To date, Olsen has released six studio albums: Half Way Home (2012), Burn Your Fire for No Witness (2014), My Woman (2016), All Mirrors (2019), Whole New Mess (2020) and Big Time (2022).
Not Gonna Kill You
Angel Olsen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm just another, alive with impossible plans
I turn the lights low but we both know where we are
And when it's over, what becomes of your pure heart?
A love that never seems to curse or to confine
Will be forever never lost or too defined
To lose the feeling of an endless searching through
That is the kind of love I'd always dreamed to be
However painful, let it break down all of me
'Til I am nothing else but the feeling
'Til I am nothing else but the feeling
Becoming true
Becoming true
Can't help feeling the way that I do
Can't help feeling the way that I do
Become a prophet
Become a fool
I'll let the light shine in
I'll let the light shine in
I'll let the light shine in
May the best of you win
Who is your truest friend?
Are they there at your end?
I'll let the light be black
And let some tears be shed
Do it all over again
I'll let the light shine in
It's not gonna kill you, it's not gonna kill you
It's not gonna kill you, it's not gonna kill you
It's not gonna break you, it's just gonna shake you
Shake you alive
Baby
Oh, baby
I'll let the light shine in
I'll let the light shine in
I'll let the light shine in
May the best of you win
In Angel Olsen's Not Gonna Kill You, the singer reflects on the complexities of love and the pain that comes with it. The first verse paints a picture of someone who's lost and uncertain of their place in the world, "My watch is blurry when I look down at my hands, I'm just another, alive with impossible plans." The second line alludes to the idea that despite our best efforts, there's never really any guarantee that things are going to work out. Turning the lights low implies an intimacy shared between two people, but the line "what becomes of your pure heart?" hints at the idea that love can end up hurting us in ways we never expected.
The second verse is a reflection of the kind of love that Angel Olsen dreams of having. "A love that never seems to curse or to confine will be forever never lost or too defined" speaks to the desire for a love that's not possessive or restrictive, while "To lose the feeling of an endless searching through, how to have made what is never about me or you" hints at the idea that true love is about something greater than the individuals involved. The chorus brings everything together, reminding the listener that no matter how hard it gets, it's not going to kill you. Life is going to shake you up, but we have to keep going and, hopefully, let the light shine in.
Overall, Angel Olsen's Not Gonna Kill You is a beautiful meditation on the complexities of love and the resilience of the human spirit. The lyrics are poignant and cryptic, while the melody is haunting and otherworldly.
Line by Line Meaning
My watch is blurry when I look down at my hands
My perception of time is not clear when I am focused on myself
I'm just another, alive with impossible plans
I am a human full of hopes and dreams, but some of them may seem impossible
I turn the lights low but we both know where we are
I try to hide my vulnerability, but deep down, we both acknowledge the reality of the situation
And when it's over, what becomes of your pure heart?
After it's all said and done, how will your pure heart remain intact?
A love that never seems to curse or to confine
A type of love that doesn't restrict or limit one's freedom
Will be forever never lost or too defined
It will never be lost or boxed in with definitions
To lose the feeling of an endless searching through
To never lose the sensation of searching for something infinite
How to have made what is never about me or you
How to create something that is greater than our individual selves
That is the kind of love I'd always dreamed to be
This is the type of love I've always aspired to give and receive
However painful, let it break down all of me
Even if it hurts, I am willing to let this love break down every part of me
'Til I am nothing else but the feeling
Until I am completely consumed by the emotion
Becoming true
Manifesting itself into reality
Can't help feeling the way that I do
I cannot control the feelings that arise within me
Become a prophet
Transform into a visionary
Become a fool
Willing to be vulnerable and seen as foolish for the sake of love
I'll let the light shine in
I will allow myself to be vulnerable and let others see the real me
May the best of you win
I hope that the best version of yourself emerges through this process
Who is your truest friend?
Who in your life is the most authentic and genuine?
Are they there at your end?
Will they stand by you until the very end?
I'll let the light be black
I will allow myself to experience the darkness that life brings
And let some tears be shed
I will allow myself to cry and feel emotions deeply
Do it all over again
I am willing to experience the pain and heartache again for the sake of love
It's not gonna kill you, it's not gonna kill you
This experience may be painful, but it won't be the end of you
It's not gonna break you, it's just gonna shake you
This experience may shake you to your core, but it won't break you
Shake you alive
Awaken you to the beauty and pain of life
Baby
Oh, baby
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: ANGEL OLSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind