Forever … (is a long time) by Halsey Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Emotional Labyrinth in a Haunting Melody
Lyrics
Watering a plant made out of plastic
And I curse the ground for growing green
I spent a long time
Substituting honest with sarcastic
And I curse my tongue for being mean
Weightless, breathless restitute
Motionless and absolute
He cut me open
Sucked the poison from an aging wound
Now fifty thousand war cadets
Would cower at this small brunette
To my surprise, not six feet high
Would reach and grab the moon if I should ask
Or just imply that I wanted a bit more light
So I could look inside his eyes
And get the colors just right
Just right, just right
Just
But love built, God built provinces
Build calluses, break promises
‘Cause I could never hold a perfect thing
And not demolish it
What am I thinking? What does this mean?
How could somebody ever love me?
Talk to your man, tell him he’s got bad news comin’
Halsey’s mesmerizing track ‘Forever … (is a long time)’ unfolds like a poignant confession, painting a landscape of emotional intricacy that demands the listener’s introspection. Beyond the haunting melody lies a depth of sentiment that Halsey is known for, offering a raw, unfiltered look into the simultaneous resilience and fragility of the human heart.
As the echoes of the lyrics resound, there’s an unrivaled gravity to the words—a testament to Halsey’s skillful songwriting and her adeptness at translating complex emotions into a symphony of sounds. This inspection of ‘Forever … (is a long time)’ seeks to distill the essence of its staggering emotional payload, holding up a mirror to the nuances embedded within.
The Ethereal Grief of Nurturing the Inanimate
The initial lines of the song set a tone of existential futility. ‘I spent a long time watering a plant made out of plastic’ evokes a striking image of wasted care, an investment of emotional labor into something fundamentally incapable of growth or reciprocity. It’s a powerful metaphor for one-sided relationships, where the pouring of love and attention yields no fruitful return.
This immediate foray into the human condition sets the listener adrift on an ocean of introspection, reminiscent of the Sisyphean endeavors we all undertake. It speaks to the human propensity for attachment to the barren aspects of our lives, be it relationships or personal pursuits that are desolate from the onset.
A Facade of Sarcasm Shielding Vulnerability
The following revelation, ‘Substituting honest with sarcastic,’ unravels another layer of the self-defense mechanism. The biting sarcasm serves as a guard against the world’s harsh realities, a poignant display of the armor we don to protect our most sensitive selves.
Halsey touches on the universal impulse to mask pain with humor, drawing our attention to the internal struggle between expressing genuineness and resorting to a veneer of cynicism. This duality forms a central conflict in the song— the yearning to be open and vulnerable versus the innate instinct to keep one’s guard up.
Unearthing the Hidden Meaning: A Story of Healing and Power
‘He cut me open, sucked the poison from an aging wound,’ signals a transformative moment of healing and empowerment. The poignant metaphor of detoxification implies the arrival of someone who initiates transformative healing, a catalyst in the journey from pain to strength.
Eclectic imagery like ‘fifty thousand war cadets / Would cower at this small brunette’ fuses elements of vulnerability and surprising might. The juxtaposition elaborates the protagonist’s new-found power, illustrating a metamorphosis from victimhood to a figure of awe-inspiring fortitude.
The Fragility of Perfection in the Hands of Mortals
Halsey explores a common human paradox in the words, ‘I could never hold a perfect thing / And not demolish it.’ This line captures the trepidation and self-doubt that often accompany the fear of ruining something pure and unblemished by merely interacting with it—a sentiment with which countless listeners will resonate.
It’s an unflinching acknowledgment of human imperfection and the unintentional havoc we can wreak upon the things we cherish the most. This admission stirs a profound sense of empathy, making the song a touchstone for those grappling with the responsibility of love.
Memorable Lines that Cut to the Core of Existence
‘How could somebody ever love me?’ stands out among the song’s lyrics as an echo of the quintessential human insecurity. It serves as a stark reminder of our innate need for validation and the self-doubt that can haunt even the strongest of bonds.
Moments like these in ‘Forever … (is a long time)’ exemplify Halsey’s skill in fashioning lyrics that resonate on a universal level, articulating the fears and insecurities that nestle in the corners of our own consciousness, often unspoken but deeply understood.
