1. Afterhours are one of the most popular Italian alternative rock bands. F… Read Full Bio ↴1. Afterhours are one of the most popular Italian alternative rock bands. Founded by lead singer Manuel Agnelli, currently Afterhours' members are Manuel Agnelli, Giorgio Prette, Rodrigo D'Erasmo, Giorgio Ciccarelli and Roberto Dell'Era.

2. Afterhours aka Nicholas Crozier Malkin, an artist from Los Angeles (USA)

3. Afterhours was a Celtic Folk band, 1989–1995. They released three albums: "Afterhours" (1988), "Hung Up and Dry" (1990), and "Up To Here" (1992). Members include Giles Lewin (Dufay Collective, The Carnival Band,) Alan Burke, Joe McHugh, and Francis McIlduff.

Oxygen
Afterhours Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I feel so prisoner babe
and I don't know why
but the thing that keeps me here
It's my addiction
in or out baby
love
couldn't define us all
in or out baby

love
it's not what we caressing on
your smell's my oxygen
your smell's my oxygen
so softly and so strongly
I sell my mind
it's something so dirty
that I could try
in or out baby
love
couldn't define us all
in or out baby
love
it's not what we rubbing on
your smell's my oxygen
your smell's my oxygen
it's so insane
inside my eyes
I've come to my angel
and she lets me die
in or out baby
love
couldn't define us all
in or out baby
love
it's not what we rubbing on
here comes my oxygen
here comes my oxygen

(Grazie a Stefano per questo testo)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Afterhours' song Oxygen describe a feeling of being trapped but also addicted to someone or something. The singer is unclear about what exactly is keeping them imprisoned, but they suggest that it may be their own addiction to love. The refrain of the song, "Your smell's my oxygen" reinforces this idea by presenting their partner's scent as the thing they need to survive.

The lyrics are full of contrasts, both in the dualities of in and out or love as well as the juxtaposition of softness and dirtiness. The singer seems to be grappling with conflicting emotions and desires, questioning the nature of their love while still being unable to resist their addiction to their partner. Even as they acknowledge that their feelings may be unsustainable, they continue to seek out this person as their source of oxygen.

Overall, the lyrics of Oxygen convey a complex mix of emotions around love and addiction, presenting a portrait of someone who is both trapped and unable to break free from their need for another person.

Line by Line Meaning

I feel so prisoner babe
I feel trapped and confined, and I'm unable to escape

and I don't know why
I don't understand why I feel this way

but the thing that keeps me here
The reason I stay here, despite feeling trapped, is because of my addiction

It's my addiction
The root cause of my feeling of imprisonment is my dependence on something

in or out baby
Whether we are together or apart, whether we have a relationship or not

love
The emotion that binds us, or the feeling that we have for each other

couldn't define us all
Love is not enough to fully describe or explain everything that is happening between us

it's not what we caressing on
The physical act of touching each other is not what is most important or meaningful to us

your smell's my oxygen
I am so deeply and utterly in love with your scent that it sustains me like air

so softly and so strongly
Your scent is both delicate and powerful at the same time

I sell my mind
I am willing to sacrifice my sanity or logical thinking for the sake of my addiction to your scent

it's something so dirty
My addiction to your scent is something that others might consider shameful, improper or unpleasant

that I could try
I am willing to do whatever it takes to continue to experience the pleasure of your scent

here comes my oxygen
You are coming towards me, and I can sense your scent again, which sustains me like air

it's so insane
My dependence on your scent is so powerful and intense that it defies reason or rational thought

inside my eyes
The feeling of my addiction is so intense that it is affecting me physically, not just mentally or emotionally

I've come to my angel
I have found someone who is like an angel to me, who I can rely on not to judge me for my addiction to your scent

and she lets me die
Although my addiction to your scent might be destructive or unhealthy, my angelic partner is willing to let me continue to indulge my addiction

Contributed by Adeline N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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