The title means to commit suicide, which is also enhanced in the backing vo… Read Full Bio ↴The title means to commit suicide, which is also enhanced in the backing vocals, where Heaven is alluded to. And throughout the verses, there are various references to wanting to end her life. However, there are multiple interpretations of this song - some choose to believe it is about a sexual encounter, mental illness, and religious confusion. Nonetheless, the suicide theme is the confirmed meaning of this song.

Leave My Body
Florence and The Machine Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm gonna be released from behind these lines
And don't care whether I live or die
And I'm losing blood, I'm gonna leave my bones
And I don't want your heart it leaves me cold

I don't want your future
I don't need your past
One grand moment

Is all I ask

I'm gonna leave my body (Moving up to higher ground)
I'm gonna lose my mind (History keeps pulling me down)
Said I'm gonna leave my body (Moving up to higher ground)
I'm gonna lose my mind (History keeps pulling me, pulling me down)

I don't need a husband, don't need no wife
And I don't need the day, I don't need the night, the night
Don't need the birds let them fly away
And I don't want the clouds, they never seem to stay

I don't want no future (Want your future)
I don't need no past (Need no past)
One grand moment (One grand moment)
Is all I ask

I don't want no future (Want your future)
I don't need no past (Need no past)
One grand moment (One grand moment)
Is all I ask

I'm gonna leave my body (Moving up to higher ground)
I'm gonna lose my mind (History keeps pulling me down)
Said I'm gonna leave my body (Moving up to higher ground)
I'm gonna lose my, lose my mind (History keeps pulling me, pulling me down)

(Pulling me down)
Pulling me down (And it's pulling me down)
Pulling me down (And it's pulling me down)
Pulling me down (And it's pulling, pulling me down)
Pulling me, pulling me down

I'm gonna leave my body (Moving up to higher ground)
I'm gonna lose my mind (History keeps pulling me down)
Said I'm gonna leave my body (Moving up to higher ground)
I'm gonna lose my, lose my mind (History keeps pulling me, pulling me down)

Said I'm gonna leave my body (Moving up to higher ground)

Gonna lose my mind (History keeps pulling me down)
(Moving up to higher ground, history keeps pulling me, pulling me down)

Overall Meaning

In Florence and the Machine's song "Leave My Body," the singer is ready to shed her physical and mental burdens and become free. The lyrics indicate that she is trapped in her current situation and is willing to take drastic measures to escape. She is willing to leave her physical body and her mental anguish behind in order to start anew.

The song highlights the idea that the singer is willing to leave everything behind, including her past and future, just to experience one grand moment of freedom. She doesn't want the things that most people aspire to, like a partner, a job, or stability. She wants a moment of true liberation and nothing else.

The chorus emphasizes the idea of leaving behind the past and moving upward, but history keeps pulling her down. It’s as if her past is preventing her from achieving true freedom, and she needs to find a way to break free from it. The song can be interpreted as a plea for escape or as a showcase of Florence Welch's vocal prowess and the band's musical prowess.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm gonna be released from behind these lines
I want to break free from my old life and start anew.

And don't care whether I live or die
I am willing to take risks and don't fear the consequences of my actions.

And I'm losing blood, I'm gonna leave my bones
I am willing to sacrifice my physical self to achieve my goals.

And I don't want your heart it leaves me cold
I don't need the love and affection of others because it won't satisfy me.

I don't want your future
I am not interested in sharing a future with anyone.

I don't need your past
I am not tied to my past, and I am not interested in anyone else's.

One grand moment
All I want is one defining moment that will fulfill me and give my life meaning.

I'm gonna leave my body (Moving up to higher ground)
I will transcend the physical world and rise to a higher level of existence.

I'm gonna lose my mind (History keeps pulling me down)
I need to escape the constraints of history and societal norms that hold me back.

Said I'm gonna leave my body (Moving up to higher ground)
I reaffirm my desire to escape my current reality.

I'm gonna lose my mind (History keeps pulling me, pulling me down)
I fear being held back and losing my sense of individuality.

I don't need a husband, don't need no wife
I am independent and don't need a partner to complete me.

And I don't need the day, I don't need the night, the night
I am not limited by time and can exist outside of it.

Don't need the birds let them fly away
I don't need to be tied down by the trivialities of everyday life.

And I don't want the clouds, they never seem to stay
I don't need fleeting moments of happiness because they won't last.

Pulling me down
The weight of societal norms keeps me from achieving my true potential.

And it's pulling me down
The pressure to conform is a constant burden on me.

Moving up to higher ground, history keeps pulling me, pulling me down
I remind myself that I need to escape the overwhelming pull of social norms to reach my full potential.

Said I'm gonna leave my body (Moving up to higher ground)
I am determined to leave my material self behind.

Gonna lose my mind (History keeps pulling me down)
I am willing to let go of my sense of self to break free from social norms.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL EPWORTH, TOM HARPOON, FLORENCE WELCH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS