Shelter by Birdy Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Emotional Tapestry of Yearning
Lyrics
Under cover, hide away
Can you hear when I say
I have never felt this way
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Could I be, was I there
It felt so crystal in the air
I still want to drown whenever you leave
Please teach me gently how to breathe
And I’ll cross oceans like never before
So you can feel the way I feel it too
And I’ll send images back at you
So you can see the way I feel it too
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
In an industry where love songs often traverse well-worn paths, Birdy’s ‘Shelter’ evokes a stirring landscape of desire shadowed by introspection. The lyrics, a blend of longing and vulnerability, take listeners on a journey through the realms of a heart seeking solace, and perhaps forgiveness, in the affection of another.
The rawness and simplicity of the words, coupled with Birdy’s hauntingly ethereal voice, lend the song a timeless quality, as listeners find parts of their own stories echoed in its verses. Beneath the surface of its melancholic melody, ‘Shelter’ holds intricate layers of meaning waiting to be unfurled.
A Safe Haven in Melody: Finding Refuge in Love’s Embrace
The refrain ‘I find shelter in this way, under cover, hide away,’ speaks to the universal quest for a sanctuary within relationships. Birdy articulates a longing for intimacy that goes beyond the physical, extending into the need for an emotional safe space. This desire for shelter not only captures the essence of the song but also resonates with anyone who yearns for a respite in the arms of another, away from the chaos of the outer world.
Her choice of the word ‘shelter’ implies a sort of desperation and urgency—this is not just a want but a necessity for survival. The song becomes a soliloquy of a soul laid bare, seeking not just love but a cocoon against the trials of life.
A Luminous Plea: The Quest for Clarity and Redemption
The recurring lines, ‘Maybe I had said something that was wrong, Can I make it better with the lights turned on,’ emerge as a raw admission of guilt and the plea for understanding that follows. Birdy captures the dual nature of vulnerability and the craving for transparency in moments where our words fall short, or worse, cause pain.
Turning the lights on becomes a metaphor for clarity, for honesty, and the hope that being seen fully will lead to forgiveness. It’s a powerful comment on human imperfection and the courage it takes to seek redemption, even when we fear the outcome of such revelations.
The Breath of Love: Learning to Survive the Ebb and Flow
In the lyrics, ‘Please teach me gently how to breathe,’ there’s a tangible sincerity and trust that Birdy brings forth. The request, tender and profound, reveals the dependency and trust one places in a partner to navigate the complexities of emotions within a relationship.
To ‘drown whenever you leave’ only amplifies this dependency, marking every departure, no matter how small, with a wave of desolation. This line evokes imagery of a love so deep that the absence of the loved one feels like asphyxiation—a stark representation of romantic attachment.
Resonating Emotions: Transmitting the Unspoken Through Distance
Birdy eloquently crafts the image of one lover endeavoring to bridge the gap, as seen in ‘And I’ll cross oceans like never before, So you can feel the way I feel it too.’ This testament to enduring connection leaps across the divides of space, declaring a commitment to remaining emotionally present, even when physically apart.
‘And I’ll send images back at you, So you can see the way I feel it too,’ is an enchanting modern spin to the age-old love letter. In today’s digital world, the emotive power of shared images becomes a means of allowing one’s partner a glimpse into their internal world—another layer to the quest for shared understanding and empathy.
The Echo of Haunting Queries: Birdy’s Memorable Lines That Linger
The song culminates with the artist reflecting upon the same doubt-ridden questions, as if no answer could ever satisfy the need to make amends: ‘Maybe I had said something that was wrong, Can I make it better with the lights turned on.’ By ending where it began, the song envelops the listener in a lyrical loop, mirroring the cyclical nature of introspection and relationship struggles.
It’s a brilliant artistic choice, because it leaves us in the aftershock of the song’s emotional tremors, pondering our own ‘maybes’ and the lengths we go to for the sake of love. These lingering lines play on repeat not just in our ears but within the chambers of our hearts, a haunting echo that insists on being heard and felt again.
