Hostage
Mike Oldfield Lyrics


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You can't speak; you can't sleep
You daren't move; you're confused
You never talk; you can't walk
You can't feel; you're not real

If I open my eyes, just far enough
I can see what you're doing
Go on, fight to the end; it's tough enough
When you're on the road to ruin, yeah!

[Chorus]
You're a hostage of the heart
Twisted 'round the smallest finger
Two burning eyes are tearing you apart
Turn your soul into a cinder

There's no rest; you're possessed
You can't leave; you can't breathe
The door slams; your head hangs
You blank stare; you don't care

If you open your eyes just far enough
You see the street lamps flicker
Go on, fight to the end; it's tough enough
When you know the end is bitter

[Chorus]

You're number's up; you're eyes shut
You're on the brink; you can't think
You want to run, but you're stunned
You can't lie; you don't try

If I open my eyes, look hard enough
I see the blue light flashes
Go on, fight to the end; it's tough enough
Riding on the road to ashes

[Chorus x 2]

I'm a hostage of your heart
You can twist me 'round your finger
Your burning eyes are tearing me apart
Turn my soul into a cinder




Boy, boy, hostage of your heart
Can you twist me 'round your finger?

Overall Meaning

The song “Hostage” by Mike Oldfield is about being trapped in a toxic and abusive relationship. The lyrics describe the feeling of being helpless, powerless, and trapped in a cage. The lines “You’re a hostage of the heart, twisted 'round the smallest finger” and “I’m a hostage of your heart, you can twist me 'round your finger” illustrate the emotional manipulation and control of one person over another. The repetition of “If I open my eyes, just far enough” and “You can’t” emphasizes the inability to see clearly or make rational decisions while in this state of mind.


The chorus “Two burning eyes are tearing you apart, turn your soul into a cinder” portrays the destructive nature of the relationship and how it can consume and destroy one’s identity and self-worth. The line “When you know the end is bitter” suggests that the person knows the relationship is unhealthy and will end badly, but they are unable to break free.


Overall, the song “Hostage” is a powerful representation of the harmful effects of emotional abuse and the struggle to escape from it.


Line by Line Meaning

You can't speak; you can't sleep
You have no voice to speak up or share your opinions, and you are unable to sleep due to the unsettling situation you are in.


You daren't move; you're confused
You are scared to move and confused about the situation you are in, feeling trapped and unsure of what to do next.


You never talk; you can't walk
You are unable to express yourself through speech or take any steps towards escaping the situation you are in.


You can't feel; you're not real
You feel numb and disconnected, as though you are not truly living or existing in the world around you.


If I open my eyes, just far enough
By looking beyond the present moment and opening oneself up to reality, one can understand the situation they are in more clearly.


I can see what you're doing
By being attentive and perceptive, one can understand the motives or actions of others.


Go on, fight to the end; it's tough enough
Despite the challenging situation you are in, it is important to persevere and not give up hope in order to overcome it.


When you're on the road to ruin, yeah!
When life seems to be falling apart or taking a negative turn, it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel.


You're a hostage of the heart
You feel trapped or controlled by your own feelings and emotions, unable to break free or move forward.


Twisted 'round the smallest finger
You feel manipulated or powerless in a situation, as though someone else has complete control over you.


Two burning eyes are tearing you apart
Someone else's intense emotions or gaze are causing you pain or distress.


Turn your soul into a cinder
The situation is so emotionally draining that it is destroying your spirit and leaving you feeling empty inside.


There's no rest; you're possessed
You feel constantly on edge and unable to relax, as though something is possessing or controlling you.


You can't leave; you can't breathe
You feel trapped or suffocated, unable to escape the situation or even take a breath.


The door slams; your head hangs
You feel defeated or hopeless when faced with a closed door or missed opportunity.


You blank stare; you don't care
You feel disconnected and indifferent, as though nothing really matters in the grand scheme of things.


You're number's up; you're eyes shut
You feel like it's too late - the odds are against you and you have already lost the battle.


You're on the brink; you can't think
You are so overwhelmed by the situation that your mind is unable to function properly, making it difficult to come up with solutions or take action.


You want to run, but you're stunned
You feel paralyzed by fear or shock, unable to escape or take action even if you desire to do so.


You can't lie; you don't try
You are unable to pretend that everything is okay or make an effort to improve the situation, due to a lack of motivation or energy.


I see the blue light flashes
By paying attention to the signs and signals around you, you can gain insight into what is happening and what you need to do next.


Riding on the road to ashes
Despite the hopelessness of the situation, it is important to keep moving forward and not give in to despair or defeat.


I'm a hostage of your heart
The singer is also feeling trapped or controlled by someone else's emotions, unable to break free or move on.


You can twist me 'round your finger
The other person has complete control over the artist, manipulating them and forcing them to do as they wish.


Turn my soul into a cinder
The other person's actions or emotions are causing the singer immense pain and destroying their spirit.


Boy, boy, hostage of your heart
The singer is expressing their frustration and pain at feeling controlled or manipulated by another person's emotions.




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MIKE OLDFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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