I think, as with many great songs, there's more than one meaning here. Chris is likening the emotions, actions, intentions etc of someone who is madly in love and missing someone with the process and reasons for getting a tattoo. Here's my thoughts for each side of the coin, which is a beautiful song with an amazing melody:
"Got a tattoo that said '2gether thru life,
Carved in your name with my pocket knife"
TATTOO: To physically get a tattoo with this phrase, maybe while he was with this girl. After she's gone, he physically goes to the extreme length of scarring her name into himself
METAPHORICAL: He has a mindset of being with one person until 'death do us part'. After losing her, he has her name permanently etched into his soul.
"And you wonder when you wake up, will it be alright oh oh
Feels like there's something broken inside"
TATTOO: He wonders how the tattoo and self inflicted injuries will look and feel in the morning. The pain feels like he may have done some serious damage.
METAPHORICAL: He wonders if sleeping on his thoughts and beliefs will help, although he feels like he is a broken man.
"Got a tattoo and the pain's alright (Oh oh oh oh)
Just want a way of keeping you inside (Oh oh oh oh oh)"
TATTOO: The physical pain can be dealt with, even though he has cut her name into his self. He wanted to add her name that way to keep the memory.
METAPHORICAL: The pain of his belief and 'motto' is bearable, but having her name emotionally tied to it is a way of keeping their memory alive.
"I see the road begin to climb
I see the stars begin to shine
I see your colors and I'm dying of thirst"
TATTOO: He sees the tattoo and cuts are healing and 'stars' maybe referring to the beauty of the artwork. He sees the colours used in the tattoo and links the tattoo back to the metaphors by saying without her he's dying of thirst.
METAPHORICAL: He can see light at the end of the tunnel with regards to his healing process, and noticing the beauty of something that's always there through pain and joy (stars). This could also mean his memories of them together are now beautiful as well as painful. He remembers everything about her that gave their relationship and love a meaning, her 'colours'.
With regards to the chorus, which mostly seems self explanatory, Being "Lost whenever you go" could mean both lost when he's not looking at the beautiful artwork/when it's covered up, or the feeling of being lost when the thought of her briefly leaves his head.
Being "Lost in your fire below" could mean both overcome by the burning feeling of getting the tattoo/the healing process. Alternatively, being lost in burning emotions which he still has deep down, 'below'.
I think that like all amazing songs, Ink can be applied to many situations and be interpreted in a multitude of ways, making it personal to many people for different reasons.
I think, as with many great songs, there's more than one meaning here. Chris is likening the emotions, actions, intentions etc of someone who is madly in love and missing someone with the process and reasons for getting a tattoo. Here's my thoughts for each side of the coin, which is a beautiful song with an amazing melody:
"Got a tattoo that said '2gether thru life, Carved in your name with my pocket knife"
TATTOO: To physically get a tattoo with this phrase, maybe while he was with this girl. After she's gone, he physically goes to the extreme length of scarring her name into himself
METAPHORICAL: He has a mindset of being with one person until 'death do us part'. After losing her, he has her name permanently etched into his soul.
"And you wonder when you wake up, will it be alright oh oh Feels like there's something broken inside"
TATTOO: He wonders how the tattoo and self inflicted injuries will look and feel in the morning. The pain feels like he may have done some serious damage.
METAPHORICAL: He wonders if sleeping on his thoughts and beliefs will help, although he feels like he is a broken man.
"Got a tattoo and the pain's alright (Oh oh oh oh) Just want a way of keeping you inside (Oh oh oh oh oh)"
TATTOO: The physical pain can be dealt with, even though he has cut her name into his self. He wanted to add her name that way to keep the memory.
METAPHORICAL: The pain of his belief and 'motto' is bearable, but having her name emotionally tied to it is a way of keeping their memory alive.
"I see the road begin to climb I see the stars begin to shine I see your colors and I'm dying of thirst"
TATTOO: He sees the tattoo and cuts are healing and 'stars' maybe referring to the beauty of the artwork. He sees the colours used in the tattoo and links the tattoo back to the metaphors by saying without her he's dying of thirst.
METAPHORICAL: He can see light at the end of the tunnel with regards to his healing process, and noticing the beauty of something that's always there through pain and joy (stars). This could also mean his memories of them together are now beautiful as well as painful. He remembers everything about her that gave their relationship and love a meaning, her 'colours'.
With regards to the chorus, which mostly seems self explanatory, Being "Lost whenever you go" could mean both lost when he's not looking at the beautiful artwork/when it's covered up, or the feeling of being lost when the thought of her briefly leaves his head.
Being "Lost in your fire below" could mean both overcome by the burning feeling of getting the tattoo/the healing process. Alternatively, being lost in burning emotions which he still has deep down, 'below'.
I think that like all amazing songs, Ink can be applied to many situations and be interpreted in a multitude of ways, making it personal to many people for different reasons.