Northern Lights
St. Vincent Lyrics

The first verse of "Northern Lights" by St. Vincent is about the singer's relationship with someone who is frequently indecisive. They point out that if this person says something is a certain way, then they believe it, but that they themselves do not feel anything. It seems that this relationship is often difficult because the other person's "pendulum is in swing again" - in other words, they are unpredictable and constantly changing their mind. The following lines describe a feeling of detachment or numbness on the singer's part. This verse sets the stage for the rest of the song which deals with themes of aging, mortality, and nostalgia.

The chorus of the song reflects on a particular moment when the singer saw the Northern Lights. They were convinced that this was "the end of times," possibly meaning that this experience made them feel small and insignificant in the face of something so vast and beautiful. There is a sense of awe and majesty associated with this event, but also a feeling of foreboding. This lyric could be interpreted in several ways and could even be read as a metaphor for a personal crisis or difficult moment in the singer's life.

The final verse of the song is about the singer's desire to stay young and to cling to moments of significance. They want to "make this last" and seem to be searching for some kind of meaning or purpose that they can hold onto as they age. The repeated refrain of "I saw the northern, Northern Lights" takes on an almost mantra-like quality, as if the singer is using this memory as a way to ground themselves and find some kind of stability.

Overall, "Northern Lights" is a song about existential anxiety and the search for meaning in life. The awe-inspiring beauty of the Northern Lights serves as a symbol for the fleeting nature of life and the need to find significance in the face of mortality.