In This Light and on This Evening
Editors Lyrics


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I swear to God
I heard the earth inhale
Moments before
It spat its rain down on me

I swear to God
In this light and on this evening
London's become
The most beautiful thing I've seen





Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Editors' song 'In This Light and on This Evening' are open to interpretation but on the surface, they seem to describe a moment of epiphany experienced by the singer. The first line, "I swear to God, I heard the earth inhale" suggests that the singer feels something transformative is coming. This is followed by the image of the earth "spatting its rain down" on the singer, a turbulent image that could be seen as symbolic of the moment of change.


The next line, "In this light and on this evening" suggests that something about the current circumstances is contributing to this feeling of transformation. The singer goes on to describe how London has become "the most beautiful thing" they have ever seen. This could be interpreted in a number of ways: perhaps the singer has lived in London for a long time and is suddenly appreciating it in a new way, or perhaps they are a visitor and the city has taken their breath away. There is a sense of awe and wonder in the way the line is delivered, suggesting that the singer is experiencing a moment of transcendence.


Overall, 'In This Light and on This Evening' is a song that explores the idea of transformation and the way that our surroundings and circumstances can have a profound effect on our perceptions of the world. The lyrics are open to different readings, but they all suggest a sense of wonder and a belief that anything is possible.


Line by Line Meaning

I swear to God
I wholeheartedly believe what I am about to express.


I heard the earth inhale
I felt a sudden silence that signaled the approach of a storm.


Moments before
A short amount of time had passed since the earth's inhale.


It spat its rain down on me
The skies opened up and rain poured down on me.


In this light and on this evening
At this time of day and under this specific atmosphere.


London's become
London has transformed or evolved.


The most beautiful thing I've seen
London's new state is so stunning that it stands out as the most beautiful sight I've ever witnessed.




Contributed by Maria S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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