Meath’s powerful voice is front and center, unjoined by fellow harmonizers as it is in her folk group, Mountain Man. Sanborn, who plays bass in the genre-destroying Megafaun, creates intricate, pulsing grooves for Meath’s voice to inhabit.
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Die Young
Sylvan Esso Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was gonna leave early, so swiftly
Maybe in a fire or crash off a ravine
People would weep, "How tragic, so early"
I was gonna die young
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
I was a firecracker, baby, with something to prove
Now I gotta contend with the living blues
I could've missed it, I never knew
Chain reaction but you're holding the fuse
I was gonna die young
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Oh, I don't mind
I got the fire
Electric light
So high, so wild
It's not like I chose
Not like I tried
But now I gotta wait around and watch you burn so bright
I was gonna die
I had it all planned out before you met me
I had a plan, you ruined it completely
I had it all planned out before you met me
I had a plan, you ruined it completely
I was gonna die young
(I had it all planned out before you met me)
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
(I had a plan, you ruined it completely)
Now I gotta wait for you, honey (honey)
(I had it all planned out before you met me)
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
(I had a plan, you ruined it completely)
I was gonna die young (yeah, yeah, yeah)
(I had it all planned out before you met me)
Now I gotta wait for you, honey (I was gonna, I was gonna)
(I had a plan, you ruined it completely)
Now I gotta wait for you, honey (oh, oh)
(I had it all planned out before you met me)
Now I gotta wait for you, honey (oh yeah, yeah, yeah)
(I had a plan, you ruined it completely)
I had it all planned out before you met me
I had a plan, you ruined it completely
I had it all planned out before you met me
I had a plan, you ruined it completely
The lyrics of Sylvan Esso's "Die Young" explore themes of mortality, the reckless abandon of youth, and the profound impact relationships can have on one's outlook on life. The song is entirely self-referential, with Amelia Meath's lyrics detailing a plan to meet an untimely end before meeting a person who has changed the course of her life. Before encountering this person, Meath had aimed to die young in a fiery or tragic accident. Her plans included causing widespread devastation and havoc, with others grieving her early exit from the world.
The song's perspective changes upon meeting someone who alters the singer's original plan. Suddenly, adjectives like "electric" and "high" bounce back with renewed energy, and the once-solid plan to die young evolves into a new, vibrant reality. Meath's vocals are tinged with a bittersweet optimism as she accepts the new reality and joy that this other person brings to her life. However, there is also a subtle, shadowy undertone in her voice that suggests the ambiguity of where this new path might lead.
In terms of structure, "Die Young" follows the opposite trajectory of conventional pop music, wherein the chorus is not the meatiest or most hook-heavy part of the song. Instead, the verses are denser and more lyrically inventive, while the chorus boils the song's core message down to a simple repetition of the track's titular phrase. Nonetheless, the chorus is still incredibly catchy and memorable. The song's propulsive, pulsing beat provides the perfect foundation for Meath's lyrics to shine.
Line by Line Meaning
I had it all planned out before you met me
I had a specific idea for how my life was going to end before you entered it
Was gonna leave early, so swiftly
I intended to end my life quickly and without delay
Maybe in a fire or crash off a ravine
I had contemplated various ways in which I could die, such as in a fiery accident or by falling off a cliff
People would weep, "How tragic, so early"
I imagined that my premature death would lead to expressions of sadness and condolences from others
I was gonna die young
My plan was to end my life at a young age
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
However, now that you are in my life, I cannot put this plan into action and must continue living
I was a firecracker, baby, with something to prove
I used to be bold and aggressive, with a strong desire to show the world what I was capable of
Now I gotta contend with the living blues
But now I must deal with the mundane realities and hardships of daily life
I could've missed it, I never knew
I might not have realized what I was missing out on if I had gone through with my plan to die young
Chain reaction but you're holding the fuse
My life is now intertwined with yours, and you have the power to influence the course of my existence
Oh, I don't mind
Although I had planned to die young, I am now content with living
I got the fire
I still have passion and drive within me
Electric light
I am alive and full of energy
So high, so wild
I am still able to experience life to the fullest extent
It's not like I chose
I did not deliberately decide to change my plans to die young
