"We wrote our lyrics separately and sent them to one another over email. We were so new to songwriting, I don’t think either of us had the courage to share and write face to face. We eventually came together and built the bare skeleton of the song in Romy’s dad’s front room."
– Oliver
"Oliver sent me the first half of the first verse, and then I wrote the second half. It was like sort of like playing tag." – Romy
The basis of the song – the concept of crystallization – was introduced by Oliver after his mother told him some people crystallize their ashes post-mortem.
Crystalised
the xx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To have me crystallized
And you've got the faith
That I could bring paradise
I'll forgive and forget
Before I'm paralyzed
Do I have to keep up the paceTo keep you satisfied? ha-iah-i
Things have gotten closer to the sun
And I've done things in small doses
So don't think that I'm pushing you away
When you're the one that I've kept closest
Ha-iah-iai
Ha-iah-iai
Ha-iah-iai
Ha-iah-iai
You don't move slow
Taking steps in my direction
The sound resounds, echo
Does it lessen your affection? no
You say I'm foolish
For pushing this aside
But burn down our home
I won't leave alive, ha-iah-iai
Glaciers have melted to the sea
I wish the tide would take me over
I've been down on my knees
And you just keep on getting closer
Ha-iah-iai
Ha-iah-iai
Ha-iah-iai
Ha-iah-iai
Things have gotten closer to the sun (glaciers have melted to the sea)
And I've done things in small doses (I wish the tide would take me over)
So don't think that I'm pushing you away (I've been down onto my knees)
When you're the one that I've kept closest (and you just keep on getting closer)
Go slow
Go slow, whoa
Go slow
Go slow, whoa
Go slow
The lyrics to The xx's song "Crystalised" are pregnant with themes of love and relationships, dependency, and uncertainty. The opening verse shows the singer feeling pressure to be everything to their partner, to be perfect and paradisal, and not disappoint them. Nevertheless, they ask whether this means that they have to keep up the pace and satisfy them always. These lines demonstrate that the singer feels a great deal of strain in their relationship, and they don't know if they can continue walking on eggshells to please their significant other.
The chorus shifts slightly, showing that the relationship is still robust at its core, and the singers' futile attempts to push their partner away are not working. They are not yet ready to break up because the relationship is still precious to them. In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that they have done things cautiously, in small doses, but they are not pushing their partner away. When their partner takes steps towards them, the echo sounds, but their feelings for each other remain solid. The bridge talking about glaciers melted to the sea and the wish that the tide would take them over symbolizes the negative changes in the relationship, the singer's doubt, and helplessness.
In conclusion, The xx's "Crystalised" is a moving song with powerful lyrics that explore themes of dependency, uncertainty, and love's complicated nature. The song takes the listener on an emotional journey that they will never forget.
Line by Line Meaning
You've applied the pressure
You are forcing me to do something
To have me crystallized
To make me perfect or flawless
And you've got the faith
And you believe
That I could bring paradise
That I can bring you happiness
I'll forgive and forget
I will let go of past mistakes
Before I'm paralyzed
Before I become unable to move or act
Do I have to keep up the pace
Do I have to continue to maintain your expectations
To keep you satisfied? ha-iah-i
To prevent you from leaving me or causing conflict
Things have gotten closer to the sun
The situation has become more intense or risky
And I've done things in small doses
And I have taken small steps to manage these risks
So don't think that I'm pushing you away
So don't think I am rejecting you
When you're the one that I've kept closest
When you are the one I care about the most
You don't move slow
You are making progress quickly
Taking steps in my direction
Moving towards me
The sound resounds, echo
The impact is heard and felt
Does it lessen your affection? no
Is your love for me decreasing? No
You say I'm foolish
You think I am making a mistake
For pushing this aside
For avoiding or ignoring this issue
But burn down our home
But if we lose what we have built together
I won't leave alive, ha-iah-iai
I am emotionally attached to this relationship and cannot bear to lose it
Glaciers have melted to the sea
The world is changing rapidly
I wish the tide would take me over
I wish I could escape from this reality
I've been down on my knees
I have been struggling and pleading
And you just keep on getting closer
But you continue to pursue me despite my struggles
Go slow
Take things easy
Go slow, whoa
Take things slow and be careful
Go slow
Take things easy
Go slow, whoa
Take things slow and be careful
Go slow
Take things easy
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Baria Qureshi, James Thomas Smith, Oliver David Sim, Romy Anna Madley Croft
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind