In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
When all my demons set their sails
and my mind is riding the last train
Down a one-way track to the final station
Destination Devastation
A thousand demons at my door
screaming at my crumbling walls
My river's bleeding, my fields are burning
My world has stopped turning
I will be your lithium
and I'll be your lover
Give me something for my mind
something for the pain inside
A remedy, a cure for life
An elixir for this manica of mine
Give me what I'm deep in need of
a sanctuary beyond this cruel world
A peerless cure-all to recover
Like lithium and a lover...
and my mind is riding the last train
Down a one-way track to the final station
Destination Devastation
A thousand demons at my door
screaming at my crumbling walls
My river's bleeding, my fields are burning
My world has stopped turning
I will be your lithium
and I'll be your lover
Give me something for my mind
something for the pain inside
A remedy, a cure for life
An elixir for this manica of mine
Give me what I'm deep in need of
a sanctuary beyond this cruel world
A peerless cure-all to recover
Like lithium and a lover...
Lyrics submitted by user725371
Lithium and a Lover Lyrics as written by Morten Veland
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Lithium is indeed used like a drug to treat mainly bipolar disorder. It is an antipsychotic and a mood stabilizer with some antidepressant effects. If someone with major depressive disorder (or unipolar, if you like) isn't responding well to an antidepressant, lithium will sometimes be prescribed along with it to see if it will help the AD work before switching to a different drug.
Afaik lithium is not abusable. People on lithium need to get their levels checked regularly, as lithium toxicity is NOT fun. It also has some rather nasty side effects.
I find the "lithium and a lover" phrase rather silly tbh. Neither will cure the world, or even someone's subjective world (unless they fool themselves into thinking that another mortal has superhuman powers). Mood stabilizers can, however, bring relief to someone suffering from certain mood disorders, but it has to be the right drug for the right individual. Anyone who's been on the med-go-round knows what I'm talking about.
I rather like this song because I remember being there, when I was certain I was doomed to the living hell that was my dysfunctional brain until I commited suicide. It's pure desperation to escape from one's own mind.
Yes, exactly, like the boredom of life is way to much to handle, so either drug yourself or find someone who understands your pain...I don't find that silly at all...been trying for 26 years to make reality go away... or find someone to share life with.
weatherlight has it nailed on the drug lithium. i think, though, that the reason it is used in the title, along with the word lover, is simply for the alliteration effect.
'lithium and a lover' sounds a lot better than...
'lexapro and an AA meeting'
I think the meaning of this song is about someone who is so hurt inside emotionally that they are in constant pain and torment from the thoughts inside that hurt them. The person wants something that will stop his mania and ease the pain. Lithium would have the effect of stabilising him and keeping him calm, while the soothing touch of someone who loves him gives temporary release from pain, and he can forget his problems, just for a while. The lithium and a lover are metaphorically the same thing, and both act to return him to a stable state of mind, as his mind is playing havoc with him currently
One should know that lithium salts are a common medication for bipolar disorder. It has antimanic and antidepressive properties, and is one of the best drugs for stopping suicidal tendencies. It's said to increase serotonin (a happiness hormone) levels in the brain. I've tried lithium myself in rather low dosages, and it really helps when I'm in a low. For me, Lithium does wonders in stopping negative thoughts, and it makes the world and my situation appear a whole lot better.
And obviously, a lover can also be a huge psychological and emotional support. This makes the song's meaning quite self-explanatory: The person is in a really deep low with suicidal thoughts, and desires Lithium drugs for controlling the negative, destructive thoughts and a lover to have someone to talk to and be close to; in order to regain some psychological and emotional stability.
Agree with most of the other comments about song meaning.
My own view is that while I can have sympathy for the view expressed in the song "Give me something for my mind" I personally prefer songs about the struggle to live a happy life in this world, that end with the singer finding some light from within other than from drugs (lithium) or needing someone else (lover).
self explanatory. a person draws near the edge of insanity, who desires something to renew them. I halfway understand the metaphor lithium and a lover for a "peerless cure". so.. is it lithium like batteries? or does the element lithium have some medical purpose? either way it still makes sense, no real mystery here. just an awesome gothic song with awesome structure.
If you look on the cover on the album, if you have it, there are pictures of pills of some description. Medical purpose maybe, or even drug abuse.
Actually, Lithium is also used as a drug, the song is about drug abuse.
The above post is full of win.