Terrible Love by Birdy Lyrics Meaning – The Intricacies of a Fragile Relationship
Lyrics
It’s a terrible love and I’m walkin’ in
It’s a terrible love and I’m walking with spiders
It’s a terrible love and I’m walkin’ in
its quiet company, its quiet company
And I can’t fall asleep without a little help
It takes a while to settle down
My shivered bones
Until the panic sets
It takes an ocean not to break
It takes an ocean not to break
It takes an ocean not to break
It takes an ocean not to break
Company
Its quiet company
Its quiet company
But I won’t
follow you into the rabbit hole
I said I would
but then I saw
your shivered bones
They didn’t want me to
It’s a terrible love and I’m walking with spiders
It’s a terrible love and I’m walkin’ in
It’s a terrible love and I’m walking with spiders
It’s a terrible love and I’m walkin’ in
It takes an ocean not to break
It takes an ocean not to break
It takes an ocean not to break
It takes an ocean not to break
In the labyrinth of modern music, where artists often cloak their innermost emotions in cryptic lyrics, Birdy’s ‘Terrible Love’ shines a dimly lit path into the complexities of love’s darker corridors. As listeners, we are invited to a hauntingly beautiful journey, fraught with the quiet turmoil of loving amidst a tangle of fears.
Birdy’s rendition of ‘Terrible Love’—originally by The National—echoes with a rawness that digs under the skin, unearthing the heart’s silent battles. The delicate web of piano and the occasional lift of strings accompany a vocal performance that drips with sincerity. But to understand why this song embeds itself so deeply within the listener’s psyche, we must untangle the lyricism to reveal the poignant truths beneath.
The Enigma of the ‘Terrible Love’
At the core of this track is the paradoxical idea of a love that’s ‘terrible,’ yet inexorably magnetic. There is something almost masochistic about the way the song’s subject is ‘walking with spiders,’ suggestive of an intimate dance with danger and discomfort. We, as individuals, can relate to the idea of being drawn to something we know might ultimately be detrimental, yet cannot seem to resist.
Birdy’s interpretation sheds light on the push and pull of a relationship that is delicately balanced on the edge of toxicity. The ‘terrible love’ could imply a romance fraught with challenges or one that seems destined to crumble under the weight of its own intensity, and yet, there’s an inability or unwillingness to step away from its quiet company.
The Silent Scream of ‘Quiet Company’
Repeatedly, the song alludes to ‘its quiet company,’ a phrase that resonates with the isolating experience of inner turmoil. This ‘company’ is neither loud nor celebratory; it’s an insidious presence, a haunting specter that reflects the loneliness that often accompanies difficult emotions in a relationship.
Contrary to what we might expect, this ‘quiet company’ does not seem to offer solace—instead, it is a reminder of the internal struggle of caring for someone so deeply that their ‘shivered bones’ become part of our own nightly battles. For those who have felt the grip of anxiety or trepidation in love, this imagery will strike a chord.
The Struggle to Sleep and the Need for ‘A Little Help’
One of the song’s poignant confessions lies in the admission that ‘I can’t fall asleep without a little help.’ Sleep, often a refuge from the trials of the day, becomes a battleground. The inability to find peace in the dark of night serves as a metaphor for the larger unease within the relationship—an unrest so deep-seated that external intervention is required.
Whether the ‘little help’ is a partner’s reassurance, a friend’s counsel, or perhaps something more literal like sleep aids, the lyric encapsulates the vulnerability of the speaker. To need help to settle the ‘shivered bones’ is to acknowledge the profound impact one person can have on another’s well-being.
Resisting the Descent into ‘The Rabbit Hole’
One of the defining moments of ‘Terrible Love’ arrives when the subject decides ‘I won’t follow you into the rabbit hole.’ This declaration signals an awareness of self-preservation amid destructive patterns. The allusion to ‘Alice in Wonderland’ is deliberate, evoking the sense of disoriented diving into a world that defies logic—and perhaps into a love that contorts reality.
The resolve to not act on the previously stated intent ‘I said I would’ suggests a turning point. The sight of the lover’s ‘shivered bones’ pulls back the curtain on a truth too harsh to ignore, where love alone is not a lifeline but rather a mutual descent into instability.
The Immensity of Emotion in ‘It Takes An Ocean Not To Break’
The song returns again and again to the refrain ‘It takes an ocean not to break,’ evoking the image of the vast and relentless sea as a powerful metaphor for the strength required to endure the pressures of love. This line captures the essence of human resilience—the enormity of what it takes to not capitulate under emotional strain.
This refrain serves as both a testament to the enduring spirit and a sobering reminder of love’s ferocity. Amid the ebb and flow of intimate connections, Birdy taps into a universal truth: there is a sizeable and enduring force, as vast as the ocean, that must be summoned to not fall apart in the face of ‘terrible love.’
