Figure 8
Ellie goulding Lyrics


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Breathe your smoke into my lungs
In the back of the car with you I stare into the sun
Still not too old to die young
The lovers hold on to everything
And others hold on to anything

I chased your love around a figure 8
I need you more than I can take
You promised forever and a day
And then you take it all away
(And then you take it all away)

Place a kiss on my cheekbone
Then you vanish me
I'm buried in the snow
But something tells me I'm not alone
But lovers hold on to everything
And others hold on to anything

I chased your love around a figure 8
I need you more than I can take
You promised forever and a day
And then you take it all away

So, Lovers hold on to everything
And others hold to anything
So, Lovers hold on to everything
And others hold to anything

I chased your love around a figure 8
I need you more than I can take
You promised forever and a day
And then you take it all away

I chased your love around a figure 8
I need you more than I can take
You promised forever and a day




And then you take it all away
(And then you take it all away)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ellie Goulding's song Figure 8 are about the complexities of love and the way it can consume a person. The first verse starts with the line "Breathe your smoke into my lungs," which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the lover's influence over the singer's life. The next line, "In the back of the car with you I stare into the sun," implies that the singer is willingly along for the ride despite the risks. She expresses a sense of invincibility to the idea of dying young, as many young lovers may. The chorus repeats the line "I chased your love around a figure 8," which is a metaphor for the cyclical nature and patterned behavior of this love that she cannot seem to escape.


The second verse starts off with a physical touch as the lover kisses the singer's cheekbone, but then disappears and leaves her trapped in the snow. However, the singer feels that she is not alone, and this is also reflective of the complex nature of love in that it can leave a person feeling isolated and vulnerable even with a partner. The repeated line "Lovers hold on to everything, and others hold on to anything" speaks to the idea that people handle love differently, some clinging to it, while others may have a more reckless attitude.


Line by Line Meaning

Breathe your smoke into my lungs
I want to feel intimately close to you.


In the back of the car with you I stare into the sun
I am with you in the moment, enjoying the present even though it is temporary.


Still not too old to die young
I am still young and willing to take risks, even if they are dangerous.


The lovers hold on to everything
In a relationship, both partners hold on to everything, even if it hurts them.


And others hold on to anything
Some people will hold on to anything just to avoid being alone.


I chased your love around a figure 8
I keep pursuing your love, going around in circles and ending up where I started.


I need you more than I can take
I want you so much that it's almost unbearable.


You promised forever and a day
You made a commitment to me that was supposed to last forever.


And then you take it all away
You break your promise and take everything away from me.


Place a kiss on my cheekbone
Give me a kiss that is sweet and gentle.


Then you vanish me
Afterwards, you leave me completely alone and forgotten.


I'm buried in the snow
I'm feeling numb and isolated, like being stuck in a cold, harsh environment.


But something tells me I'm not alone
Despite feeling abandoned, I still have a glimmer of hope that someone will come to my rescue.


So, Lovers hold on to everything
Once again, in a relationship, both partners hold on to everything, whether it's good or bad.


And others hold to anything
For some people, they will hold on to anything, even if it's not healthy or positive.


I chased your love around a figure 8
I keep pursuing your love despite going around in circles and not making any tangible progress.


I need you more than I can take
I crave your love and attention so much that it's overwhelming.


You promised forever and a day
You made a vow to be with me forever, and I believed you.


And then you take it all away
But in the end, you betrayed that trust and left me with nothing.


I chased your love around a figure 8
Once again, I am stuck in a pattern of pursuing your love that leads me nowhere.


I need you more than I can take
Even though I know it's not healthy, I can't help but want you more than anything.


You promised forever and a day
Despite my doubts, I still held onto the hope that you would keep your promise.


And then you take it all away
But ultimately, you let me down and took everything away from me.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ELLIE GOULDING, JONNY LATTIMER, ROCKY MORRIS, RUFIO SANDILANDS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@theredshadow401

@@aydanscott9871 One look on Wikipedia and you'll see the credits which are taken from the liner notes of the album:

Ellie Goulding – vocals, songwriting

Jonny Lattimer – songwriting, vocal production

Monsta – additional vocal production, engineering, production

Rocky Morris – arrangement, instruments

Rufio Sandilands – arrangement, instruments

Mike Spencer – additional production, additional vocal production, engineering, instruments, mixing

No need to slag Ellie Goulding over a lack of research on your own part.



@katimama2309

Breathe your smoke into my lungs,
In the back of a car with you I stare into the sun,
Still not too old to die young,
But lovers hold on to everything,
And lovers hold on to anything

I chase your love around a figure 8,
I need you more than I can take,
You promise forever and a day,
And then you take it all away,
And then you take it all away

Place a kiss on my cheekbone,
When you vanish me, I'm buried in the snow,
But something tells me I'm not alone,
But lovers hold on to everything,
And lovers hold on to anything

I chase your love around a figure 8,
I need you more than I can take,
You promise forever and a day,
And then you take it all away,
And then you take it all away

So lovers hold on to everything,
And lovers hold on to anything,
So lovers hold on to everything,
And lovers hold on to anything

I chase your love around a figure 8,
I need you more than I can take,
You promise forever and a day,
And then you take it all away,

I chase your love around a figure 8,
I need you more than I can take,
You promise forever and a day,
And then you take it all away,
And then you take it all away



All comments from YouTube:

@emilysbirds759

As many have said… Ellie’s most underrated song. A decade later and this song still slams, lyrics and beat.

@msamw6212

Always amazing 🎉❤

@Nonethelessersoulcoin

its always in my rotation, same with my blood. it hits so hard!

@eduardo1089

her most underrated song

@kingcalvinharris9197

Right, along with Starry eyed and The writer

@amiya5876

King Calvin Harris and animal, little dreams, and dead in the water!

@kingcalvinharris9197

Dan & Phil agreed :D

@frickndog1047

Eduardo Prado ikr

@codystebner7494

Allmost 40mill views is not under rated.

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@allyboulton1894

Anyone listening in 2020? I love this songggg

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