Elastic Heart

From Peter Lewis, SongMeanings Contributor:

"Sia battles an army and her soldiers keep dying - an anology for her struggle with her own emotions. The song was originally recorded for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, but In 2014 she released a solo version of Elastic Heart for her ablum 1000 Forms of Fear. The video for the song, Sia says is about "Two warring 'sia' self states." The song paints a picture of a struggle for peace. 

And another one bites the dust But why can I not conquer love? And I might've got to be with one Why not fight this war without weapons?

Sia is using an anology here, comparing a battle between armies with her own emotional battle. She keeps taking hits and getting weaker, and another one of her "soldiers" fall. Why can't she conquer her own heart?

An alternate meaning is that partners - and even friends - keep walking out on her because her emotional struggles affect them in negative ways. She has less support as these people don't exist in her life anymore.

And I want it and I wanted it bad But there were so many red flags Now another one bites the dust And let's be clear, I trust no one

She wants to be able to trust people, but always sees the red flags, the bad side of them. And she loses them because of it.

You did not break me I'm still fighting for peace

Now she's talking about an actual person. She's been damaged, but she did not let them break her and she's still fighting for peace - peace with them, peace with herself, and/or peace with the world. Maybe this line was meant for Sia's father who she has had a troubled relationship with.

Well I've got thick skin and an elastic heart But your blade it might be too sharp I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard But I may snap when I move close But you won't see me move no more Cause I've got an elastic heart I've got an elastic heart Yeah, I've got an elastic heart

The thick skin is her strong part, and the elastic heart is the weaker part of her. She'll fight her hardest - but she's still breakable.

And I will stay up through the night Let's be clear, I won't close my eyes And I know that I can survive I walked through fire to save my life And I want it, I want my life so bad And I'm doing everything I can Then another one bites the dust It's hard to lose a chosen one

It's hard to lose the support that she needs. When she sings that she's trying to survive and wants her life, she's not just talking about life and death. She's talking about her life, her livelihood, and not letting her emotions die.

Yes - it's deep. What do you think this song means?"