Poison Arrow by ABC Lyrics Meaning – A Piercing Look into Love’s Hall of Mirrors
Lyrics
Would you know just what to do or where to keep it?
Then I say, “I love you”, foul the situation
Hey girl, I thought we were the right combination
Who broke my heart, you did, you did
Bow to the target, blame Cupid, Cupid
You think you’re smart, stupid, stupid
Shoot that poison arrow to my heart
Shoot that poison arrow
Shoot that poison arrow to my heart
Shoot that poison arrow
No rhythm in cymbals, no tempo in drums
Love on arrival, she comes when she comes
Right on the target but wide of the mark
What I thought was fire was only the spark
The sweetest melody
Is an unheard refrain
So lower your sights, yeah
But raise your aim, raise your aim
Who broke my heart, you did, you did
Bow to the target, blame Cupid, Cupid
You think you’re smart, stupid, stupid
Shoot that poison arrow to my heart
Shoot that poison arrow
Shoot that poison arrow to my heart
Shoot that poison arrow
I thought you loved me, but it seems you don’t care
I care enough to know, I can never love you
Who broke my heart, you did, you did
Bow to the target, blame Cupid
You think you’re smart, that’s stupid
Right from the start when you knew we would part
Shoot that poison arrow to my heart
Shoot that poison arrow
Shoot that poison arrow to my heart, heart, heart
Shoot that poison arrow
Heart
Shoot that poison arrow
Shoot that poison arrow
There are songs that encapsulate the zeitgeist of their era, not only because they climb the charts but because they manage to strike at universal truths through the prism of their time. ‘Poison Arrow’, released by the English band ABC in 1982, is as arresting in its synth-pop groove as it is profound in its exploration of love’s often treacherous terrain.
Frontman Martin Fry weaves a tale as timeless as any Shakespearean drama, set against the backdrop of the flashy and unforgiving 80s. But don’t let the catchy melody fool you; the lyrics pack a narrative punch, exploring themes of desire, betrayal, and the emotional warfare of relationships. ‘Poison Arrow’ is more than just a dance-floor filler; it’s a sonic arrow aimed straight at the heart of the human condition.
The Clashing Symphonies of Love and Despair
The track opens with a seemingly innocent question about secrecy, duality, and trust—a foreboding hint at the emotional complexity to come. It crescendos into a confession of love that is met not with warmth but with an entanglement that mars the purity of the sentiment. In Fry’s delivery, there is a vulnerability that underpins the glittering veneer of 80s excess.
When he croons ‘Who broke my heart, you did, you did,’ we’re led into an all-too-familiar battlefield where Cupid’s arrows have gone awry. The brilliance of Fry’s writing lies in his ability to juxtapose the lightheartedness of the melody with the crushing weight of emotional upheaval—the synth-pop equivalent of smiling through the pain.
Dissecting the Rhythmic Heartache
Musically, ‘Poison Arrow’ captures the discordant rhythm that echoes in the hollows of a fractured relationship. It speaks to the moments when what was once a symphony of two hearts falls out of sync—’No rhythm in cymbals, no tempo in drums.’ The partnership devolves into a chase, filled with misfires and missed beats, embodying the chaos of trying to harmonize with someone who no longer shares your emotional cadence.
The track’s rhythmic pulse evokes the energy of an era while examining the timeless plight of lovers trying to find their way back to unison—or stumbling as they realize their duet will never quite be in tune again.
Aim, Fire, Miss: The Follies of Misdirected Affection
The darting precision of the phrase, ‘Right on the target but wide of the mark,’ encapsulates the tormenting essence of love’s near misses. With a sharp literary arrow, Fry carves a picture of love’s most exasperating contradiction—the ability to be so close to the heart of one’s affections and yet so fundamentally misaligned.
’Poison Arrow’ delivers a masterclass in emotional accuracy. Fry suggests that love requires us to ‘lower your sights, yeah, But raise your aim,’ pointing to the paradox that true intimacy might be found in the humble and real, rather than the lofty and idealized.
The Archery of Heartbreak: ‘Shoot that Poison Arrow’
The chorus hammers home the track’s key message with a recurring plea—’Shoot that poison arrow to my heart.’ Here lies the hook, in both the musical and emotional sense. It’s a cry for release, for the deliverance from the purgatory of wanting and the clarity that comes from the finality of rejection.
Each repetition of the memorable line serves as another twist of the knife (or in this case, arrow), a potent reminder of the very human masochism that sometimes clings to the hope of love, even when it transforms into poison.
The Unheard Refrain: Unveiling the Song’s Hidden Narrative
Beneath the surface sheen, ‘Poison Arrow’ delivers an introspective layer often missed upon first listen—a subtle nod to the journey of self-discovery that often shadows the fall into and out of love. ‘The sweetest melody / Is an unheard refrain,’ implies that the truest, most heart-moving parts of our love experiences are those that remain unarticulated, internalized.
In the end, through deft lyrical maneuvering, Fry crafts a dual tale: one of love’s misadventures and one of self-revelation. The poison arrow doesn’t just puncture the heart; it also releases a wellspring of personal truth, forcing confrontation with the often-invisible wounds we bear and the ultimate strength that comes from healing them.
