I watched you breathe in
And I wished you'd stop
Only for long enough
Long enough

It's hard to say

Separate or combine
I ask you one last time
Did I hold you too tight?
Did I not let enough light in?

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

If a feeling appears
If your mind should sway
It's not a secret you should keep
I won't let you slip away

We used to be closer than this
We used to be closer than this
We used to get closer than this
Is it something you missed?

We used to be closer than this
We used to be closer than this
We used to get closer than this
Is it something you missed?

Winged or chained
I ask you would you have stayed
Did I hold you too tight?
Did I not let enough light in?

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh


Lyrics submitted by enjoibear52, edited by mmmhh

Chained Lyrics as written by Oliver Sim James Thomas Smith

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Chained song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

4 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General Comment

    By the tone of the track, I interpret this song as being the end or decline of a powerfully intimate relationship. It's a reflection of that relationship and of how it came to an end--possibly one that left many loose ends. Seemingly, there was no definitive end, instead, the relationship simply faded.

    Amhazion September 12, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I reckon it is about Oliver and Romys friendship, they have been friends from a very early age but the fame has obviously taken them down seperate paths where they no longer hang out etc, thats my thoughts anyhow

    ThomasTon September 06, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    Personally, I think it's the classic story of drifting apart.

    FleurMorteon August 16, 2012   Link
  • -2
    My Opinion

    it seems christian-like. like the male is is God speaking to a woman that seemed to slip away from Him

    jerrbear15on April 12, 2013   Link

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

Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.