Under the Sheets

When asked what "Under the Sheets" was about, Goulding said:

["Under the Sheets"] was probably the easiest song I've written, but actually when I listen back to the lyrics they are actually quite meaningful. They are about a girl and a guy who are in a relationship but it's a very dark relationship in that it's only based on being physical. It's not like a sexual song, it's more like shows that some relationships are based on nothing that is real, they are not based on something good. I've had that experience in my life, because you're trying to cling on to something that you know you're in denial. That's what the song is about in that you know the world won't bring us down, you can be as happy as Larry inside your house with your boyfriend or lover, but as soon as you step outside you're in the real world and you have to deal with it.
–Ellie Goulding, BBC[4]

I, personally, think it's about being with a boy who is just "like all the boys before"--you knew better, but continued to pursue them anyway. She mentions this particular boy being vulnerable ("I've seen you in a fight you've lost"), humanizing him, but also making him a bit inferior to her--merely a device for her own purpose--giving her the upper-hand.

She realizes that continuing with this boy is self-destructive and pointless ("You're not the answer I should know"), but that they have the rest of their lives to repair the damage from giving into their superficial desire for each other ("We still have our lives to run about / To scale the mountain, scale the mountain, to get us back on track").

Ultimately, though, their relationship is futile ("In our house made of paper"), and is, in some ways, just something to distract her (or both of them) from the world around them ("In here the world won't bring us down... Out there a lonely girl could drown"), filling in the void of loneliness ("Where did the people go? My hands are empty").

The meaning I get behind the song is completely different.

The guy that she's with is in love with her and obsessed with her and she's just kind of ehh about him. Maybe she is interested in another guy which explains the "you set your sights on him" line meaning he is jealous of her affections. "In our house made of paper your words all over me" paper is fragile and if I house is made of paper it is not very strong and his words are all over her because he has said a lot of thing to her but she still doesn't feel the same way but she doesn't want to leave him because "a lonely girl can drown" and that's why they're "in a mess" and no matter how hard he tried "your more is less" he can't get her to feel the same way as he does.

I don't know that's just my take on the song it is such a good song though

Song of the year!

Agreed !

Though I still can't figure out what it's about.

Please someone explain this to me ?!

x

Amazing song. I think it's about sleeping around and getting hurt by it but continuing to do it. It's about being self-destructive but unable to stop.

This song is incredible!

i agree with ninamarie8a in meaning. it's about pursuing something with some one even though you should know better than to do so. He fights and stuff but she can't help it and it's written at the point when she finally realizes she wants to let it go

also this may just be grammar mistakes or whatever but i always hear it as "we're under the sheets etc" not "were under the sheets etc" am i wrong?

I think it's actually quite a literal song. She's seen her boyfriend in a fight, and they are having problems in their relationship. She is slowly losing her faith in men, believing that they are 'all the same'. I also think the line about a house made of paper etc is a reference to how they were perhaps both writers (she's been writing songs for a long time). It just seems to make sense with 'your words all over me'. X

I think this is a relationship that she thought was different and better but it turns out its just the same as all the others. The relationship is in trouble ("we're in a mess babe, we're in a mess and you more is less"). She knows she should get out but then he sweet talks her into bed and everything is perfect then, but she knows its all false ("in our house made of paper, your words all over me"), she wants to hod onto this feeling ("In here the world won't bring us down, our plan is golden, out there a lonely girl could drown, in here we're frozen").

Ultimately she knows she needs to let go but it hurts too much to walk away, even though it hurts a lot to stay too ("we're under the sheets and you're killing me")

Also, this and Salt Skin are my favourites off the album!