Long Way Down
Oceans On Fire Lyrics

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Where do you go when your heart breaks down?
The harder you fight the quicker it starts to drown

But normally I follow my instincts
But lately they all turned against me
Just leading to problems
With no way to solve 'em I know
It was all just wishful thinking

I can't stop this thing from sinking

Ooh, it's a long way down
A long way down
A long way down
Going down
Now it's out of our control

Why do we stay when the love fronts out?
And the more that we try the quicker we let it down, down

But normally I follow my instincts
But lately they all turned against me
Just leading to problems
With no way to solve 'em I know
It was all just wishful thinking
I can't stop this thing from sinking

Ooh, it's a long way down
A long way down
A long way down
Going down
Now it's out of our control

Yeah, ooh
Now it's out of our control
Ooh, ooh, ooh

Where do you go when your heart breaks down? Down
And what do you do when it's over?
When it's over

But normally I follow my instincts
But lately they all turned against me
Just leading to problems
With no way to solve 'em I know
It was all just wishful thinking
I can't stop this thing from sinking

Ooh, it's a long way down
It was all just wishful thinking
Wishful thinking
Oh, yeah
Baby I was down

Oh oh oh
Where do you go when your heart breaks down?

Overall Meaning

The song Long Way Down by Oceans on Fire is a reflection on heartbreak and the feeling of helplessness that comes with it. The lyrics speak of a person fighting to keep their relationship alive but ultimately realizing that it is out of their control. The chorus, "Ooh, it's a long way down, going down, now it's out of our control" highlights the despair and hopelessness that the singer feels. The line, "Just leading to problems with no way to solve 'em I know" emphasizes the frustration they feel at not being able to fix the relationship.

The verses in the song express the singer's inner turmoil as they question where they go when their heart breaks down and what they can do when it's over. They share that normally they follow their instincts, but lately, they have turned against them. The line, "It was all just wishful thinking, I can't stop this thing from sinking" shows the singer's realization that their hopes for the relationship were unrealistic, and they cannot salvage it.

Overall, the song captures the emotional journey that comes with heartbreak- from denial to acceptance. The beat of the song is upbeat, which contrasts with the heavy emotions being conveyed, reflecting the bittersweet nature of the situation.

Line by Line Meaning

Where do you go when your heart breaks down?
Asking where one goes emotionally during a heartbreak.

The harder you fight the quicker it starts to drown
Trying hard to avoid a heartbreak can have an opposite effect, only making it worse.

But normally I follow my instincts
Usually following one's gut feelings and intuition.

But lately they all turned against me
Recently, intuition has failed to provide helpful guidance.

Just leading to problems
This struggle has led to complications and difficulties.

With no way to solve 'em I know
Feeling hopeless with no apparent solution in sight.

It was all just wishful thinking
Realizing that previous expectations and hopes were unrealistic.

I can't stop this thing from sinking
Feeling powerless to stop the deterioration of a relationship.

Ooh, it's a long way down
Expressing the depth of despair felt during a heartbreak.

Going down
Continuing on a downward spiral in the relationship.

Now it's out of our control
Acknowledging that things have spiraled out of control and there's nothing we can do to save the relationship.

Why do we stay when the love fronts out? And the more that we try the quicker we let it down, down
Asking why we hold onto relationships that have lost their spark, despite efforts to keep them alive.

Yeah, ooh
Expression of sadness and despair.

Where do you go when your heart breaks down? Down
Reiterating the initial question about the emotional toll of heartbreak.

And what do you do when it's over? When it's over
Questioning what comes next after a failed relationship.

It was all just wishful thinking
Reaffirming the previous realization that hopes and expectations were not realistic.

Wishful thinking
Acknowledgement that sometimes we create a fantasy of what we want our relationships to be, instead of accepting what they really are.

Oh, yeah
Expression of sadness and disappointment.

Baby I was down
Admitting to feeling emotionally low.

Writer(s): Louis Tomlinson, John Ryan, Liam James Payne, Julian C Bunetta, Jamie Scott

Contributed by Jacob M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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