Chloroform
Pheonix Lyrics

The lyrics of Phoenix's song Chloroform explore the theme of love and its inherent complexities. The first stanza of the song showcases the singer's difficulty in being honest and authentic about their feelings. They admit that they don't always tell the truth and others only know where they are from if they are told. The second line highlights how the people around them are accepting of their tendencies to obscure the truth. The singer also mentions how they find intrusive people bothersome and doesn't think of the person they are addressing (possibly a lover) as untitled or insecure, but rather as someone who is potentially dangerous or overwhelming like the effect of chloroform.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the insidious nature of love, highlighting that the singer's love is cruel. They address their lover in the chorus, talking about the love they have for them, which is undoubtedly intense but, at the same time, harsh and bitter. The contrast between the intensity of their love and its underlying cruelty is what makes this song fascinating. The third stanza of the song traces the chase of love and how it's not easy or simple to obtain. The singer talks about marriage but only on Tuesdays, which can be interpreted as a remark of the futility of maintaining a relationship in the long run. The fourth stanza goes back to the theme of honesty, and the singer grapples with the discomforts of being missed by someone, leading them to question the reasons behind their longing.

Overall, Phoenix's Chloroform offers deeper insight into the complexities and contradictions of human emotions, especially those relating to love. The lyrics hint at the deceptive nature of love along with its ability to be both alluring and harmful at the same time.