The Writer

Straight from Ellie herself:

""The Writer" is the most personal and emotional song I've written yet. It's about how you'd do anything and change absolutely everything about yourself if necessary, just to be noticed by this one person."

This song is about knowing a relationship is not working and she's asking the guy to tell her what to do, who she needs to be for him to love her - as nothing she do seems to please him.

At one of her concerts she said:

This is about when you like someone but they don't like you back so you try to change yourself so they will like you. Like they smoke so you start smoking, or they dress punk so you start wearing punk clothing...

Her point is i guess that she wish he could sculpt her and tell her what to say so she would be perfect for him and he would be in love with her too.

Awesome song :D

elie said in an interview that this song is about loving someone who doesn't love you back. she said it is about being willing to change every about you and be someone you think that person wants you to be because you want them to notice you.

The girl is not getting the help she needs.

I know that this isnt the actual meaning of the song, but to me, it's the thoughts of my best friend who committed suicide a month ago. He loved Ellie Goulding's music. When she sings "'cause i'd rather pretend i'll still be there at the end. only it's too hard to ask won't you try to help me?" it reminds me that his last words to me were a promise to be somewhere later. He was pretending as though he'd still be here for it, and it was too hard to ask for help. And he even had a crappy old couch in his room (it's all broken springs) and that's where he spent a lot of time being sad, but that shouldnt have been the place for those violin strings (sad thoughts). everything about this song makes me think of him...

I am a writer/artist so I definitely have a bias that way, but I think the guy this is directed towards probably is also involved in the arts and she feels like a groupie just kind of orbiting like a satellite; normal crush stuff.

You wait for a silence I wait for a word

The artistic type really loves silence, especially when we work. Those who don't know can think we are extremely aloof and disinterested in them when we work. I think the song starts by acknowledging that trait and she is just waiting for him to offer lunch, coffee or anything after he finishes his project.

Lie next to your frame Girl unobserved

This leads me to believe they are friends and have a relationship that is reasonably intimate, but she very strongly would like to be more than friends.

You change your position And you are changing me Casting these shadows Where they shouldn't be

With that whole groupie/crush feeling, every move he makes sends tremors through her world and strengthens the crush. So she draws closer, wanting to touch him and move forward to something more, but being unable to and, instead, only her shadow touches him; which she feels is too close.

We're interrupted by the heat of the sun Trying to prevent what's already begun

I think this represents her feeling nature is putting roadblocks between them, or maybe literally it is so hot she is afraid to touch him and her hand be all sweaty.

You're just a body I can smell your skin And when I feel it, you're wearing thin

He is keeping her very close, so close she can smell his natural scent and his pheromones takes it from a simple crush to intense desire, but she feels like he is suddenly slipping away even as a friend; perhaps because of her subconscious actions.

But I've got a plan Why don't you be the artist, And make me out of clay? Why don't you be the writer And decide the words I say? 'Cause I'd rather pretend I'll still be there at the end Only it's too hard to ask, Won't you try to help me

To me this represents that she is terrified of losing him and she wants to do anything to stay around him and will become an actress if it means he casts her as his love interest, because that will be better than nothing. She'd rather play the part of his ideal lover and be there with him forever, and not be loved, rather than be rejected and never see him again.

Sat on your sofa, it's all broken springs This isn't the place for those violin strings I try out a smile and I aim it at you You must have missed it You always do

This leads me to believe she cast herself as an actress, volunteering for everything he does, just so she could spend her days with him 'working' and try to get his attention which she continues to feel like he is missing.

You wait, I wait, casting shadows, interrupted

This just refers to the endless moments she is going to touch him and make a move, but is always interrupted.

I've experienced this kind of thing several times and if the person is worth it as even a friend, if you tell them it won't be the end even if they don't want to be more. However, at least you know where you stand. Live with no regrets!

This song is so beautiful, her voice is so meaningful and sweet <3 I do agree that this song is about a relationship that just isn't working out, but she really wants it to, so lets herself change just for this boy, because she wants it to work out "'Cause I'd rather pretend I'll still be there in the end" <3

It seems like it's about a girl in love with a guy who is an artist type. He's so into his work that he doesn't even realize she's into him. She likes him so bad that she wishes she were the clay he's molding. She wants to be his muse.

Its about a girl who wants to become 'something' to a person who doesnt feel that way about her. She wants to give herself to that person completely, and become everything that person wants her to be, so then they would have something that lasts.

The most interesting verse is the one that says "I sit on your sofa its all broken springs, its not the place for these violin strings". THis means that perhaps this place isnt right for her (sofa broken springs), and its not the place for her emotions (violin strings).

Im not sure if they are in a relationship, but i feel from the song lyrics that they are intimate... because she mentions "lies next to your frame", and "Sat on your sofa". I also sense this desperation on her part... her feeling that the relationship is one that isnt going to last "cause id like to pretend, that id be there in the end".