As Far as I Could Get
Florence the Machine Lyrics


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In the celestial vaults
I drew bedraggled breaths
Because I am unloved
I went as far as I could get
In the cedars like sparks
Wasting my goddamn time

Past the museum of death
And the mad man yelling answers
I sail on new beginnings
And psychics taking chances
In the cedars like sparks
Wasting my goddamn time

As far as I could get
I went as far as I could get
In the cedars like sparks
Wasting my goddamn time

Past the spires and the temple
Looking like a Disney castle
As far as I could get
Past the girls late for rehearsal
Oh, a pirate on the left
And Jesus on the right
And the Pacific sweeps through
Like a bird in flight

As far as I could get
I went as far as I could get
In the cedars like sparks
Wasting my goddamn time

Cause if I am unloved, I have unloved too
Cause if I am unloved, I have unloved too

As far as I could get
I went as far as I could get
I went as far as I could get
I went as far as I could get

Past the city and the sermons
The cemetery standing still
Past the mountain and the monument
The houses and the hills
Past the signs and the sirens
The sinners and the saints
I went as far as I could get
Past the hallowed and the horror
The humbled and agreed
I went as far as I could get
Cause if I am unloved, I have unloved too

As far as I could get
As far as I could get
As far as I could get
And I'm not far enough yet

I went as far as I could get
I went as far as I could get
I went as far as I could get
And I'm not far enough yet

I went as far as I could get
I went as far as I could get
I went as far as I could get
And I'm not far enough yet

I went as far as I could get
I went as far as I could get




I went as far as I could get
And I'm not far enough yet

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "As Far as I Could Get," by Florence + the Machine, speak to the human experience of feeling unloved and searching for something more. The song opens with the image of the "celestial vaults," which symbolizes heaven and eternity, but the singer feels out of place and unwelcome there. She takes deep, ragged breaths, as if struggling to find her place in this world. She then declares, "Because I am unloved, I went as far as I could get," indicating that her sense of isolation has driven her to explore the furthest reaches of the world in search of meaning and connection.


As the song progresses, the singer describes her journey through various landscapes, all imbued with a sense of otherworldliness and whimsy. She passes by the "museum of death" and a "mad man yelling answers," suggesting that she is seeking knowledge and understanding but only encountering madness and chaos. She also encounters various figures, such as a pirate and Jesus, who represent different aspects of human experience and possibility. Throughout it all, she is consumed by a feeling of restlessness and dissatisfaction, expressed through the repeated refrain, "In the cedars like sparks, wasting my goddamn time."


Despite the singer's sense of yearning and searching, the song ends on a note of ambiguity. She declares, "And I'm not far enough yet," suggesting that she is still on a journey to discover what she needs to find. At the same time, she asserts, "Cause if I am unloved, I have unloved too," indicating that she has come to a place of self-acceptance and understanding. Ultimately, "As Far as I Could Get" is a song about the human search for meaning and connection, and the struggles we face when we feel lost and alone.


Line by Line Meaning

In the celestial vaults
In the skies above


I drew bedraggled breaths
I breathed heavily and with difficulty


Because I am unloved
Because I feel unloved


I went as far as I could get
I traveled as far as I possibly could


In the cedars like sparks
Among the trees that resemble sparks


Wasting my goddamn time
Wasting my valuable time


Past the museum of death
Beyond the place where death is studied


And the mad man yelling answers
And the insane person shouting solutions


I sail on new beginnings
I embrace new opportunities


And psychics taking chances
And people willing to take risks


Past the spires and the temple
Beyond the tall, pointed structures and the religious building


Looking like a Disney castle
Resembling the castle in Disney movies


Past the girls late for rehearsal
Beyond the girls who are running late for practice


Oh, a pirate on the left
Oh, there is a pirate on the left side


And Jesus on the right
And Jesus on the right side


And the Pacific sweeps through
And the Pacific Ocean flows through


Like a bird in flight
Just like a bird soaring in the sky


Cause if I am unloved, I have unloved too
Because if I feel unloved, I have also felt unloved before


Past the city and the sermons
Beyond the urban areas and religious teachings


The cemetery standing still
The graveyard, motionless


Past the mountain and the monument
Beyond the towering mass of rock and the remembrance structure


The houses and the hills
The residences and the rolling elevated terrain


Past the signs and the sirens
Beyond the traffic signals and warning alarms


The sinners and the saints
The wrongdoers and the virtuous people


Past the hallowed and the horror
Beyond the esteemed and the frightening


The humbled and agreed
The unpretentious and compliant people


And I'm not far enough yet
But I still have a long way to go




Contributed by Aria C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Rachel Eye

Florence is simply a musical goddess

william

the amazing Florence welch !!

Wasting Time

Underrated 😭😭

Rachel Eye

This song!!! Is one of my top five for her, she is phenomenal!!!!

Jessica Mondragon

Lit 🔥

Agata

Shylah Salas

21 People Rock <3 <3

Dionne Eckstein

52 now ;)

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