Plum won Triple J's National Indigenous Music Awards competition in 2012 and was nominated for a Deadly in Most Promising New Talent in Music and for an Unearthed J Award. She has toured around Australia and has been on rotation nationally on Triple J.
Candle
Thelma Plum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But hurting them so badly
Wanted it to work cause I'm the one who loved you first
When I found somebody who wants to love my body
Pretend not to be sad when I'm the best you ever had
And now you're bare
And now you're bare
I'd never wish so hard that you'll just move away
I'll wish you were a candle burning on my shelf
Then I could blow you out so you had nobody else
I went to sleep and I know you're not lying by my side
I'm the girl with the mascara eyes and no place left to hide
And now I'm bare
And now I'm bare
I'll never hurt him myself more than yesterday
I'd never wish so hard that you'll just move away
I'll wish you were a candle burning on my shelf
Then I could blow you out so you had nobody else
And yesterday was a mistake and now I feel like I'm dying
And I feel like a child seeing shadows moving dark in the night
If I could stand myself I would leave and light this soul on fire
But instead I'm lying naked on the bathroom floor, I'm crying
I'll never hurt him myself more than yesterday
I'd never wish so hard that you'll just move away
I'll wish you were a candle burning on my shelf
Then I could blow you out so you had nobody else
Thelma Plum's song "Candle" is a raw and heart-wrenching ballad that speaks about heartbreak and the pain of letting go of someone you love. In the first verse, she expresses her conflicted emotions towards her ex-lover. Plum acknowledges that she loved this person deeply, yet she hurt them badly, and as much as she wanted things to work, they didn't. She then reflects on their past relationship and how she was the one who loved first, and despite finding someone who wants to love her body, she can't help but fake her happiness because deep down, it hurts that she lost someone she loved.
The second verse shows Plum struggling to deal with the aftermath of the breakup. She reveals that she wishes her ex-partner was nothing but a candle burning on her shelf, so she could extinguish the flame and make sure they had nobody else. These lyrics evoke a strong sense of regret and pain, and Plum showcases her vulnerability and deep feelings of loss.
In the bridge, Plum sings about how she feels like she's dying and how she wishes she could leave everything behind and light her soul on fire. She's crying naked on the bathroom floor, and her emotions are consuming her. Her vocals are powerful and raw, and they perfectly capture the pain and hopelessness she's experiencing.
In the final chorus, Plum reiterates her wish that her ex-lover were just a candle, so she could blow them out and make sure they had nobody else. These lyrics showcase Plum's desire to move on but also reveal her fear of seeing her ex-partner with somebody else. Thelma Plum's "Candle" is a hauntingly beautiful track that perfectly captures the universal feeling of heartbreak and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
I love somebody
I am in love with someone
But hurting them so badly
I am causing them a great deal of pain despite my love for them
Wanted it to work cause I'm the one who loved you first
I hoped that the relationship would succeed because I was the first to love
When I found somebody who wants to love my body
I discovered someone who desires to love me physically
Pretend not to be sad when I'm the best you ever had
I am pretending not to be sad even though I am aware that I am the best partner they have ever had
And now you're bare
Now, you are exposed or without protection
And now you're bare
You are still exposed or unprotected
I'll never hurt him myself more than yesterday
I promise not to hurt him more than I did yesterday
I'd never wish so hard that you'll just move away
I wouldn't wish for you to leave me
I'll wish you were a candle burning on my shelf
I wish you were a candle that I could control and extinguish as I wish
Then I could blow you out so you had nobody else
I could blow the candle out, so you would be alone and uninterested in anyone else
I went to sleep and I know you're not lying by my side
I slept alone, knowing that I'm not alone by choice
I'm the girl with the mascara eyes and no place left to hide
I am the girl who cannot hide the pain behind my mascara eyes
And now I'm bare
Now, I am also exposed or without protection
And now I'm bare
I am still exposed or unprotected
And yesterday was a mistake and now I feel like I'm dying
Yesterday's incident was a mistake, and I feel like I am dying emotionally
And I feel like a child seeing shadows moving dark in the night
I feel vulnerable and frightened, like a child in the dark
If I could stand myself I would leave and light this soul on fire
If I had the strength, I would leave and burn my soul alive
But instead I'm lying naked on the bathroom floor, I'm crying
Instead, I am lying naked and helpless on the bathroom floor, crying
I'll never hurt him myself more than yesterday
I repeat: I promise not to hurt him more than I did yesterday
I'd never wish so hard that you'll just move away
I wouldn't wish for you to leave me
I'll wish you were a candle burning on my shelf
I wish you were a candle that I could control and extinguish as I wish
Then I could blow you out so you had nobody else
I could blow out the candle to leave you alone and devoid of love
Writer(s): Thelma Plumbe, Andrew Lowden
Contributed by Isaiah W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@johnkellum3152
Love this song so much
@uraineroelofs4763
Beautiful, love it
@pyne13
love this track
@lanakorvin2445
GORGEOUS VOICE, INTERVIEW ON ABC RN RADIO, INCREDIBLE NEW PERFORMER !!
@morganfaye7901
This is my competition solo song!!
@MarianaRamirez-rq3yf
better than young in love in my opinion
@EthanWellesleyWinter
dang! i feel like i am under water yet simultaneously in the picture on the screen
@taragibson20
+Ethan Wellesley-Winter lol
@evertonhenriqueribeiro160
♥️♥️♥️♥️
@Jacob.Pratim
wAOW , You sounds abit lige MØ.
or SHE sounds like YOU