Not like I tried
I did not actively resist the change or try to cling to my old plan
But now I gotta wait around and watch you burn so bright
Now I must wait and see how your presence in my life will impact me, and I am excited to witness your own accomplishments
I had a plan, you ruined it completely
Your entrance into my life completely disrupted my carefully crafted plan to die young
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Repeated line for emphasis
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Amelia Randall Meath, Nicholas Christen Sanborn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Empath Again
I am dying young, believe me reaching old age is such an amazing gift I'd do anything for. Then again the song is oddly beautiful. If you have something, someone, somewhere, or even some hobby or even freaking routine or park to take long walks to, you should appreciate it. I used to be happy, appreciative, and a researcher and published author, but almost the moment I found out I had stage 4 cancer, ppl start to leave (well, at least when they realize your cancer is untreatable), opportunities and any financial stability you may have had, leave almost automatically and try to make it sound like "common sense" you're already dead in their eyes. My cancer is metastatic breast that spread thru my bones and now is quickly taking over my lungs. Oh and I'm actually bullied by sooo many older women who (are at least currently in remission," bc apparently they can't believe such a "young, pretty girl" would be so ungrateful...after all, when they were the age they think I am (they all think even tho I've repeated stated .in my 30s I'm in my 20s, oddly) they didn't get upset over pain, lack of resources, fear of never reaching milestones I deeply care ab, the (isn't buy sure feels like it) fact I'll never not only not get married or have kids (which I sincerely wanted, no questionimg for me) it will never happen no matter what. I used to be "popular" and had so many (clearly Fairweather bc all but 2 are completely out of my life by their choice so quickly I was swiftly taken by surprise and only one of the 2 actually will try to do things I like or say ANYTHING remotely kind to me. I'll be dead by the end of this yr (if oncologist is right, plus tests show its spreading quicker than ever for me). Ppl don't really care an those who die young unless they are kids.
Sorry, this song just stirred something up for me. The longer I "live" the less of ME seems like it was me. Three straight years w not a single good (or even decent day) besides one specific beautiful week my mom is not enough to live for tho, not when ppl had 3 years to do something, ANYTHING, ANYTHING at all I mattered or should have a kind of celebration of my life. I'm always alone unless I'm at the hospital or putting myself out there to volunteer or join a club or Hobbit with others (I have plenty I do alone honestly).
I'd do anything (as long as nonviolent) to have ppl (any ppl, any amount, as Long as they are authentic I don't care if I've only known them 2 days) to show me they care...like, at all ab my life/me in the time where I absolutely need pplmore than ever before but yet it's the first time these 3 yrs I've actually been lonely, completely devoid of any opportunities when I used to be such a smart, through, and genuinely interested and determined to be the best at all I could be (and tbh typically was) but ppl avt like cancer in my bones and lungs is the same as if my entire brain were riddled with cancer.
Apparently NO ONE likes a young, healthy-looking (previously, but have no chance of being again), extremely well-informed (sadly, the more videos by BC patients I see, the more I realize "research to them is one page from the National Cancer Institute that hasn't been updated in 4 years. That is not research. That is not knowledge. That is virtue signalling pretending to be valid and even life saving" pseudotruths presented as facts that actually often misinform or are "best guesses."
I wish ppl actually cared (even just a bit) ab young adults with cancer. I will be dead by the end of 2021 (likely, my oncologist seriously are more often wrong than right about anything and OMG if I could live somewhere wiith intelligent (kind would be nice too but I can easy get over that if I get to get better...or he'll make it to my 40th birthday. But I have had to accept I won't. I REALLY REALLY REAL wish I could die with dignity or a friend besides my mom and 5 yr old neice. But tbh I'll prob die home alone and only be found if I miss enough doc appointments, since ya know, I'd be too dead to go. But oh well. I literally can't come up w anything worth living for besides my neice anymore for maybe 1.5 years (the other things turned out only harming me or my fam, or the absolute love for life, connection, and creation, but how can feel ab it life if it ends w you far below the poverty line, with ZERO friends that don't live over an 8 he drive away fr you, my left hand recently stopped functioning completely, but hurts do bad ,24/7 I consider just chopping it off and go to the hospital to finish the amputation.
