Florence + The Machine - Kraken Lyrics (2025) | Song Meaning

Kraken Lyrics


[Verse 1]
Sometimes my body seems so alien to me
I quiet it down by watching TV
Grow restless and grow hungry
As the water rises up around me
You come onscreen
So good-looking it's obscene
I put my fist into my mouth and scream
Some things, it seems, are catching up with me
And as it rises to my chin, I should really stop watching
And as I reach for the remote, it is rushing down my throat
I let it in, I start to swim
I grow many arms and legs and then I start to sing

[Pre-Chorus]
And all of my peers, they had such potential
The swamp, it took them down
And my love, I have to tell you
I kissed them all and let them drown, oh
You didn't see me, just another drunken groupie
So when your hand reached out
I just pushed you further down
Well, do you see me now?

[Chorus]
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah (Do you see me?)
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah (Do you see me now?)

[Verse 2]
Creature from the deep, do I haunt you in your sleep?
My tentacles so tender, as I caress your cheek
Did you know how big I would become?
And how much I would eat?
So glamorous and ravenous as I drag you off your feet
There's nothing you can do
Some things it seems are catching up with you

[Chorus]
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah (Do you see me?)
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah

[Verse 3]
You said I would be nothing, but look, I'm really something
Many arms around the mast as your ship starts cracking
Will you see me through the pain?
Have you changed? Well, so have I
As I fix you in the gaze of my one unblinking eye
Do I terrify?

[Pre-Chorus]
And all of my peers, they had such potential
The swamp, it took them down
And my love, I have to tell you
I kissed them all and let them drown, oh
You didn't see me, just another drunken groupie
So when your hand reached out
I just pushed you further down
Well, do you see me now?

[Chorus]
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah (Do you see me?)
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah (Do you see me now?)
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah (Do you see me?)
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah (Do you see me now?)
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah (Do you see me?)
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah (Do you see me now?)
________________ End ________________

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Kraken Song Meaning (Florence + The Machine)

From the opening lines, "Sometimes my body seems so alien to me / I quiet it down by watching TV," the song immediately evokes a sense of estrangement from one’s own physical self. The watery imagery, "As the water rises up around me," gives way to a mythic transformation: "I grow many arms and legs and then I start to sing." In "Kraken," Florence Welch crafts a powerful metaphor of metamorphosis, transforming not just into a sea-monster of legend, but into a self reshaped by betrayal, invisibility, and reclamation.

Lyric lines such as "And all of my peers, they had such potential / The swamp, it took them down / … I kissed them all and let them drown" project a mix of regret, judgement, and resolve. Here the swamp becomes a symbol of toxic musical-industry culture, careless relationships, and the challenges of being female in a male-dominated space. The song presents Florence as a force rising from those constraints, demanding recognition and respect.

In the third verse, "You said I would be nothing, but look, I’m really something … Many arms around the mast as your ship starts cracking," the sea-monster becomes a symbol of empowerment. Someone once dismissed and underestimated now stands immense, visible, and in control. The repeated chorus, "Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah (Do you see me?)", reads as both a taunt and a call for recognition. It reflects the struggle of being unseen and the triumph of self-realization.

Lyrically and sonically, the song leans into gothic theatricality and mythic imagery while drawing from real experiences. Critics of the album note that "Everybody Scream" channels Welch’s own personal challenges and her grappling with the sense of a body and self that can both betray and transcend. Within this context, "Kraken" becomes not only a statement of power but a reclamation of self after trauma—whether of the body, the ego, or the industry.

The choice of "Kraken" as the title and central image is significant. The mythic sea-monster evokes something once feared, hidden beneath the waves, now emerging into the light. Welch takes the familiar role of vulnerable muse and flips it: she becomes the unstoppable force. The song invites the listener to witness transformation, to feel the surge of power after adversity, and to embrace the monstrous and majestic aspects of self.

For the audience, "Kraken" offers a complex emotional experience. It addresses invisibility, anger at being unseen, and eventual vindication. It is an invitation to explore the depths of personal growth and empowerment, asking the listener: Can you recognize me when I have changed?

Musically, the track anchors the album’s larger themes of mortality, metamorphosis, and feminine strength. It sits alongside other songs on "Everybody Scream" that explore the body, the occult, and the stage as both sanctuary and battleground. In that sense, "Kraken" serves as the emotional epicenter of personal and professional re-emergence.

In short, "Kraken" is Florence + The Machine at their most mythic and personal. It draws on literal and metaphorical transformation, presenting it in a sweeping, cinematic frame. For the audience, it is an invitation to witness transformation, find agency in what once overwhelmed, and ultimately be seen in one’s full, monstrous, magnificent self.
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FAQ Section
Who sung the song "Kraken" by Florence + The Machine?
The song "Kraken" was sung by Florence + The Machine.
Who wrote the song "Kraken" by Florence + The Machine?
Florence Welch & Dave Bayley.
Who produced the song "Kraken" by Florence + The Machine?
Aaron Dessner, Florence Welch & Dave Bayley.

Music Video


Song Details

Album: Everybody Scream
Genre: Rock
Language: English
Released: October 31, 2025