Sophie Ellis-Bextor has released six solo albums: Read My Lips, Shoot from the Hip, Trip the Light Fantastic, Make a Scene, Wanderlust and the most recent, Familia, which was released on September 2nd 2016. Her new album HANA will be released on 2nd June 2023.
Reflections
Sophie Ellis-Bextor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're a thief in plain sight
And there's no need for midnight
You've taken hold of me
And so I face the course
I'm gonna force myself to look back
And through the lens, the shadows refract
So crazy
In the mirror I'm just looking older
Not stronger
Reflections
Of all that we've been through
And I don't
Have the power to transfix you
What can I do to convince you?
To set me free
'Cause now, on and on, not moving on
We're like an echo (echo)
And the mirror is our window
For all eternity (eternity)
So crazy
In the mirror I'm just looking older
Not stronger
Reflections
Of all that we've been through (ooh)
And you save me
When there's always a reminder
Guess I have to live and learn with each reflection
Time, please to let me go
'Cause I can't fight this anymore
I come falling through a house
Where I can never reach the floor
And I'm crutching at the thoughts
I'm tryna make sense of the past
But the image has to blur, 'cause nothing's made to last
So crazy
In the mirror I'm just looking older
Not stronger
Reflections
Of all that we've been through (ooh)
And you save me
When there's always a reminder
Guess I have to live and learn
Yeah, I have to live and learn
Guess I have to live and learn with each reflection
The lyrics in Sophie Ellis-Bextor's song "Reflections" convey a sense of introspection and self-reflection. The song opens with the line "There you go, you're a thief in plain sight," which suggests that someone has taken hold of the singer's emotions or has an undeniable influence over them. The mention of "no need for midnight" implies that this person's impact on the singer is constant and ever-present.
The next few lines reveal the singer's decision to confront their past and look back, even if it requires forcing themselves to do so. They acknowledge the distorted memories and reflections of their experiences, represented by the use of words like "shadows refract" and "memory." The repetition of the word "memory" further emphasizes the significance of reflecting on the past and making sense of it.
The chorus expresses the singer's feelings of insecurity and vulnerability when looking at themselves in the mirror. They feel as though they are merely aging and not becoming stronger through their experiences. The word "reflections" symbolizes the representation of their shared history with someone else. The line "of all that we've been through" suggests that their reflections remind them of the challenges and experiences they have faced together.
The lyrics also suggest a desire to be understood and set free from the hold that this person has over them. The singer admits to lacking the power to truly captivate or convince this individual, and they express the need to be released. The repetition of "on and on, not moving on" implies a sense of stagnation or being stuck in a repetitive pattern with this person, like an echo that keeps reverberating.
As the song progresses, the lyrics indicate a struggle with time and accepting the transient nature of life. The singer pleads with time to let them go, acknowledging their inability to fight against the passing of time and the inevitable changes it brings. The imagery of falling through a house and being unable to reach the floor symbolizes the feeling of instability and a lack of grounding or solidity.
In the final lines, the singer acknowledges the need to live and learn through each reflection and be reminded of the lessons life brings. The repetition of "live and learn" emphasizes the importance of gaining wisdom and understanding through experiences. The song as a whole captures the poignant and sometimes bittersweet nature of looking back at one's past and the complex emotions that arise from such introspection.
Line by Line Meaning
There you go
You are moving forward
You're a thief in plain sight
You have taken my heart without me realizing it
And there's no need for midnight
Our connection doesn't require secrecy or darkness
You've taken hold of me
You have a strong grip on my emotions
And so I face the course
I confront the path or journey we have taken
I'm gonna force myself to look back
I will make an effort to reflect on the past
And through the lens, the shadows refract
When I view those memories, they become distorted and unclear
Until it's memory (memory)
Until it becomes a mere recollection
So crazy
It is overwhelming
In the mirror I'm just looking older
I see my reflection aging, but not becoming stronger
Not stronger
I haven't grown emotionally or mentally stronger
Reflections
The reflections symbolize the experiences we have gone through
Of all that we've been through
The reflections represent everything we have experienced together
And I don't
I don't possess
Have the power to transfix you
The ability to captivate your attention or hold you
What can I do to convince you?
What actions or words will persuade you?
