The lyrics are from the point of view of someone who is beginning to experience life on his own terms, finding love and making decisions without the control of outside influences. "Breath of Life" is an uptempo synth pop song; its dance music elements were strongly accentuated for the club remixes.
"Breath of Life" became Erasure's eleventh Top 10 hit on the UK singles chart, peaking at number eight. Their string of Top 40 singles in Germany was broken with this release when it peaked at number forty-four. It did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
Unlike all of Erasure's prior single releases in the UK, "Breath of Life" contained no B-side tracks.
Breath of Life
Erasure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause my mind was always someone else's mind
I never had to tell a lie
Cause I left the choices up to them
Don't know why but I did
Oh I want life
To breath in it's love
Take me I'm yours
Now I'm comin' up for air
I'm gonna live my time
For the rest of my life
Then I'll be comin' back for more
I never had to call the tune
'Cause I always drifted with the tide of the moon
(Ah la luna, my love, my love, my love)
I would go out every night
Looking for someone to treat me right
Not a chance (chance) not a hope (hope)
In this world (world)
Oh I want life
Life wants me
To breath in it's love
Take me I'm yours
Now I'm comin' up for air
I'm gonna live my time
For the rest of my life
Then I'll be comin' back for more
Take me I'm yours
Now I'm comin' up for air
I'm gonna live my time
For the rest of my life
Then I'll be comin' back for more
(More)
Take me I'm yours
Now I'm comin' up for air
I'm gonna live my time
For the rest of my life
Then I'll be coming back for more (more)
(oh yeah) (More)
The lyrics to Erasure's "Breath of Life" speak about the artist's desire for agency and control over their own life. They reference a time when the singer felt like they didn't have their own "point of view" because their mind was always influenced by others. They never had to lie because they let others make the decisions for them. However, the singer expresses a desire for more, they want to breathe in life's love and take control of their own destiny. They've been searching for someone to treat them right, but have had "not a chance" and "not a hope" in this world.
This song is about trying to break free from the expectations and influences of others and live life on one's own terms. It speaks to the desire for personal freedom and agency, and the idea that one's life is their own to live.
Line by Line Meaning
Never had a point of view
I never had any strong opinions or beliefs of my own
'Cause my mind was always someone else's mind
Because I always let other people influence my thoughts and decisions
I never had to tell a lie
I never had to be dishonest, because I always let others make choices for me
Cause I left the choices up to them
Because I always let other people make decisions for me
Don't know why but I did
I'm not sure why I let others make choices for me
Oh I want life
I have a desire to experience and enjoy life
Life wants me
Life is offering me opportunities and experiences
To breath in it's love
To fully embrace and enjoy the experiences life has to offer
Take me I'm yours
I'm willing and ready to experience life fully
Now I'm comin' up for air
I feel like I'm coming up for a breath of fresh air, finally free to make my own choices
I'm gonna live my time
I'm going to make the most of my life
For the rest of my life
For as long as I'm alive
Then I'll be comin' back for more
I'll be eager to experience even more of what life has to offer
I never had to call the tune
I never had to take charge or make decisions for myself
'Cause I always drifted with the tide of the moon
Because I always followed the path of least resistance, going along with what others wanted
(Ah la luna, my love, my love, my love)
A possible reference to how the moon's gravitational pull affects tides and could be interpreted as affecting the artist's 'drifting'
I would go out every night
I used to go out frequently
Looking for someone to treat me right
I was always searching for someone to make me happy or fulfilled
Not a chance (chance) not a hope (hope)
Despite my searching, I never found the person I was looking for
In this world (world)
In life, in general
Take me I'm yours
Again, expressing a willingness to embrace life
Now I'm comin' up for air
Feeling free and ready to make my own choices
I'm gonna live my time
Making the most of the time I have
Then I'll be comin' back for more
Eager for more life experiences
(More)
Continuing to desire more from life
(oh yeah) (More)
Emphasizing the singer's eagerness for more from life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FITZGERALD SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maree7100
Never had a point of view
'Cause my mind was always someone else's mind
I never had to tell a lie
'Cause I left the choices up to them don't know why, but I did
Oh, I want life, life wants me
To breathe in its love
Take me I'm yours
Now I'm coming up for air
I'm gonna live my time for the rest of my life
Then I'll be coming back for more
I never had to call the tune
'Cause I always drifted with the tide of the moon
I would go out every night looking for someone to treat me right
Not a chance, not a hope in this world
Oh, I want life, life wants me
To breathe in its love
Take me I'm yours
Now I'm coming up for air
I'm gonna live my time for the rest of my life
Then I'll be coming back for more
Take me I'm yours
Now I'm coming up for air
I'm gonna live my time for the rest of my life
Then I'll be coming back for more
More
@tenrgn
We were really spoiled with good music in the 80’s, Erasure, Depeche Mode & The Pet Shop Boys amongst many others
@jpollardbookseller
I don't think that it will come back.
@bombboys
This group is one of the main reasons I am alive and choose life instead of death. Thank you #erasure
@scandalousretribution9972
Sane friend!
@user-mc8bk6mu8y
❤❤ sending hugs for you
@JeremySayers38
Then help someone who needs your help, really help them not just some surface gesture.
You understand suffering so help stop it in someone else.
@jorgeblas1046
Estamos 2023 quién continúa escuchando este exitazo....Erasure for ever ❤🎉🎉🎉
@joancarloscortezpereyra3649
Hoy 14 de agosto, mi padre cumple 3 años de fallecido. Con un nudo en la garganta, escucho la música que tanto le gustaba.
@omarflores5415
A mis 28 años me encanta todo los temas de rock and pop 80s....que vivan carajo!!
@DiegoAntonioSilvaB
❤