I find the map and draw a straight line
Over rivers, farms, and state lines
The distance from 'here' to where you'd be
It's only finger-lengths that I see
I touch the place where I'd find your face
My fingers in creases of distant dark places

I hang my coat up in the first bar
There is no peace that I've found so far
The laughter penetrates my silence
As drunken men find flaws in science

Their words mostly noises
Ghosts with just voices
Your words in my memory
Are like music to me

I'm miles from where you are
I lay down on the cold ground
And I pray that something picks me up
And sets me down in your warm arms

After I have traveled so far
We'd set the fire to the third bar
We'd share each other like an island
Until exhausted, close our eyelids
And dreaming, pick up from
The last place we left off
Your soft skin is weeping
A joy you can't keep in

I'm miles from where you are
I lay down on the cold ground
And I pray that something picks me up
And sets me down in your warm arms

I'm miles from where you are
I lay down on the cold ground
And I pray that something picks me up
And sets me down in your warm arms


Lyrics submitted by blinxbcr, edited by TokyoKitten

Set the Fire to the Third Bar Lyrics as written by Gary Lightbody Nathan Connolly

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Set the Fire to the Third Bar song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    With the map reference, definitely distance between two people.. I somehow hear Waiwright's voice more, maybe being female i can relate to what she is feeling more? She goes to bars but feels cold and lonely without him, and just wishes that she could be with him, in his arms. I think she is dreaming of meeting him - she imagines travelling far to be with him, and the passion will overcome her - when they say, we would set the fire to the third bar,' they are referring to this passion as a fire - it would be so 'hot' - like third degree burns, perhaps?

    Share each other like an island - i think they are referring to each others bodies / presence, when they will be together - that is all that will matter to them, with the wide sea (world) surrounding them.

    I think she then dreams of the last time they were together, physically. 'The joy you can't keep in' - could be sexual?

    Just my thoughts.

    Andiamo007on September 10, 2006   Link

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