To set me free
To release me from this emotional hold
'Cause now, on and on, not moving on
Because now, we are stuck in an endless cycle without progress
We're like an echo (echo)
Our relationship feels repetitive and lacking in originality
And the mirror is our window
The mirror serves as a reminder of our relationship
For all eternity (eternity)
For an indefinite period of time
And you save me
You rescue me
When there's always a reminder
When there is always something that brings me back to reality
Guess I have to live and learn with each reflection
I have to accept that with each reflection, I gain new insights and grow
Time, please to let me go
Time, please release me from this emotional turmoil
'Cause I can't fight this anymore
Because I am unable to resist or struggle against these emotions any longer
I come falling through a house
I experience a sense of instability or loss of control
Where I can never reach the floor
Where I am unable to find stability or grounding
And I'm crutching at the thoughts
I am relying on the thoughts or memories to support me emotionally
I'm tryna make sense of the past
I am attempting to find meaning or understanding in our history
But the image has to blur, 'cause nothing's made to last
But the image of our past has to become unclear, as nothing remains permanent
Yeah, I have to live and learn
Yes, I have to continue experiencing and gaining wisdom
Guess I have to live and learn
I have to accept that I need to live and learn from my experiences
Guess I have to live and learn with each reflection
I have to embrace the process of living and learning from every reflection
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ed Harcourt, Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zero_foxpants
LYRICS:
There you go
You′re a thief in plain sight
And there's no need for midnight
You′ve taken hold of me
And so I face the course
I'm gonna force myself to look back
And through the lens, the shadows refract
Until it's memory (Memory)
So crazy
In the mirror I′m just looking older
Not stronger
Reflections
Of all that we′ve been through
And I don't
Have the power to transfix you
What can I do to convince you
To set me free?
′Cause now, on and on, not moving on
We're like an echo (Echo)
And the mirror is our window
For all eternity (Eternity)
So crazy
In the mirror I′m just looking older
Not stronger
Reflections
Of all that we've been through
And you save me
When there′s always a reminder
Guess I have to live and learn with each reflection
Time, please to let me go
'Cause I can't fight this anymore
I come falling through a house
Where I can never reach the floor
And I′m punching at the thoughts
I′m trynna make sense of the past
But the image has to blur, 'cause nothing′s made to last
So crazy
In the mirror I'm just looking older
Not stronger
Reflections
Of all that we′ve been through
And you save me
When there's always a reminder
Guess I have to live and learn
Yeah, I have to live and learn
Guess I have to live and learn with each reflection
@alexander_reichmann
Potencial for a single. Radio-friendly. Btw. this progression from the chest voice to the head voice before the bridge. Just wow! Sounds so easily and smooth ❤️ Love from Poland 🇵🇱 🏳️🌈
@madmesh978
322 ♞ templar
@danielmbnb6048
One of the best songs in HANA !
Wonderful SEB! She never disappoints
@zero_foxpants
LYRICS:
There you go
You′re a thief in plain sight
And there's no need for midnight
You′ve taken hold of me
And so I face the course
I'm gonna force myself to look back
And through the lens, the shadows refract
Until it's memory (Memory)
So crazy
In the mirror I′m just looking older
Not stronger
Reflections
Of all that we′ve been through
And I don't
Have the power to transfix you
What can I do to convince you
To set me free?
′Cause now, on and on, not moving on
We're like an echo (Echo)
And the mirror is our window
For all eternity (Eternity)
So crazy
In the mirror I′m just looking older
Not stronger
Reflections
Of all that we've been through
And you save me
When there′s always a reminder
Guess I have to live and learn with each reflection
Time, please to let me go
'Cause I can't fight this anymore
I come falling through a house
Where I can never reach the floor
And I′m punching at the thoughts
I′m trynna make sense of the past
But the image has to blur, 'cause nothing′s made to last
So crazy
In the mirror I'm just looking older
Not stronger
Reflections
Of all that we′ve been through
And you save me
When there's always a reminder
Guess I have to live and learn
Yeah, I have to live and learn
Guess I have to live and learn with each reflection
@gorgeousgeorge8369
Probably the catchiest song on the album. Definitely should be a single.
@samuel-olivierbarrette3212
Such a beautiful and special album. I keep discovering layers and nuances with every listen. Hearing in colour and Reflections both scream single material. Thank you for another great album, Sophie.
@snowykyogre3117
I appreciate the soul and life that's put into these songs. I always love expressive and colorful 90's songs. If allowed, there's just such richness. There's so much melody and rhythm, which is also a reason why I love retro music
@mahomedalidvega-grande2240
Hadnt had the opportunity to give this one a listen, but OMG its just sooo glorious!! It just feels as timeless as any of the songs from Wanderlust 🤩🤩
@m4r35n357
Not even a huge dance fan, but this is amazing!
@MattMarriott
Love this! Maybe my favourite on the album.