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Wet Leg’s 'Catch These Fists': A Bold Anthem Against Rude Men and Personal Space Invasion
Off their upcoming album moisturizer,Wet Leg’s newest track “catch these fists” is a snarling, sneering anthem about defending personal space against that horror of horrors — rude men. In an interview with BBC 1, Rhian Teasdale, lead vocalist for Wet Leg, explained that the song explores a night of joy that curdles into discomfort — “This song is about the recurring real life nightmare of just people invading your space […] Me and my friends went toChappell Roan gig […] and it was amazing and everyone else in the crowd was just so lovely […] then afterwards we went to a bar down the road and just that ecstatic safe space feeling just completely dissolved…” That shift — from euphoria to unease — is written into every beat of “catch these fists.” The result is a track that fits perfectly within the rise of mad girl music — a song that sneers and throws elbows and rejects the status quo.
Verse 1: Challenging Masculinity and Flipping the Script
The first verse wastes no time setting the tone and flipping the script.
“Can you catch a medicine ball?
Can you catch yourself when you fall?
You should be careful, do you catch my drift?”
Wet Leg immediately weaponizes the standard gender narrative— men are strong, women are weak — and uses it against men. A medicine ball, typically used in workouts, is depicted here almost comically, questioning whether men are genuinely strong or simply embodying a caricature of the gender binary without doing the necessary physical work. The immediate reference to falling hints at these men being weak — perhaps physically, but certainly emotionally — while the following line, “do you catch my drift?” questions their intelligence. In just a few short lines, Wet Leg has managed to undermine the physical, emotional, and mental abilities of a man, and it’s masterful.
The final line, “'Cause what I really wanna know is can you catch these fists?” sets the stage for the rest of the song. There’s no flirting, just anger — it’s a genuine defense of personal space and boundaries.
Pre-Chorus: Reclaiming Power
Short, staccato, and chaotic, the pre-chorus sounds almost like a fire alarm, and the lyrics heighten the tension.
“Ah-ah, man down
Yeah-yeah, level up”
The phrase “man down,” signals the narrators defeat of a man — whether by literally punching or simply rejecting him. Aside from signaling defeat, “man down,” also serves as an interesting reversal of the phrase “man up” — typically used to bully men into conforming to gender roles. “Man down” shirks this — it’s the final word, making clear the narrator wants nothing todo with this man specifically and general roles more broadly. The last phrase, “level up,” brings this home. This man can’t match the narrator on any level.
Chorus: Rejecting Unwanted Attention
“I don’t want your love
I just wanna fight.”
The chorus is brutal in its simplicity— a direct rejection of unwanted advances and uninvited attention.It’s not a metaphor; it’s a boundary loud and clear – a screaming kick in the balls. Just like Wet Leg flipped the script on masculine strength, here they question feminine weakness, giving women permission to embrace meanness and even violence to protect themselves. It's a reversal of power, one where fighting back isn’t just allowed, it’s necessary.
Verse 2: The Chaos of Nightlife
“We’re on our way to the club
Stupid is, stupid does
Limousine, racking up
Ketamine, giddy up”
Here, Wet Leg spiral into a messier, more chaotic world. It’s a dive into the free-wheeling club scene, yet the song maintains a critical edge regarding the club scene where men feel entitled to bypass women’s boundaries. It’s about every night that ends the same way —fun with friends giving way to discomfort, broken boundaries, and creepy stares.
Bridge: Humor, Disgust, and the Demand for Space
The bridge is the song’s most visceral moment:
“He don’t get puss, he get the boot
I saw him sipping on dark fruit
I just threw up in my mouth
When he just tried to ask me out.”
It’s funny, it’s mean. Although the point of the song has been clear from the beginning, here, Wet Let spells it out in the clearest terms possible:
“Don’t approach me
I just wanna dance with my friends.”
The lyrics introduce a new theme.It’s not just about dissing men; it’s about prioritizing friendships. The desire for space, for joy without disruption, is simple. But in practice, it’s constantly tested. The song is laden with the very real frustration (and fear)women feel on a daily basis when men invade their boundaries.
Final Chorus and Outro: Repetition as Resistance
The chorus repeats with more force, drilling it in as if preparing for war.
“Fight, fight, fight, fight
Fight, fight, man down.”
It’s noisy, repetitive, exhaustive. It’s a threat as much as a call to action. The repetition mimics an internal monologue — a reminder to hold one’s ground against all odds. It’s about fighting, sure, but it’s mostly about refusing to be pushed around.
Conclusion: “catch these fists” Turns Frustration into a Loud, Defiant Battle Cry
“catch these fists” channels a very specific kind of anger — one that builds quietly in spaces where you’re supposed to feel free. Wet Leg turn that frustration into something loud — equally chaotic as it is cathartic. The song doesn't just joke about violence — it questions the violence of men and ultimately flips the script, encouraging women to assert themselves (and learn to throw a punch). In classic Wet Leg style, the lyrics deliver a sharp, sarcastic critique of gender norms, turning frustration into a battle cry.
