Figure 8 by Ellie Goulding Lyrics Meaning – Deciphering the Emotional Labyrinth of Love and Loss
Lyrics
Breathe your smoke into my lungs
In the back of a car with you I stare into the sun
Still not too old to die young
But lovers hold on to everything
And lovers hold on to anything
I chase your love around a figure 8
I need you more than I can take
You promised forever and a day
And then you take it all away (-way, -way, -way)
And then you take it all away (-way, -way, -way, -way, -way)
Place a kiss on my cheekbone
Then you vanish me, I’m buried in the snow
But something tells me I’m not alone
But lovers hold on to everything
And lovers hold on to anything
I chase your love around a figure 8
I need you more than I can take
You promised forever and a day
And then you take it all away (-way, -way, -way)
And then you take it all away (-way, -way, -way, -way, -way)
So lovers hold on to everything
And lovers hold to anything
So lovers hold on to everything
And lovers hold to anything
I chase your love around a figure 8
I need you more than I can take
You promised forever and a day
And then you take it all away
I chase your love around a figure 8
I need you more than I can take
You promised forever and a day
And then you take it all away (-way, -way, -way, -way, -way, -way)
And then you take it all away (-way, -way, -way, -way)
Navigating the serpentine loops of Ellie Goulding’s ‘Figure 8’, we peal back layers of emotional depth that traverse the spectrum of connection and heartache. This isn’t just another love song dotting the cultural landscape; ‘Figure 8’ invites us into a turbulent world of devotion and despair, inviting a meditation on the cyclical nature of passionate love.
Ellie Goulding, with her distinctive vocals, wraps raw emotion in a gauzy layer of electronic beats, such that ‘Figure 8’ becomes a fabric of contrast—pain and beauty woven together. With the antithesis of fervent love and its possible ruin embedded in its core, the song dares listeners to interpret its siren call.
The Infinity of Love: A Lyrical Analysis
When Ellie Goulding sings about chasing love ‘around a figure 8’, she’s invoking the symbol of infinity, offering a glimpse into love’s boundless and enduring nature. The lyrics describe a love that, while seeming eternal, is fraught with the pain of impermanence and the fear of loss—reflecting the complexity of human relationships.
Each verse paints a picture of a love that is intoxicatingly all-consuming, yet vulnerable to the whims of fate. The interplay of promises of ‘forever and a day’ and the stark contrast of having ‘it all taken away’ resonates with listeners who have experienced the volatility of a relationship straddling the line between infinity and oblivion.
Lovers’ Paradox: Clinging to the Ephemeral
Goulding repeatedly echoes the phrase ‘lovers hold on to everything’, underscoring the human tendency to cling to the relationships and moments that define us. These words are a paradoxical appeal, highlighting the often irrational and contradictory desires that drive human connection.
In the midst of this holding on is a narrative of disappearance and separation, as the lover who has become the protagonist’s universe vanishes, leaving a polar chill suggestive of both the physical absence and emotional void left behind.
The Hidden Meaning Behind Goulding’s Elegy
On the surface, ‘Figure 8’ might be mistaken for another ballad of lost love, but deeper inspection reveals an introspective examination of the fragility of human experience. It is a musical tapestry that captivates by its relatable depiction of the highs and lows that punctuate any meaningful, if tumultuous, relationship.
The song becomes a lamentation for the ephemeral nature of happiness and the certainty of unfamiliarity that awaits us just as we’ve attuned to joy. It’s about the helplessness we often feel in love’s wake—a theme that continues to captivate the human imagination.
An Excerpt of Resonance: ‘You promised forever and a day’
Goulding’s lament ‘You promised forever and a day’ captures the universal sense of betrayal that follows unkept promises. It is a reminder of love’s often unheeded impermanence, a raw expose of the human condition where pledges and assurances are vulnerable to the changing tides of time.
This memorable line encapsulates the tension between love’s idealized eternity and life’s inherent unpredictability. It’s a line that etches itself into the mind, both for its poetic simplicity and the ocean of emotion it contains.
Echoes of ‘Figure 8’: The Ongoing Circle of Interpretations
As with all nuanced art, ‘Figure 8’ doesn’t confine itself to a single interpretation. It spirals outward, inviting listeners to unravel its twists and turns through the lens of their own experiences, pains, and memories. Whether as a comfort or a trigger, the song reminds us that love’s remnants are felt in an infinite loop—a figure 8 that we traverse repeatedly.
In this way, Goulding succeeds in creating a piece that transcends the specificity of personal narrative to touch on a collective human experience. ‘Figure 8’ becomes a shared song among those who have loved and lost, love and hold on, and navigate the boundless complexities of the heart.