If you know someone sick or dying, please just be there for them (at least). I'd give anything (well if I had anything at this point) to have anyone at all just create music or videos w me (I do have a YouTube channel and would be fine collaborating over the internet, tho in person would make me feel human again...and I going to miss that until and through the day I die.
I have to make up for these 3 yrs this year, or I really prob am worthless. God, I wish sooo much being the "living" me, or even something somewhat like it 🧡💛💜💚
Ira Ohrimchuk
I had it all planned out before you met me
Was gonna leave early, so swiftly
Maybe in a fire or crash off a ravine
People would weep, "How tragic, so early"
I was gonna die young
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
I was a firecracker, baby, with something to prove
Now I gotta contend with the living blues
I could've missed it, I never knew
Chain reaction but you're holding the fuse
I was gonna die young
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Oh, I don't mind
I got the fire
Electric light
So high, so wild
It's not like I chose
Not like I tried
But now I gotta wait around and watch you burn so bright
I was gonna die
I had…
HappyThoughts
I had it all planned out before you met me
Was gonna leave early, so swiftly
Maybe in a fire or crash off a ravine
People would weep, "How tragic, so early"
I was gonna die young
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
I was a firecracker, baby, with something to prove
Now I gotta contend with the living blues
I could've missed it, I never knew
Chain reaction but you're holding the fuse
I was gonna die young
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Oh, I don't mind
I got the fire
Electric light
So high, so wild
It's not like I chose
Not like I tried
But now I gotta wait around and watch you burn so bright
I was gonna die
I had it all planned out before you met me
I had a plan, you ruined it completely
I had it all planned out before you met me
I had a plan, you ruined it completely
I was gonna die young
(I had it all planned out before you met me)
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
(I had a plan, you ruined it completely)
Now I gotta wait for you, honey (honey)
(I had it all planned out before you met me)
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
(I had a plan, you ruined it completely)
I was gonna die young (yeah, yeah, yeah)
(I had it all planned out before you met me)
Now I gotta wait for you, honey (I was gonna, I was gonna)
(I had a plan, you ruined it completely)
Now I gotta wait for you, honey (oh, oh)
(I had it all planned out before you met me)
Now I gotta wait for you, honey (oh yeah, yeah, yeah)
(I had a plan, you ruined it completely)
I had it all planned out before you met me
I had a plan, you ruined it completely
I had it all planned out before you met me
I had a plan, you ruined it completely
Johnny English
I had all planned out before you met me
Was gonna leave early and so swiftly
Maybe in a fire or crash of a ravine
People would weep
How tragic, so early
I was gonna die young
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
I was a firecracker, baby, with something to prove
Now I gotta contend with the living blues
I could've missed it, I never knew
A chain reaction, but you're holding the fuse
I was gonna die young
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Oh, I don't mind
I got the fire, electric light
So high, so wild
It's not like I chose, not like I tried
But now I gotta wait around and watch you burn so bright
I was gonna die
Had it all planned out before you met me
I had a plan you ruined it completely
Had it all before you met before you met me
I had a plan you ruined it completely
I was gonna die young
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
Now I gotta wait for you, honey
I was gonna die (yeah, yeah)
I was gonna, I was gonna die young
(Oh oh oh, oh yeah, yeah, yeah)
Had it all planned out before you met me
I had a plan you ruined it completely
Had it all before you met before you met me
I had a plan you ruined it completely
MissBmoney
For me, this song is how I feel about myself and my son. I’ve struggled with depression and suicide for a very long time. I unexpectedly became pregnant and my son is special needs and I know I have to stay alive for him. 🖤
Khristianne Menardie-yokom
Right there with you
Louise McKinnon
Same
I said I’d last til he was 18
He now 24 and I’m about to leave this earth
Jesse Dolese
Yall are strong women! Keep going 💗
Blair Fredrickson
As a man, I'm routing and stand with yall
Robert Birch
I was a heavy metal guy when I was young. Black Sabbath's "Die Young" was an anthem especially as I was a committed motor biker at the time. Never thought I'd see 30. Happily I've achieved 63 and loving Sylvan Esso. :;)
Le Potato
Aye I'm proud of you. Its hard to imagine we'd live long at all sometimes. Especially when life gets hard. 😂
Achim Wirtz
Very similar story....
kitty p
💗
CGϲLËGZ
This is why we breathe