Lyric Analysis: Arctic Monkeys.

Do I Wanna Know? by the Arctic Monkeys.

[Verse 1]
Have you got colour in your cheeks?
 
Alex is looking for a signal that she is either embarrassed, which would indicate her desire to be seen favourably, or sexual excitement, which would indicate a desire for him.
This line is the first in a series of questions asked in quick succession, showing Alex’s anxiety about his lover’s interest in him.

Do you ever get the fear that you can't shift the type
That sticks around like summat in your teeth?
 
“Summat” is Yorkshire slang for “something.”
By asking if she worries about getting rid of something, Alex may be showing paranoia about him being the unwanted thing that’s sticking around like a little bit of food in her teeth.

Are there some aces up your sleeve?

The idiom “having an ace up your sleeve” means to have an advantage that other people don’t know about. In this case, Alex feels like she’s keeping something from him or has an advantage over him (being the one deciding whether or not she is interested in a relationship).

Have you no idea that you're in deep?
I've dreamt about you nearly every night this week

Freud theorized that the content dreams were dictated by unconscious wish fulfilment. Alex is plagued by the desire to see his lover, and thus this is manifested in his dreams.

How many secrets can you keep?
Cause there's this tune I found
That makes me think of you somehow
And I play it on repeat

Memories are triggered by scents or sounds that were present during the event being remembered and/or the content of the song being played. Alex finds a song that reminds him of his lover, and in his infatuation, he continuously plays it.

Until I fall asleep
Spilling drinks on my settee

A “settee” is an old English term for a sofa/couch, often seated for two.
Further proof that this girl is in deep in this relationship with him–he’s drinking alone and falls asleep while obsessively listening to a song that reminds him of her.

[Pre-Chorus]
(Do I wanna know?)
If this feeling flows both ways?

The several questions of the first verse, if answered, would tell him whether or not his lover is interested in him. He shows some anxiety about knowing the answers, indicating that he isn’t very optimistic about the answer he would get.

(Sad to see you go)
Was sorta hoping that you’d stay
(Baby, we both know)
That the nights were mainly made
For saying things that you can’t say tomorrow day

Under the influence due to his late-night drinking, Alex is going to admit his feelings to his lover, and later regret his decision

[Chorus]
Crawling back to you
Ever thought of calling when you've had a few?
Cause I always do

The word “crawling” highlights his desperate and vulnerable condition–he’s on his knees and can’t think of anyone else but his lover, despite the pain it’s been causing.

Maybe I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody new
Now I've thought it through
Crawling back to you

[Verse 2]
So have you got the guts?
Been wondering if your heart's still open
And if so, I wanna know what time it shuts

 

He plays on the idea of her heart as some sort of store or service that can open or closed for him.
Not only does he want to know if there’s a vacancy left for him, he wants to know how long it will be open – possibly to save himself from future heartbreak.

Simmer down and pucker up
I'm sorry to interrupt, it's just I'm constantly on the cusp
Of trying to kiss you 

Rather than hearing out what she’s trying to say, he interrupts her with an attempted kiss – seemingly as a last resort of resparking her interest in the relationship.

I don't know if you feel the same as I do
We could be together if you wanted to 

He’s not sure if the feelings between them are mutual, but his offer to be together is on the table if she does want it.

[Pre-Chorus]
(Do I wanna know?)
If this feeling flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go)
Was sorta hoping that you’d stay
(Baby, we both know)
That the nights were mainly made
For saying things that you can’t say tomorrow day

[Chorus]
Crawling back to you
Ever thought of calling when you've had a few?
Cause I always do
Maybe I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody new
Now I've thought it through
Crawling back to you

[Pre-Chorus]
(Do I wanna know?)
If this feeling flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go)
Was sorta hoping that you’d stay
(Baby, we both know)
That the nights were mainly made
For saying things that you can’t say tomorrow day

[Outro]
(Do I wanna know?)
If this feeling flows both ways?
Too busy being yours to fall

 

Not only is he unsure if he wants to know the answers to the questions he’s asked previously in the song, thinking about it prevents him from dating someone else.

(Sad to see you go)
Ever thought of calling darling?

 

His sadness and desperation makes him ask if she ever thought of calling him, just like he does.

(Do I wanna know?)
If this feeling flows both ways?
Do you want me crawling back to you?

The final line underlines his insecurity. He can’t move on, so he’s crawling back. However, he isn’t certain that she actually wants him back. This uncertainty itself is an unpleasant feeling, but putting himself out there means he risks humiliation if she actually doesn’t want him.