The Bomb
Florence the Machine Lyrics


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You said this could've been the best thing
That ever happened to you
So you decided not to do it
Now you come back every summer
Like a carnivorous flower
And I stare at your hands in the heat and I
Think that you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen
If I was free to love you
You wouldn't want me would you?
Unavailability is the only thing that turns you on

Come here, baby
Tell me that I'm wrong

I've blown apart my life for you
And bodies hit the floor for you
And break me, shake me, devastate me
Come here, baby
Tell me that I'm wrong

I don't love you, I just love the bomb
Buildings falling is the only thing that turns me on

I've blown apart my life for you
And bodies hit the floor for you
And break me, shake me, devastate me
Come here, baby
Tell me that I'm wrong

I don't love you, I just love the bomb
I let it burn, but it just had to be done




And I'm in ruins, but is it what I wanted all along?
Sometimes you get the good, sometimes you get a song

Overall Meaning

In "The Bomb" by Florence + The Machine, the lyrics explore a complex and destructive relationship. The singer reflects on a past situation where their partner expressed that their connection had the potential to be something great. However, the partner ultimately chose not to pursue it, only to return periodically like a trap that you cannot resist. The singer finds themselves captivated by the partner's beauty, particularly their hands, and deeply yearns for their love.


However, there is a catch. The partner is only attracted to the singer when they are unavailable. Unavailability becomes the only thing that excites them. The singer acknowledges this paradox, questioning if the partner would still desire them if they were free to love. The lyrics suggest a sense of frustration and longing, as the singer has given up and sacrificed a lot for this relationship, yet still feels unfulfilled.


The chorus of the song reveals a darker twist. The singer admits that they don't actually love their partner; instead, they love the chaos and destruction associated with them. The mention of "buildings falling" serves as a metaphor for this destructive fascination. The lyrics express a willingness to let everything burn, despite the consequences, because it feels necessary. The song ends with the realization that sometimes the outcome of a relationship is unpredictable, and sometimes all you get is a song, implying that even though it may not have been what they wanted, it is all they have.


Overall, "The Bomb" delves into the complexities of a toxic and unfulfilling relationship, highlighting the yearning for love and the destructive tendencies that can arise from it.


Line by Line Meaning

You said this could've been the best thing
You believed that our relationship had the potential to be extraordinary


That ever happened to you
The most significant and life-changing experience you could have


So you decided not to do it
However, you chose to avoid pursuing it


Now you come back every summer
Yet you return each year, like a recurring event


Like a carnivorous flower
Similar to a predatory plant, captivating and alluring


And I stare at your hands in the heat and I
In the midst of passionate moments, I fixate on your hands


Think that you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen
Believing that you are the epitome of beauty


If I was free to love you
If I had the liberty to express my affection for you


You wouldn't want me would you?
You wouldn't desire me if that were the case


Unavailability is the only thing that turns you on
Your attraction is solely aroused by the presence of obstacles


Come here, baby
Come closer, my dear


Tell me that I'm wrong
Convince me that my perspective is incorrect


I've blown apart my life for you
I have demolished and shattered my existence for your sake


And bodies hit the floor for you
People have suffered and fallen because of you


And break me, shake me, devastate me
You emotionally ruin, disturb, and devastate me


I don't love you, I just love the bomb
My affection is not for you, but for chaos and destruction


Buildings falling is the only thing that turns me on
The collapse of structures is the sole source of my arousal


I let it burn, but it just had to be done
I allowed everything to be consumed by flames, as it was necessary


And I'm in ruins, but is it what I wanted all along?
I am now in complete disarray, but did I truly desire this outcome?


Sometimes you get the good, sometimes you get a song
Sometimes life brings you joy, while other times it only offers a song




Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Florence Leontine Mary Welch

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

@cam3095

Lets sing along♡

[Verse]
You said this could have been the best thing
That ever happened to you
So you decided not to do it
Now you come back every summer
Like a carnivorous flower
And I stare at your hands in the heat and I
Think that you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen
But if I was free to love you
You wouldn't want me, would you?
Unavailability is the only thing that turns you on
Come here, baby, tell me that I'm wrong

[Chorus]
I've blown apart my life for you
And bodies hit the floor for you
And break me, shake me, devastate mе
Come here, baby, tеll me that I'm wrong
I don't love you, I just love the bomb
Buildings falling is the only thing that turns me on
I've blown apart my life for you
And bodies hit the floor for you
And break me, shake me, devastate me
Come here, baby, tell me that I'm wrong
I don't love you, I just love the bomb (Oh, oh, oh)
I let it burn, but it just had to be done (Oh, oh, oh)
And I'm in ruins, but is it what I wanted all along?
Sometimes you get the good, sometimes you get a song



