The chorus becomes an anthem for the misfits and outcasts who feel alienated from society and yet remain committed to their beliefs. "Let 'em talk, 'cause we're dancing in this world alone" is a line that speaks directly to these people, letting them know that it's okay to dance to their own beat and live a life that's true to them, even if no one else understands.
The bridge takes a more pessimistic turn, highlighting the impermanence of life and the inevitability of death. Here, she acknowledges that their time dancing in the world alone is temporary, but despite this, they're still going to enjoy it to the fullest. The people are talking all throughout the song, but in the end, it doesn't matter because they're all alone in the world.
Overall, "A World Alone" is a song that champions individuality and encourages listeners to embrace their authentic selves rather than conforming to societal expectations. It's a poignant reminder that, despite our differences and feelings of loneliness, we're all in this world alone together.
A World Alone
Lorde Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bruising the sun, I feel grown up with you in your car
I know it's dumb
We've both got a million bad habits to kick
Not sleeping is one
We're biting our nails, you're biting my lip
I'm biting my tongue
When people are talking, people are talking
When People are talking, people are talking
Raise a glass, 'cause I'm not done saying it
They all wanna get rough, get away with it
Let 'em talk 'cause we're dancing in this world alone
We're all alone
We're alone
All my fake friends and all of their noise
Complain about work
They're studying business, I study the floor
And you haven't stopped smoking all night
Maybe the Internet raised us
Or maybe people are jerks
When people are talking, people are talking (But not you)
When people are talking, people are talking
Raise a glass, 'cause I'm not done saying it
They all wanna get rough, get away with it
Let 'em talk 'cause we're dancing in this world alone
We're all alone
We're alone
All the double-edged people and schemes
They make a mess then go home and get clean
You're my best friend, and we're dancing in a world alone,
We're all alone
We're all alone
I know we're not everlasting
We're a train wreck waiting to happen
One day the blood won't flow so gladly
One day we're all get still
When people are talking, people are talking
Get still
When people are talking, people are talking
When people are talking, people are talking
Raise a glass, 'cause I'm not done saying it
They all wanna get rough, get away with it
Let 'em talk 'cause we're dancing in this world alone
We're all alone
We're alone
All the double-edged people and schemes
They make a mess then go home and get clean
You're my best friend, so we're dancing in a world alone
We're all alone
We're all alone
When people are talking, people are talking
When people are talking, people are talking
When people are talking, people are talking
When people are talking, people are talking
Let 'em talk
The lyrics of "A World Alone" by Lorde depict a beautiful yet haunting picture of young love and the desire to be alone in the world with that special someone. The opening lines, "That slow burn wait while it gets dark, Bruising the sun, I feel grown up with you in your car," describe the anticipation and excitement of driving around with a lover at night. The next lines reveal that the two are imperfect, with a million bad habits to kick, such as nail-biting and not sleeping enough. The chorus emphasizes the theme of being alone in the world with each other, with the singer saying, "Let 'em talk 'cause we're dancing in this world alone."
The second verse makes references to social media and the internet's effects on people, saying that they may have been "raised" by it, but also acknowledging that people can be jerks. The phrase "I study the floor" also seems to suggest a sense of alienation or detachment from the rest of the world. The bridge of the song is somewhat ominous, acknowledging that their love may not be everlasting and that one day they will "get still."
Overall, "A World Alone" is a bittersweet song that captures the beauty and essence of young love and the desire to be alone with that special someone in a world where people talk too much.
Line by Line Meaning
That slow burn wait while it gets dark,
We're taking our time and waiting for the night to arrive, enjoying the slow burn of anticipation.
Bruising the sun, I feel grown up with you in your car
Being together with you, I feel mature and empowered, like we could even beat the powerful sun.
I know it's dumb
I know that others may not understand our connection and that it may seem foolish, but it's real and important to me.
We've both got a million bad habits to kick
We're aware that we have many flaws and are working to fix them together.
Not sleeping is one
One of our shared bad habits is not getting enough sleep, but we keep each other up anyway.
We're biting our nails, you're biting my lip
We're both nervous and excited, and sometimes we can't resist flirting and teasing each other.
I'm biting my tongue
Although we're close, there are still things we don't say to each other, for fear of hurting or alienating the other person.
When people are talking, people are talking
No matter what we do, people will always have something to say about it. It's important to focus on ourselves and not let their opinions bother us too much.
Raise a glass, 'cause I'm not done saying it
I want to celebrate and express our connection even more, and won't let others stop me from doing so.
They all wanna get rough, get away with it
Others may try to disrupt or undermine our relationship, but we won't let them succeed.
Let 'em talk 'cause we're dancing in this world alone
We might be alone in our connection, but as long as we have each other, we can still dance and enjoy ourselves in this world.
All my fake friends and all of their noise
I have many friends who don't really understand or appreciate our connection and may even purposely make noise to disrupt it.
Complain about work
They have their own priorities and struggles, but not the same ones as us.
They're studying business, I study the floor
I'm more focused on our connection and living in the moment, while they're more focused on their careers and future success.
And you haven't stopped smoking all night
Despite our efforts to kick our bad habits, you still indulge in smoking, which I worry about but can't control.
Maybe the Internet raised us
Our generation is defined and influenced by technology and the online world, which can have a significant impact on our social connections and sense of self.
Or maybe people are jerks
Alternatively, maybe we struggle to maintain meaningful relationships because others can be cruel or selfish.
All the double-edged people and schemes
People can be complicated and unpredictable, especially those who are two-faced or manipulative.
They make a mess then go home and get clean
Others may act recklessly or irresponsibly, but they still find a way to bounce back and maintain their reputation or position of power.
You're my best friend, and we're dancing in a world alone,
Despite all the challenges and conflicts, we still see each other as best friends and can find joy and comfort in each other's company.
I know we're not everlasting
We're aware that our connection may not last forever, but we still cherish it and will make the most of it while it lasts.
We're a train wreck waiting to happen
Our relationship may be unpredictable and unstable, but we're still willing to take a chance on it and see where it goes.
One day the blood won't flow so gladly
One day, our connection may not feel as intense or mutual as it does now, but we'll face that when it happens.
One day we're all get still
One day, we'll slow down and stop moving as much, whether due to age or changes in our lives.
Let 'em talk
No matter what happens, we won't let others dictate our happiness or our relationship.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ella Marija La Yelich O'connor, Joel Little
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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