Goodness Gracious by Ellie Goulding Lyrics Meaning – The Unraveling of Intertwined Desires
Lyrics
Swore upon the sun I’d save you for a rainy day
Loosen the noose and let go of the rope
I know if it’s never coming back it has to go
I keep calling your name (I keep calling your name)
I wanna hold you close but I never wanna feel ashamed
So I keep calling at night (keep calling at night)
I wanna hold you close, I just never I wanna hold you tight
Goodness gracious, I can’t seem to stop
Calling it off
Calling you up just to keep crawling to your arms
Goodness gracious, I can’t seem to stop
Calling it off
Calling you up just to keep crawling to your arms
I found the weakness and put it to play
Swore upon the stars I’d keep you ’til the night was day
Shake my head dizzy so I’ll never know
You said if you’re never coming back, you have to go
I keep calling your name (I keep calling your name)
I wanna hold you close but I never wanna feel ashamed
So I keep calling at night (keep calling at night)
I wanna hold you close, I just never I wanna hold you tight
Goodness gracious, I can’t seem to stop
Calling it off
Calling you up just to keep crawling to your arms
Goodness gracious, I can’t seem to stop
Calling it off
Calling you up just to keep crawling to your arms
Calling you up just to keep crawling to your arms
Calling you up just to keep crawling to your arms
Oh my goodness, here I go again
Pulling you back to me
Pulling you back into my arms so selfishly
I don’t think I understand ’cause I don’t really know myself
I keep calling you up, calling you up
Calling you up, calling you up, calling you up
Goodness gracious, I can’t seem to stop
Calling it off
Calling you up just to keep crawling to your arms
Goodness gracious, I can’t seem to stop
Calling it off
Calling you up just to keep crawling to your arms
Calling you up just to keep crawling to your arms
Calling you up just to keep crawling to your arms
Ellie Goulding’s ‘Goodness Gracious’ is a melodic whirlwind of pop sincerity that taps into the heartbeat of modern romantic dilemmas. The track, from her reissued album ‘Halcyon Days’, serves both a candy-coated soundscape and a confession booth where Goulding’s lyrical prowess shines.
Underneath the glow of shimmering synths and catchy hooks, ‘Goodness Gracious’ presents an intimate portrayal of the struggle between longing and self-preservation—a narrative all too familiar in the age of fleeting connections and digital love.
The Tango of Temptation and Resistance
Dissecting the chorus line by line, the audience is invited into Goulding’s inner turmoil. The repetition of ‘I can’t seem to stop’ resonates as a mantra for anyone ever caught in the grip of an uncontrollable attraction. It’s not just a song, but an anthem for the heart’s rebellion against the mind’s better judgement.
The promise of ‘calling it off’ is juxtaposed with the action of ‘calling you up,’ illustrating the push and pull dynamic. This tug-of-war is at the core of human connection—a dance between the craving for intimacy and the fear of vulnerability.
The Chains of Modern Commitment
The digital age has recalibrated how we interact and commit. Goulding’s lyrics, ‘I lost a signal and put you away,’ poignantly depict our tendency to idealize a love interest, sometimes putting them on hold like an unplayed favorite song, waiting for ‘a rainy day.’ This speaks volumes about our transactional treatment of relationships.
Moreover, ‘Loosen the noose and let go of the rope’ suggests a release from the self-imposed pressures to maintain a perfect connection, possibly even a toxic one. It’s a declaration of the necessity to let go when love stops serving its purpose, and the courage it takes to do so.
The Repeating Refrain: A Window to Inconsistency
The repetition of the chorus serves as more than a catchy hook—it’s a mirror to the cyclic patterns we find ourselves in. Goulding’s hypnotic ‘Goodness gracious, I can’t seem to stop’ exposes the habitual nature of returning to familiar arms, even when we know it might not be what’s best for us.
The phrase ‘crawling to your arms’ evokes a level of desperation and vulnerability, affirming the lengths one may go to for the semblance of warmth and security. Yet, in this admission lies a profound self-awareness and the tacit acknowledgment of one’s own patterns.
Discovering the Hidden Meaning in Desire
Beneath the exuberant production and the infectious melody, there is a quiet exploration of self within ‘Goodness Gracious.’ Goulding remarks, ‘I don’t think I understand ’cause I don’t really know myself,’ which could be an admission that the journey to self-discovery is ongoing and complex.
The process of continuously ‘calling you up’ is a metaphor for the repeated attempts to grasp something genuine, whether it be love or self-understanding. Ellie Goulding masterfully captures the essence of this search with an infectious pop sensibility.
Unlocking Emotive Power Through Memorable Lines
Goulding’s ability to craft an emotive narrative through simple but potent lines is evident. ‘Swore upon the sun I’d save you for a rainy day’ is one such line, flooded with bittersweet optimism of keeping a love on hold for when it might truly be needed.
Perhaps one of the most resonant lines is ‘I wanna hold you close, I just never wanna hold you tight.’ It highlights the paradox of wanting intimacy without the entrapment often associated with being too close, a delicate sentiment that rings true for many.
