*

Empty Wallets

Written by:Rami, Justin Tranter, Carl Falk, Luke, Calum, Michael and Ashton

Genre: Alternative pop, Rock

Lyrics and their meaning:

Stop digging in your heart 'cause tonight is on me
Tonight is on me
Stop trying so hard of what you said to me
What you said to me

The protagonist is sick of their partner constantly paying for them so tonight they'll shout a round. The next line is a reference to Try Hard, so they're relating back to their younger selves saying don't do that, be minimalistic. In this case, the protagonist is doubting themselves (maybe?) and thinking that they're trying too hard by buying all of this stuff for their partner.

Get too high when I'm high
So we see eye-to-eye, whoa, oh
Think the higher with the low
And away and away we go

this verse is quite literal. In Cocktail Chats, Luke explained how he and Calum were experimenting with drugs* and alcohol on their hiatus before this album was released. He spoke about the hate he had because of the lack of control over his body. The protagonist probably did something like this, and their partner wasn't too pleased (see eye-to-eye). Think the higher with the low and and away and away we go probably explain the influence of toxins on their bodies and how easy it is to be captivated by them. 

Living our lives
Dancing on empty wallets
Spend it all on you
Spend it all on you
Until we die
Dancing on empty wallets
Spend it all on you
Spend it all on you

We all know living ain't cheap. Their lifestyles are extremely expensive. In an interview from two years ago (in 2018), Luke explained how his ex (her name shall not be said) always wanted to go clubbing or out. She'd post pictures to her socials saying things like 'drink now, ask questions later'. Luke admitted that she was extremely toxic and she spent all of his money on these fancy places. That's one interpretation of these lyrics. The other has something to do with Ashton (and we can all relate to this one!).

In 2017, Ashton lent some money to a mate, the mate promised he'd pay him back. Unfortunately his money was never played back and the concept of Empty Wallets was born! We all have lent money to a friend and they haven't paid you back. I can think of a couple of personal incidents that have happened and my friends still owe me money. 

We got the whole night,
won't you spend it with me?
Live it with me?
We got our lives,
but living ain't cheap
Living ain't cheap

Probably one of the best lines in this song is living ain't cheap. The protagonist just wants to spend some time with their partner, while their partner just wants to live a high end lifestyle with fancy clubs/bars, expensive alcohol and drugs. The protagonist is just asking that they stay sober and actually get to know them as a person and not their packed bank account. 

Sugar caught a break
The fluid ain't to blame
For the sugar causing pain

Glucose is in most alcohol (just saying for the first line). Fluid ain't to blame could be a reference to alcohol, and sugar causing pain can mean how the alcohol has intoxicated the partner, causing them to abuse the other or hurt themselves (as most people do when they're drunk). 

I always believed in second chances
I always believed in you
I always believed in second chances
I always believed in youThis is a reference to Over and Out (SKH EP). 

The protagonist has trusted their friend/partner with their money, and probably given them plenty of second chances (probably more then they deserve). 

Yay or nay: This song is pure fuego! ABSOLUTE FUCKING YAY!

What it reminds me of: It reminds me of ever point I made in this chapter!

*Just a bit of background into Calum's drug use. Calum smokes. Cigarettes specifically. I can't tell you when he started, maybe that was the experimentation that then got him addicted? I just thought I'd mention it because I spoke about Luke but not Cal.