Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
First thing I remember was lying in the sand
When a plague of seven horsemen
Came across the desert land
They had one good eye between them
They were burning up the sky
When I asked why they had come for me
The ugly one replied
He told me
Ah, you better recognize
Aw, you better recognize, son
Next thing I recall well
I was hanging from a cliff
When an angel came to rescue
Me and held me in her grip
She said, "Everyone who's ever loved you
Gets hurt in the end."
Then she smiled and said, "Forgive me."
As she let go of my hand
She told me
(You been living out of pocket, out of your socket)
Ah, you better recognize.
(You been leaning like a Pisa, a moaning Lisa)
Ah, you better recognize, son
(Hip hip for all the busted, we are entrusted)
Ah, you better recognize
(You come a pleading, but it's too late
We can't hear you're on the list now!)
And let your dim light shine
Always darkest before the morning light,
Lord knows you ain't that bright
Better let your dim light shine
Just before I hit the ground
I woke up in my bed
I was dazed and I was weary
And my heart was full of dread
When I looked at my reflection
I was horrified to find
There were seven horsemen next to me
The angel close behind
They told me
(You been living out of pocket, out of the socket)
Ah, you better recognize
(You been leaning like a Pisa, a moaning Lisa)
Ah, you better recognize, son
(Hip hip for all the busted, we are entrusted)
Ah, you better recognize
(You come a pleading, but it's too late
We can't hear you're on the list now!)
And let your dim light shine
When a plague of seven horsemen
Came across the desert land
They had one good eye between them
They were burning up the sky
When I asked why they had come for me
The ugly one replied
He told me
Ah, you better recognize
Aw, you better recognize, son
Next thing I recall well
I was hanging from a cliff
When an angel came to rescue
Me and held me in her grip
She said, "Everyone who's ever loved you
Gets hurt in the end."
Then she smiled and said, "Forgive me."
As she let go of my hand
She told me
(You been living out of pocket, out of your socket)
Ah, you better recognize.
(You been leaning like a Pisa, a moaning Lisa)
Ah, you better recognize, son
(Hip hip for all the busted, we are entrusted)
Ah, you better recognize
(You come a pleading, but it's too late
We can't hear you're on the list now!)
And let your dim light shine
Always darkest before the morning light,
Lord knows you ain't that bright
Better let your dim light shine
Just before I hit the ground
I woke up in my bed
I was dazed and I was weary
And my heart was full of dread
When I looked at my reflection
I was horrified to find
There were seven horsemen next to me
The angel close behind
They told me
(You been living out of pocket, out of the socket)
Ah, you better recognize
(You been leaning like a Pisa, a moaning Lisa)
Ah, you better recognize, son
(Hip hip for all the busted, we are entrusted)
Ah, you better recognize
(You come a pleading, but it's too late
We can't hear you're on the list now!)
And let your dim light shine
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I think it's meant to poke fun at the "Catholic guilt" and guilt in general. BTE is not a religious band, as evidenced most clearly by their earlier song "Heaven".
My interpretation is it's about people who were once religious but have grown less so as they grew older or renounced religion altogether. I'm one of those, and though I don't believe in any of the human definitions of "god" anymore, my Catholic upbringing is still strong. I still get apprehensive at times on whether by the simple fact of not believing (even if I live my life conscientiously) would mean I would still go to hell.
The biblical imagery is pretty strong in this. And the chorus itself deals with apostasy.
"Living out of the pocket, out of your socket" <- living life without depending on a deity or religion "Leaning like a Pisa, a moaning Lisa" <- drifting from the main church teachings "You come a pleading, but it's too late, we can't hear you, you're on the list now" <- that list of the damned
"Lord knows you ain't that bright Better let your dim light shine"
^ A sarcastic take on Matthew 5:16 ("Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven"), about how god thinks you're apparently not fit to lead your own life and make your own decisions. Thus you should be guided very closely, while condescendingly bidding you to shine your pitiful "light".