Sexed Up

About

Written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, Sexed Up began life as a stripped-back demo before being reworked into a full production for Escapology. Released on 24 November 2003 as the album’s fourth and final single, it reached number ten in the UK and became a Top 10 hit across Europe. Combining melancholy with sharp lyrical bite, the song distils the aftermath of a failed relationship into one of Williams’ most poignant break-up ballads.

The track’s acoustic arrangement and understated percussion place focus on Williams’ vocal performance, alternating between bitterness and vulnerability. Opening with the wry line “Loose lips sunk ships, I’m getting to grips with what you said,” the lyric balances anger with regret. The chorus — “Why don’t we break up, there’s nothing left to say” — is delivered with resignation rather than rage, reflecting emotional exhaustion rather than spite.

I actually wrote it about a person I was seeing at the time. I played it to her and thought, ‘Listen to this, it’s great,’ and then realised halfway through it’s basically saying, ‘Why don’t we break up?’ Not my finest romantic moment.Robbie Williams

The video, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, mirrored the song’s emotional volatility with surreal imagery and fractured storytelling, featuring actress Jaime King. Williams appears increasingly unhinged as the video builds to a chaotic climax, underlining the tension between love and loss. Sexed Up remains a fan favourite for its lyrical honesty and stripped-down sincerity, closing Escapology’s singles campaign with a note of heartbreak and self-awareness.