Strike A Match
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics


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Strike a match so I can see
If I've been down here before
Where is the floor?
What is it for?

Strike a pose
Imagining love and ecstatic applause
Suckling big parts
You are on task

Strike a vein so we can see
If it leaves some kind of mark
No, its too dark
It's dark

Strike a tone for shadowing
Things that were meant to come true
Darker than blue
Older than you

Strike a match so I can see
If I've been down here before




Where is the floor?
What is it for?

Overall Meaning

In Cassandra Wilson's song Strike A Match, the lyrics speak to a search for clarity and understanding amidst confusion and uncertainty. The repeated request to "strike a match" is a metaphor for seeking light in the darkness, for gaining the ability to see what is hidden or unclear. The first verse implies a sense of deja vu, a feeling of having been in this place or situation before, but not quite remembering it. The line "Where is the floor? What is it for?" suggests a disorientation and lack of grounding, as if the singer is lost in a place with no clear purpose or direction.


The second verse shifts to a more external focus, as the singer observes someone else "imagining love and ecstatic applause" but also "suckling big parts" and "on task." It's not entirely clear what these phrases mean, but they create a sense of contrasts and contradictions, of someone performing for others while also indulging in their own desires. The third verse returns to the request to "strike a vein," perhaps for medical reasons, but also as a metaphor for revealing something hidden or unknown. The line "No, it's too dark" suggests that this attempt at illumination is unsuccessful, that some things might remain unknowable.


The final verse ties all these threads together as the singer once again seeks the light of the match to understand where they are and what it all means. The lines "Things that were meant to come true / Darker than blue / Older than you" suggest a sense of disillusionment and weariness, of facing a reality that doesn't match up with hopes or dreams. Overall, Strike A Match is a song about the human need for clarity and for finding meaning in a bewildering world.


Line by Line Meaning

Strike a match so I can see
Illuminate the darkness that surrounds me.


If I've been down here before
Determine if I've experienced this situation previously.


Where is the floor?
What is my foundation, my basis?


What is it for?
What is the purpose of this situation?


Strike a pose
Assume an image, create an illusion.


Imagining love and ecstatic applause
Visualizing a scenario in which I receive love and admiration.


Suckling big parts
Partaking in opportunities that are of great benefit to me.


You are on task
You are focused, driven and actively achieving your goals.


Strike a vein so we can see
Puncture the surface so we can truly comprehend what lies beneath.


If it leaves some kind of mark
What lasting impact does this leave?


No, its too dark
There is too much unknown or unclear about this situation.


It's dark
The obscurity of the situation is palpable.


Strike a tone for shadowing
Set the mood for the impending foreboding.


Things that were meant to come true
The expectations of my past and the eventual reality of my present.


Darker than blue
The sadness or melancholy surrounding this situation is palpable and heavy.


Older than you
This feeling/situation has existed much longer than anticipated.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: COEN BURNETT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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