Bottle eyes, glassy blue
I watch the rain come out of you
Sky is white with the flu, I'm terrified of losing you
If I go to the sea, I'll bring you down, down with me
If I go to the rain, you'll never see me again

You've got cold girl fever

I promised to leave if you ever went cold
Then leave when I'm sleeping, you told me
Put your spine in your back and your arms in your coat
Don't hold on to me when there's nothing to hold

You've got cold girl fever

It's not what you said but that's what you meant
I'm losing my baby on promises kept
What are you for?
What are you for now that I have hard cold?

You've got cold girl fever

Overall Meaning

The National’s “Cold Girl Fever” is an intimate and melancholic tune that can be interpreted in several ways, but the prevailing idea is that the lyrics are about the pain of losing someone you love. The song starts with “bottle eyes, glassy blue”, a poetic description of tears, possibly being shed by the singer himself, as he watches the rain come out of his lover, who is ill with the flu. The line “I’m terrified of losing you” reflects the singer’s fear of losing his love, who is already fragile.

The chorus, “you’ve got cold girl fever”, is repeated several times throughout the song, creating a sense of urgency and despair. This line can be seen as a metaphor for the coldness that has crept into the relationship or the literal fever that the girl has. The lyrics also reveal the complexity of the relationship between the two, where promises were made and broken, leaving the singer with nothing but feelings of betrayal and uncertainty. The line “what are you for now that I have hard cold” might refer to the singer’s own feelings of being emotionally cold and numb.

Overall, “Cold Girl Fever” is a heartfelt and emotional song that showcases the band’s ability to convey complex emotions through their lyrics and music.

Line by Line Meaning

Bottle eyes, glassy blue
Your eyes appear glazed and hazy, like the bottom of a bottle

I watch the rain come out of you
I observe the rain (or tears) falling from your eyes

Sky is white with the flu, I'm terrified of losing you
The sky is colorless and sickly-looking, and I'm scared of losing you (either physically or emotionally)

If I go to the sea, I'll bring you down, down with me
If I sink or drown in the sea, I will bring you down with me

If I go to the rain, you'll never see me again
If I disappear into the rain, you will never see me again

You've got cold girl fever
You are emotionally detached and distant, and I'm struggling to cope with it

I promised to leave if you ever went cold
I vowed to leave if you ever became emotionally distant

Then leave when I'm sleeping, you told me
You advised me to leave while you are asleep, to avoid any confrontation

Put your spine in your back and your arms in your coat
You need to be strong and put your emotions aside, like putting on a coat

Don't hold on to me when there's nothing to hold
Don't cling to me when there's no emotional connection left

It's not what you said but that's what you meant
Your words may have been different, but your true intentions were clear

I'm losing my baby on promises kept
I'm losing the person I love because of promises I kept

What are you for?
What do I mean to you?

What are you for now that I have hard cold?
What is your purpose now that I am emotionally detached as well?

You've got cold girl fever
You are still emotionally distant and I'm struggling to cope with it

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