@Joseph-nr9dj

You said this could have been the best thing
That ever happened to you
So you decided not to do it
Now you come back every summer
Like a carnivorous flower
And I stare at your hands in the heat and I
Think that you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen
But if I was free to love you
You wouldn't want me, would you?
Unavailability is the only thing that turns you on
Come here, baby, tell me that I'm wrong

[Chorus]
I've blown apart my life for you
And bodies hit the floor for you
And break me, shake me, devastate mе
Come here, baby, tеll me that I'm wrong
I don't love you, I just love the bomb
Buildings falling is the only thing that turns me on
I've blown apart my life for you
And bodies hit the floor for you
And break me, shake me, devastate me
Come here, baby, tell me that I'm wrong
I don't love you, I just love the bomb (Oh, oh, oh)
I let it burn, but it just had to be done (Oh, oh, oh)
And I'm in ruins, but is it what I wanted all along?
Sometimes you get the good, sometimes you get a song



@mamahanjiishere8501

This song feel like me... or atleast the person shes singing to.
"Unavalibility is the only thing thay turns you on"
Not that it turns me on, but i step outta relatio ships before they turn into something serious. Has hapoened a couple of times now. I like the conversations and the time we spend togeather; but after a while it feels like too much and i need to pull away before it tirns into something thays gonna hurt later.
Its a cycle honestly, and im trying to stay away from relationships to sort thhis issue out. Im in a self healing time. Ive been used, hurt and assulted by both words and touch in the past; and thats the main cause of it all.
Its like my brain tells me when the fun is over.
I dont like kissing
I dont like touching
I dont like much

I love the convosations,
I love the time we spend togeather...

But all in all, i halt the relationship, when they ask for more. I never discussed my issues with it all and my bounderies cause in the past i was tolf i am annoying, frigid, uptight and over all not caring for what they want - so i would give in then.
Right now, my body has put up a wall from ever being treated like that.

I went on a date last year, she kissed me and i let it happen. She tried to make oit with me, but i was as still as a rock. She gave up and asked if i was okay, i lied causr thats my natural response. I carried on lying when she hugged me and touch me. I suppose she saw througj it and figured i was uncomfortable, so she would ask. Though i apreciated it, i still lied and pushed through with it to appease her. After a whike it got too much and i broke down, i broke things off with her. She tried to make me stay, she knows of my past relationships and was trying to help me through it. But i couldnt do it. I couldnt do that to her cause ill only want to break things off with her again in the future when it got too much.

Im self healing. Its taking a while. I want that romantic relationship again. I wanna feel safe and i wanna enjoy huging and kissing.... sex will take too long to accept.

I hope therapy comes soon, honestly. I have so much to work on.



@NonGenericAI

Im dead without you,
A prisoner in my own head without you,
A slave to my pain without my devout you.

Rise me from the ashes my Angel wish,
Resusitate me with every kiss,
Hold me tightly so nothing goes amiss.

I bow before thee,
Stare into your eyes as i rise to one knee,
My Angel i love you forever and all eternity.

My Mily..My Angel.



All comments from YouTube:

@clairejohnson504

So in Florence's interview with Zane Lowe, she talked about this song and she said "Why is the person who creates the most space and gives you nothing the most appealing person? If you're a songwwriter, that's because they give you the most enormous space for fantasy and you can write anything you want because they don't really exist" and oh dear god I have never understood something so precisely in my entire life

@ethanrapp6998

Thanks for confirming what I felt this song was about. So incredible

@joyhanson4821

People like Florence give me so much FAITH in humanity <3

@AidanFoley-ib9dd

That actually makes a lot of sense.

@BookFreakyTube

💔

@healingbygiusi

Damn. That's absolutely perfect.

8 More Replies...

@milomirjukanovic3248

Sometimes you wish to be able to say something as powerful back to her. But I am unable to think of anything but "Thank you". So, thank you Florence, from the bottom of my heart.

@graysonhubbard3979

beautifully put

@salviaofficinalis4458

Thank you's pretty powerful. Simplicity is the essence and rhetoric of power imbued in words. You can say something very complicated with a complex grammatical structure and long words and it won't have the same effect on people as something simply put, let alone understood.

@mylord4679

I feel like that's the crux of why listening to her music feels so good, wishing you could say something back

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