In an interview given to Dave Fanning (Ovation’s Music Express, 1999) Dolores explained that she wrote Dying in the Sun during when she was pregnant of her first child, she said about the song: “I was looking back at the negative me, that kind of sad period I went through and I was kinda say I never want to go back to that, now I’m moving forward and I’m becoming a happy person like I used to be always.”
In an interview to Launch (1999), Dolores said: “So we went off and discovered our own lives. I got pregnant, and then I started writing songs. I remember writing the first song at the piano. It was really beautiful; it was called “Dying In The Sun.” It’s the last track on the album. I remember that I was teary and kind of happy because I could write again, because I wanted to write again. I think I was about four months pregnant; it was around that time that the baby moved, and the inspiration just came out. I was really happy, because it was really scary to hate music and hate singing.”
Dying in the Sun
The Cranberries Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The things we used to say?
I feel so nervous
When I think of yesterday
How could I let things
Get to me so bad?
How did I let things get to me?
Like dying in the sun
Like dying in the sun
Like dying in the sun
Like dying x2
Will you hold on to me
I am feeling frail
Will you hold on to me
We will never fail
I wanted to be so perfect you see
I wanted to be so perfect
The lyrics to The Cranberries' song Dying in the Sun seem to describe regret over past mistakes and a longing for connection and support from someone. The first few lines express a feeling of nervousness when thinking about the past and the things that were said, perhaps indicating some unresolved issues or regrets. The lines "How could I let things get to me so bad? / How did I let things get to me?" suggest that the singer may be grappling with feelings of guilt or shame about their actions or choices.
The chorus contains the repetition of the phrase "Like dying in the sun," which creates a vivid image of something slowly deteriorating or withering away under the bright, unrelenting heat of the sun. This metaphor could be interpreted in different ways, such as the way in which memories or relationships can fade over time or the feeling of being exposed and vulnerable in certain situations.
The second half of the lyrics ask for support and reassurance from someone else: "Will you hold on to me / I am feeling frail / Will you hold on to me / We will never fail." This could indicate a desire for connection and emotional intimacy, as well as a sense of vulnerability and fragility. The final line, "I wanted to be so perfect," suggests a longing for validation or acceptance, perhaps from the person being addressed in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember
Asking if the listener remembers the past and what was said between the two.
The things we used to say?
Specifically referring to past conversations and communication.
I feel so nervous
Expressing anxiety and uncertainty.
When I think of yesterday
Reflecting on the past and the emotions it brings up.
How could I let things
Not understanding how it was possible to let certain things happen.
Get to me so bad?
Expressing frustration and confusion as to why certain things had such a negative impact on the singer.
How did I let things get to me?
Repeating the frustration and confusion of the previous line, questioning how certain things had such a strong effect on the singer.
Like dying in the sun
Using a metaphor to describe the pain and hopelessness of a situation.
Like dying in the sun
Repeating the metaphor to emphasize the intensity of the feeling.
Like dying in the sun
Repeating the metaphor again for increased emphasis.
Will you hold on to me
Asking for support and comfort from another person.
I am feeling frail
Describing the artist's vulnerability and fragility.
Will you hold on to me
Repeating the request for support and comfort.
We will never fail
Asserting that with the other person's support, they will be able to overcome any challenges.
I wanted to be so perfect you see
Expressing a strong desire to be flawless and without fault.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOLORES MARY O'RIORDAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind