Released: 2017
“Apocalypse” by Cigarettes After Sex dives deep into themes of love, loss, and longing. The song paints a vivid picture of a world in chaos, reflecting the turmoil inside a relationship. The melancholy and dreamlike lyrics convey a sense of yearning and the difficulty of letting go.
The opening lines, “You leapt from crumbling bridges / Watching cityscapes turn to dust,” set a dramatic scene. It feels like an end-of-the-world scenario, capturing the intense emotions that come with a collapsing relationship.
“Got the music in you, baby / Tell me why” is a recurring line that suggests a deep connection through music. It’s like asking why, despite having something so beautiful and meaningful, they can’t seem to escape their inner turmoil.
The imagery of “kisses on the foreheads of the lovers / Wrapped in your arms” is intimate and tender. However, the mention of “hiding them in hollowed out pianos” adds a sense of secrecy and sadness, hinting at hidden feelings or past memories.
The chorus, “Your lips, my lips / Apocalypse,” is powerful and evocative. It suggests that their love, while intense, feels like an end-of-the-world event. This duality of passion and destruction is central to the song’s theme.
Lines like “Go and sneak us through the rivers / Flood is rising up on your knees” use natural disasters to mirror the overwhelming emotions in the relationship. It’s as if they’re trying to navigate through the chaos together, yet struggling.
In the verse “Sharing all your secrets with each other / Since you were kids,” there’s a sense of deep-rooted history and connection. The locket mentioned symbolizes cherished memories and promises, adding to the weight of their bond.
Finally, the repeated line “You’ve been locked in here forever / And you just can’t say goodbye” emphasizes the struggle of moving on. Despite the love and connection, there’s a sense of being trapped in the past, unable to let go.
“Apocalypse” captures the essence of a tumultuous relationship with poetic lyrics and haunting melodies. The song is a blend of beauty and despair, reflecting the complex emotions that come with deep love and inevitable loss.
