"Catch" (originally titled "Catch My Breath") is a song by Allie X which is featured as the second track on her second extended play, CollXtion I. It was released on February 3, 2014, as the first single from the EP.
Background[]
"Catch" was initially written in early 2011 and intended for inclusion on X's unreleased album, The Hard Way. It was likely scrapped from the project prior to the release being completely canceled, as throughout the era she never performed the song live or teased it. Following the album's cancelation, the song was reworked for X's ALX project in 2012. The song took years to complete, going through several massive changes in tempo, key, and genre. According to X, she "knew it was a good song" but "[she] had to find its sonic identity".[1] She initially thought that it wouldn't work as a pop song, but that "once the production was put together it felt like a finished thing".[2] Approximately 20 versions of the song exist.
The song was released as the third single from CollXtion I on February 3, 2014 via X's SoundCloud[3] and as X's debut single to be released under the Allie X stage name. The song quickly received endorsements from celebrities such as Katy Perry and Troye Sivan.[4][5]
In the song, X compares the false hope of a dying relationship to a doctor-patient meeting, in which she is given a "pill to take away the poison".
“ | That kind of a relationship that you have with a doctor is very personal and very clinical at the same time, which I find fascinating. The idea of this person that solves all of your problems with a pill - that's something that I wanted to play around with. Those concepts filtered through my romantic feelings that I was experiencing at the same towards other people. It's about not even necessarily love, but that feeling of dependence on somebody and being completely paralyzed. | ” |
—X to Billboard Magazine[6] |
Critical reception[]
Upon the release of "Catch", TIME's Jasmine Cox complemented the track, saying that it "shines with a level of polish and craft that’s remarkable" along with complimenting X's "attention to detail".[7] Logan White of Billboard magazine called the song "an expertly crafted, remarkably vulnerable synth-pop showcase", while Carl Williot from Idolator said that it was "everything that's wonderful about under-the-radar pop music right now: immaculate hooks, pristine synth work, vocal versatility, bold atmospherics and a beating, bursting heart", naming it "the best song of 2014".[8]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
All I needed was the medicine
And you came knocking like a doctor
Gave me the pill to take away the poison
Erase the writing on the wall
You stuck a needle right into that vein
You let me take it like a soldier
Thought for a while I could ignore the pain
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
[Pre-Chorus]
My hands are tied behind my back
I'm paralyzed, my heart attacks
It seemed to me you were the one
Turns out you shot me up for fun
[Chorus]
Thought you got away with murder
Left me at a loss for the words
Just wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my breath
Yeah, but you thought you got away with murder
Left me at a loss for the words
Just wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my breath
[Verse 2]
I was devastated by the pain
But now I couldn't call the doctor
Gotta stop the forces in my brain
Gotta read the writing on the wall
It isn't easy getting in the vein
When you do it alone
No one to tighten up the tourniquet
[Pre-Chorus 2]
My hands are tied behind my back
I'm paralyzed, my heart attacks
I'm screaming, begging for the one
That won't just shoot me up for fun
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
[Chorus]
Thought you got away with murder
Left me at a loss for the words
Just wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my breath
Ya but you thought you got away with murder
Left me at a loss for the words
Just wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my breath
[Post-Chorus]
Wait until I catch my
Wait until I catch my
Wait until I catch my (My breath)
Wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my
Wait until I catch my
Wait until I catch my (My breath)
Wait until I catch my breath
[Bridge]
You leave me hanging out here for so long
When will I catch my breath?
You leave me hanging out here for so long
When will I catch my breath?
[Chorus]
Thought you got away with murder
Left me at a loss for the words
Just wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my breath
Yeah, but you thought you got away with murder
Left me at a loss for the words
Just wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my breath
[Post-Chorus]
Wait until I catch my
Wait until I catch my
Wait until I catch my (My breath)
Wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my
Wait until I catch my
Wait until I catch my (My breath)
Wait until I catch my breath
[Intro]
Back at it, it's awesome
Okay
Wait, has the bass even come in yet?
Oh yeah
Yeah
Okay, okay
[Verse 1]
All I needed was the medicine
All I needed was a doctor
So I could stick it to the middle men
Ended up the writing on the wall
I said a needle up into the pain
I said a needle of a soldier
So I could stop the forces in my brain
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
[Chorus]
My hands are tied behind my back
I'm paralyzed, my heart attacks
It seems to me that he's the one
But when I shoot it's just red rum
But you leave me serenading for so long
When will I catch my breath?
[Post-Chorus]
Check it
Allie Hughes in the house, y'all
Catching her breath all over the world
[Verse 2]
I saw a mad man in a Subway
And so I'm hiding in the bathroom
I'm gonna punch or fuck away the pain
And erase the writing on the wall
It isn't easy going all the way
It's never easy to know
Ah-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
[Chorus]
These hands of mine are all we've got
These holy leaves are going to rot
Oh, there's no need to make a fuss
It's only love, it's only us
But you leave me serenading for so long
When will I catch my breath?
You leave me serenading for so long
When will I catch my breath?
[Outro]
Catchin' her breath all over the world
Okay
[Verse 1]
All I needed was the medicine
And you came knocking like a doctor
Gave me the pill to take away the poison
Erase the writing on the wall
You stuck a needle right into that vein
You let me take it like a soldier
Thought for a while I could ignore the pain
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
[Pre-Chorus]
My hands are tied behind my back
I'm paralyzed, my heart attacks
I'm screaming, begging for the one
That won't just shoot me up for fun
[Chorus]
Thought you got away with murder
Left me at a loss for the words
Just wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my breath
Yeah, but you thought you got away with murder
Left me at a loss for the words
Just wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my breath
[Verse 2]
I was devastated by the pain
But now I couldn't call the doctor
I gotta stop the forces in my brain
Gotta read the writing on the wall
It isn't easy getting in the vein
When you do it alone
No one to tighten up the tourniquet
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
[Pre-Chorus]
My hands are tied behind my back
I'm paralyzed, my heart attacks
I'm screaming, begging for the one
That won't just shoot me up for fun
[Bridge]
You leave me hanging out here for so long
When will I catch my breath?
You leave me hanging out here for so long
When will I catch my breath?
[Chorus]
Thought you got away with murder
Left me at a loss for the words
Just wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my breath
Yeah, but you thought you got away with murder
Left me at a loss for the words
Just wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my breath
Thought you got away with murder
Left me at a loss for the words
Just wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my breath
Yeah, but you thought you got away with murder
Left me at a loss for the words
Just wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my breath
Thought you got away with murder
Left me at a loss for the words
Just wait until I catch my breath
Wait until I catch my breath
[Outro]
When will I catch my?
Thought you got away with
Until I catch my breath
Official versions[]
- CollXtion I version – 3:45
- Instrumental – 3:45
- "Catch My Breath" concept demo – 2:51
- "Catch My Breath" SoundCloud demo – 3:31
References[]
- ↑ Idolator - Carl Williot (March 12, 2014) - "Allie X Talks The Long Road To "Catch" And "Xpressing" Herself: Idolator Q&A" / Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- ↑ Radio (April 3, 2015) - "New Music to Know: Allie X Is a Mystery, Even to Herself" / Archived from the original on April 11, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- ↑ SoundCloud - @alliexandra (February 3, 2014) - "CATCH" / Retrieved July 10, 2021.
- ↑ Twitter - @katyperry (March 6, 2014) - "Currently I'm obsessed with this song CATCH by Allie X: http://neongoldrecords.com/allie-x-catch/ SPRING JAM! 💉💊" / Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ↑ Twitter - @troyesivan (March 18, 2014) - "@alliexxxxandra IM NOT READY FOR PRIME, I'M NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING OVER CATCH. (in all seriousness, thanks for the new music!)" / Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ↑ Billboard Magazine - Jason Lipshutz (March 10, 2014) - "Who Is Allie X? 'Catch' Singer Talks Katy Perry Shout-Out, Her Pop Takeover Plan" / Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- ↑ TIME - Jamieson Cox (February 4, 2014) - "Allie X Drops a Pristine Debut Single With Catch" / Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- ↑ Idolator - Carl Williot (April 1, 2015) - "Allie X’s Journey To Dimension X: Idolator Interview" / Retrieved April 1, 2015.