The Longing
Eels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A heavy pressure on my chest
It rarely leaves
And my day becomes a quest
To try not to think about here
And all that she brings
Forget about her magic
All the beautiful things
Surely there are other things to life
But I can't think of one single thing
That matters more
Than just to see her
Her smile
Her touch
Her smell
Her laugh
The longing is a friend
A way to stay close
And feel like she's here
And feel like she knows
That when I say I would die for her
It's not just words
I really would
And to make the world a safer place for her
Well, I believe I really could
Surely there are other things to life
But I can't think of one single thing
That matters more
Than just to see her
To see her
Her tears
Her sorrow
Her faults
Her doubts
I love them all
In Eels's song The Longing, the lyrics express the intense longing and love that the singer feels for a particular person. The longing is described as a pain that resides as a heavy pressure on the chest, a weight that the singer carries with them throughout the day. The aim of the day becomes an attempt to not think about the person and all the wonderful things that they bring. The singer attempts to forget about the magic, the beautiful things that the person brings into their life. Despite the attempt at forgetfulness, the person remains at the forefront of the singer's every thought.
The lyrics continue to describe an intense love for this individual. The singer declares that there is nothing else that matters more than seeing this person, their smile, touch, smell and laugh. The longing is described as a friend that helps the singer to feel closer to the person they love. The singer believes that when they say they would die for this person, it is not just words, they truly feel that way. The longing in their heart allows them to feel as if the person they love is right there with them, and that they could make the world a safer place for them if given the chance.
In summary, these lyrics express the sheer intensity of the love the singer feels for someone, and the ache they feel when they are not around.
Line by Line Meaning
The longing is a pain
This feeling of longing is a source of emotional pain.
A heavy pressure on my chest
It feels like a physical pressure on my heart and lungs.
It rarely leaves
This feeling of longing is persistent and difficult to ignore.
And my day becomes a quest
My daily task is to try to distract myself from this feeling.
To try not to think about her
I avoid thoughts of the person that I long for.
And all that she brings
The positive feelings and experiences that this person brings into my life.
Forget about her magic
I try to ignore the enchanting qualities of this person.
All the beautiful things
The appealing qualities of this person and our time together.
Surely there are other things to life
While there are certainly other things to live for, I struggle to identify anything that compares to this person.
But I can't think of one single thing
Despite my efforts, nothing else seems as important.
That matters more
This person and my love for them is the most significant aspect of my life.
Than just to see her
Simply being in this person's presence is the most important thing to me.
Her smile
The happiness that this person's smile brings me is unmatched.
Her touch
The physical connection with this person is deeply important.
Her smell
This person's scent is one that I cherish and am drawn to.
Her laugh
The joy that this person's laugh brings me is something special.
The longing is a friend
Despite the emotional pain, this feeling is a reminder of my love for this person and the bond that we share.
A way to stay close
This longing helps me feel connected to this person even when we are apart.
And feel like she's here
This feeling helps me feel like this person is still present in my life.
And feel like she knows
I believe that this person understands the depth of my feelings for them through this longing.
That when I say I would die for her
My love for this person is so strong that I am willing to make significant sacrifices for them.
It's not just words
My love is sincere and not just empty promises.
I really would
I am capable of making the ultimate sacrifice for this person.
And to make the world a safer place for her
I am willing to do whatever it takes to protect and care for this person.
Well, I believe I really could
I am confident in my ability to fulfill this promise and make a positive impact in this person's life.
To see her tears
I want to be present and supportive for this person during difficult emotional moments.
Her sorrow
I want to help this person through sadness and grief.
Her faults
I accept and love this person, flaws and all.
Her doubts
I want to help this person feel confident and supported, even through uncertainty.
I love them all
I love this person deeply, including all of their imperfections and struggles.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK O. EVERETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind