Lyric discussion by MayaMoo 

Cover art for Drumming Song lyrics by Florence + the Machine

Whenever I hear this song I actually think it's about murder. I figured the pounding could be the sound you hear when your heart is beating so fast it almost feels like a pulse in your head. I thought she was afraid of what she'd done, afraid she'd get caught for it.

"Louder than sirens" - could be police sirens. "And hotter than hell" - could be a reference to where she could end up, in some people's belief.

And with the whole "As I move my feet towards your body", body makes it sound so lifeless, almost like her feet are approaching its place on the floor.

Then I took it that she felt remorse for what she'd done. She couldn't live with the guilt and, ultimately, the noise, so she attempted to drown herself: "I run to the river and dive straight in I pray that the water will drown out the din But as the water fills my mouth It couldn't wash the echoes out".

Yeah, that's just my (rather morbid) take on it, haha. But I see what you guys are saying too. :)

actually it seems very plausable

the beating could almost be like the beating heart from Edger Allen Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart"

Yes, I totally love this idea! Here's another spin on it, what if she's the victim? Her heart is beating from fear and she's scared that he can hear her. What if the drumming is her head throbbing from pain he induced? Your idea makes more sense, but it's still interesting.

Never thought of it like that, but after reading your post and listening to the song again it makes more sense to me than the love version.

I ran to a tower where the church bells chime I hoped that they would clear my mind- Seems like she's trying to clear the bad actions she did or is thinking about doing