Icarus
Bastille (Acoustic.) Lyrics
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That is what they all say
You'll drink yourself to death
Look who makes their own bed
Lies right down within it
And what will you have left?
Drinking from a paper cup
You won't remember this
Living beyond your years
Acting out all their fears
You feel it in your chest
Your hands protect the flames
From the wild winds around you
Icarus is flying too close to the sun
And Icarus's life, it has only just begun
It's just begun
Standing on the cliff face
Highest foe you'll ever grace
It scares me half to death
Look out to the future
But it tells you nothing
So take another breath
Your hands protect the flames
From the wild winds around you
Icarus is flying too close to the sun
And Icarus's life, it has only just begun
This is how it feels to take a fall
Icarus is flying towards an early grave
You put up your defenses when you leave
You leave because you're certain
Of who you want to be
You're putting up your armor when you leave
And you leave because you're certain
Of who you want to be, oh
Icarus is flying too close to the sun
And Icarus's life, it has only just begun
This is how it feels to take a fall
Icarus is flying towards an early grave
The lyrics of Bastille's song Icarus tell the story of someone who is self-destructive and living beyond their years. The song begins with the singer identifying the person as someone who is digging their own grave and drinking themselves to death. The person makes their own bed and lies in it, wondering what they will have left. They drink from a paper cup on the front doorstep and won't remember anything. They are acting out all their fears and feeling it in their chest. However, their hands protect the flames from the wild winds around them.
The chorus mentions Icarus, who flew too close to the sun in Greek mythology, leading to his demise. This metaphor is used to describe the person's self-destructive behavior and their life, which has only just begun. The song then mentions standing on a cliff face, facing the highest foe, and being scared half to death. Looking out to the future offers no assurance, so the person takes another breath and continues to protect the flames from the wild winds.
The last verse repeats the metaphor of Icarus and describes the person putting up their defenses and armor when they leave, knowing who they want to be. The song ends with the singer commenting about how it feels to take a fall and how Icarus is flying towards an early grave.
Line by Line Meaning
Look who's digging their own grave
Someone is causing their own downfall with their actions.
That is what they all say
People are aware of the consequences of the person's actions and are warning them.
You'll drink yourself to death
The person is participating in dangerous behavior that may lead to their premature death.
Look who makes their own bed
The person's actions are responsible for the negative consequences they must face.
Lies right down within it
The person accepts the situation they have put themselves in without resistance.
And what will you have left?
The person's actions may lead to them losing everything they have.
Out on the front doorstep
The person is in a public place.
Drinking from a paper cup
The person is engaging in a mundane activity in spite of their dangerous behavior.
You won't remember this
The person is likely intoxicated to the point of impaired memory.
Living beyond your years
The person is engaging in reckless behavior before they have had a chance to fully live their life.
Acting out all their fears
The person's behavior is driven by their fears and insecurities.
You feel it in your chest
The person is experiencing intense emotion related to their behavior.
Your hands protect the flames
The person is trying to prevent their dangerous behavior from consuming them entirely.
From the wild winds around you
The person is facing external forces that threaten to exacerbate their behavior.
Icarus is flying too close to the sun
The reference to the Greek myth of Icarus suggests that the person's dangerous behavior may lead to their downfall.
And Icarus's life, it has only just begun
The person's behavior is self-destructive and they have not yet reached the peak of its negative consequences.
Standing on the cliff face
The person is in a precarious position with no margin for error.
Highest foe you'll ever grace
The person is facing their biggest challenge and it is almost insurmountable.
It scares me half to death
The situation is genuinely terrifying and may have serious consequences.
Look out to the future
The person is contemplating what comes next.
But it tells you nothing
The future is uncertain and cannot be predicted with any degree of accuracy.
So take another breath
The person should remain calm and focus on the present moment.
You put up your defenses when you leave
The person is attempting to protect themselves from the negative consequences of their behavior.
And you leave because you're certain
The person is confident in their decision to leave.
Of who you want to be
The person has a specific idea of their identity and is working towards achieving that.
You're putting up your armor when you leave
The person is trying to protect themselves from external forces that may threaten their identity.
Icarus is flying towards an early grave
The person's dangerous behavior may have fatal consequences.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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