Born to Die

I've just stumbled across this song and it's blown me away. It's almost haunting; its that youthful love that for most us fell between the cracks, of which you now only catch nostalgic glimpses when songs like this come about.

Anyway, I'm surprised AlikaReine had a -1; her explanation was very good, although perhaps you need to watch the music video to appreciate it. I think AlikaReine's done a fantastic analysis so I want to expand on that - based on the music video's representation.

The song in my opinion is about wild romance and true love, heartache, loss, and growing up, underpinned by the opening line that set's the scene as her having already lost; journeying the road to recovery and reminiscing on the journey they travelled together (and that she desperately wants to turn back to).

-- this will definitely be long, so if you don't want to read a detailed analysis recommend stopping here. if you do read please share your thoughts --

I've studied film and music video's for over a decade and I have to say this music video is one of the best I've seen in years. The video is so well put together I must conclude the director worked very closely with the artist to replicate meaning of this song through moving image.

About the video: The video is strongly metaphorical and the connotations are pleasantly obvious. There is a basic narrative theory called Todorov's Theory that runs through this video, the basic outline of this is: Equilibrium, Disruption, Recognition of the disorder, attempt to repair, leading to Equilibrium once more (5 stages). Watch most films and you'll see it, it's the fabric of films that determines whether you leave the experience feeling closure and happiness, or discomfort and lack of closure. Interestingly, the video places "the lovers' [American] dream" before and after the Equilibrium which emphasises its perpetual presence, as well as possibly highlighting it as a memory/vision.

As I already noted the song opens with her pushing ahead with life but experiencing pain and loss over the decision she's had to make. When you've truly loved and lost, that person keeps returning to your thoughts and I know I've also repeatedly felt as though I hope we end up together again one day; "But I’m hoping at the gates, They’ll tell me that you’re mine" i.e. in the end we'll be together forever - "the gates" a reference to heaven.

The symbolism in the Catholic church is open to interpretation, in my view it relates to the stereotyping of a 'good, moral girl' i.e. a good upbringing and a traditional foundation. Being a representation of her moral foundation also serves as a representation of her home which based on the stereotype was likely stable. This is contrasted by his stereotypically "rebellious" image, which suggests his was likely dysfunctional. It's also important to note she's much more 'dressed' in this shot, the relevance of this is the next scene and second verse.

The second verse and the chorus is about her adolescence to love and relationship. Everything she was she gave up for this man, she changed her image, her style, her moral standpoint, and even left home to pursue this journey with him - a metaphor to emphasise sacrificing everything. She believes it'll be home if she gives herself to him "Can you make it feel like home, if I tell you you’re mine" - remember, this is her reminiscing on how she was, not how she is. It's interesting she says "if I tell you you're mine" as one would usually say "I'm yours." She may have written it this way to show her naivety, as well as the possibility she had to tell herself he was hers because he never did.

In the hook she sings the same as the verses and it's clear she's singing from her point of view. However, there is a distinct separation in her singing style in the chorus to everything else, which connotes she is reflecting on what "he" was like; 'walking on the wild side, kissing hard in the pouring rain (i.e. passionate) and insane - the way he also wanted his partner to be, like him, which is why she changed.

Verse three she reminisces from a mature perspective about how naive she had been in the way she thought and felt; trying to take what she could get by changing who she was, because she was scared if she didn't he wouldn't want her and it'd just be her, alone.

The song and video go together so well and tell the complete story. Driving the car being the metaphorical journey they travelled together. You see him making the first sexual and drug oriented moves which suggests he was the dominant influence on her.

The crash is a powerful image and represents the end to their relationship; it killed her to leave, she was the one left bleeding, broken and bruised. You see he's injured too but his is mild in comparison, his suffering begins at the point of her metaphorical death; when he must carry the knowledge it was him that ripped her to pieces and destroyed her, and all he is left with is darkness and flames. There is also a much milder, unintentional undertone of realisation that he must know it's her that's moving on and getting better having 'gone on to the next life'.