Set Fire to the Third Bar
Snow Patrol Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I find the map and draw a straight line
Over rivers, farms, and state lines
The distance from 'here' to where you'd be
It's only finger-lengths that I see
I touch the place where I'd find your face
My fingers in creases of distant dark places

I hang my coat up in the first bar
There is no peace that I've found so far
The laughter penetrates my silence
As drunken men find flaws in science

Their words mostly noises
Ghosts with just voices
Your words in my memory
Are like music to me

I'm miles from where you are
I lay down on the cold ground
And I pray that something picks me up
And sets me down in your warm arms

After I have traveled so far
We'd set the fire to the third bar
We'd share each other like an island
Until exhausted, close our eyelids
And dreaming, pick up from
The last place we left off
Your soft skin is weeping
A joy you can't keep in

I'm miles from where you are
I lay down on the cold ground
And I pray that something picks me up
And sets me down in your warm arms

I'm miles from where you are
I lay down on the cold ground




And I pray that something picks me up
And sets me down in your warm arms

Overall Meaning

"Set the Fire to the Third Bar" by Snow Patrol is a melancholic love song that speaks to the pain of separation from someone you love deeply. The song is a duet between lead singer Gary Lightbody and guest vocalist Martha Wainwright. It begins with Lightbody holding a map and drawing a straight line as he imagines the distance between himself and his lover. He seems to be fixating on the physical distance between them but acknowledges that his mental proximity to her is close, feeling as though his fingers could touch her face.


As the song progresses, we hear about Lightbody's attempts to find solace in a bar, but the sound of other people's laughter only reinforces his feelings of isolation. He thinks of the sound of his lover's voice, which feels like music to him. Despite being miles apart, he imagines a reunion where they will "set the fire to the third bar" and celebrate being together with abandon. The lyrics paint a picture of the intense longing and desire to be reunited with a loved one to experience the entirety of a relationship, sexually and emotionally.


Overall, Set the Fire to the Third Bar is a poignant and heartfelt expression of love and longing that conveys the pain and frustration of a long-distance relationship. It speaks to the human condition and our basic desire for intimacy and togetherness.


Line by Line Meaning

I find the map and draw a straight line
I use a map to navigate a path towards your location, taking into account any obstacles such as rivers and state borders, to determine the distance between where I am and where you are.


Over rivers, farms, and state lines
As I draw this straight line on the map, I do not let geographical borders get in my way, and thus, my line goes over rivers, farms and state boundaries.


The distance from 'here' to where you'd be
From my current location to where you are, there is a certain distance that separates us.


It's only finger-lengths that I see
But when I envision this distance, I measure it in finger-lengths, small units of measure that indicate how close we could be if we were together.


I touch the place where I'd find your face
I imagine being close enough to you that I could touch your face, and I feel for you even though you are far away.


My fingers in creases of distant dark places
As I touch this imaginary place, I feel the creases of the physical world around me, a reminder of the distance that separates us and the darkness it brings.


I hang my coat up in the first bar
I arrive at a bar, hang up my coat and make myself at home, but I do not find the solace or peace that I am searching for.


There is no peace that I've found so far
Despite my efforts, I am still anxious and restless, unable to find solace or comfort from my current surroundings.


The laughter penetrates my silence
The sounds of laughter and chatter from the bar patrons break through my sullen and introspective mood, causing me to feel even more isolated.


As drunken men find flaws in science
The drunken ramblings of the men around me seem nonsensical and foolish, and I feel as though their conversation mirrors my futile search for meaning and connection.


Their words mostly noises
To me, their words are just a jumbled mess of sounds, lacking real coherence or meaning.


Ghosts with just voices
The patrons around me feel like ghosts, insubstantial and without real presence or impact, their voices echoing into a void of emptiness and unfulfillment.


Your words in my memory
In contrast, your words – even though they may be far away – hold meaning for me and live on in my memory.


Are like music to me
Your words are soothing and beautiful, like a melody that I can listen to in quiet moments and that provides me with comfort.


I'm miles from where you are
Despite my longing, I know that I am physically far away from you, separated by a vast distance.


I lay down on the cold ground
Feeling defeated and alone, I take a moment to rest, collapsing onto the cold and unforgiving ground beneath me.


And I pray that something picks me up
In this moment of desperation, I call out to anything that might offer me hope – a person, a thing, a sign – anything that could make me feel whole again.


And sets me down in your warm arms
My ultimate desire is to be with you, in your comforting embrace that can protect me from the cold and the emptiness.


We'd set the fire to the third bar
Once we are reunited, we can create warmth and light together, by setting a fire in a place where we can share intimacy and connection.


We'd share each other like an island
Being with you would feel like being on an island – isolated and together at the same time, with the world out of reach and the two of us as the sole inhabitants of this special place.


Until exhausted, close our eyelids
When we have nothing more to share or express, when we have given all of ourselves to the moment, we will rest, closing our eyes and embracing the peace we have created.


And dreaming, pick up from the last place we left off
Even in our dreams, we will continue to be together, building upon the foundation of the intimate moment we shared and moving forward with one another’s support.


Your soft skin is weeping
I can feel the emotion radiating off of you, especially in this moment of tenderness and vulnerability, as we share ourselves with one another.


A joy you can't keep in
You are happy and filled with joy, unable to contain your emotions or your love for me, and I am moved by your openness and honesty.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Nathan Connolly, Gary Lightbody, Jonny Quinn, Tom Simpson, Paul Wilson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Slouch4Ever

One of the most underrated songs ever.

@rosheaheather9855

SO MUCH!

@rosheaheather9855

EPIC!

@423lsr

Never by me 🖤

@patbest642

Beautiful beautiful 🤗

@CuzImAzz

13 million people watched this video, which part of that is underrated,, or are you so insecure you think your taste needs validation?

2 More Replies...

@aubrey1633

Still beautiful in 2024.

@lokislowpoke3442

О боги,здесь кто-то есть! Я уже и не надеялась

@pudgytot

my wife used to listen to this alone until one day I stopped to listen to it with her.She passed away of leukemia 3 years ago leaving our daughter and family.I still listen to this to capture that moment I first heard this with her!

@leighsimmons2663

+pudgytot That is heartbreaking. Stay strong brother.

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