I find this song really uplifting and inspirational. I feel like there is a definite connection between Marina's songs (like, they all go in a certain order, and she uses similar ideas/lyrics to link songs). She is the only artist I know who does this, and it really gets me every time.
On the official Marina and the Diamonds Vevo account, the music video for this song is labeled as 'Part 1: Fear and Loathing' - this is really important, because it shows us that this song is the beginning of a transformation. Her previous album is all about being an outsider, not trusting anyone, and basically feeling like crap. My interpretation of 'Fear and Loathing' is that Marina is realising that she doesn't want to live like this anymore, in 'fear' (of herself and of relationships) and 'loathing' (herself and other people).
"I've lived a lot of different lives
Been different people many times
I live my life in bitterness
And fill my heart with emptiness"
This section is talking about how she has spent her life trying on different personalities, trying to figure out who she is. We can see this in her first album too - she plays with a few different looks, costumes, even music genres. She is a bitter person, doesn't deal well with people/relationships, and she struggles with the feeling of emptiness that results from this.
"And now I see, I see it for the first time
There is no crime in being kind
Not everyone is out to screw you over
Maybe, yah, just maybe they just want to get to know you"
This section is Marina realising that it's okay to let people in, and to form relationships. I think she must have had a tough time with relationships as a kid/teenager, and that people have 'screwed her over' too often, making her bitter and cynical. It's a realisation that people don't always have ulterior motives, as she has always felt, and that she is lonely because of her fear of forming relationships.
"Now the time is here
Baby, you don't have to live your life in fear
And the sky is clear
It's clear of fear"
In this section, Marina is talking to herself, telling herself that it's time to let go of her bitterness and fear. This is a beautiful part of the song, like a gentle push to go out and let people in. She has finally realised that she doesn't want to live under 'clouds', and now 'the sky is clear'.
"Don't wanna live in fear and loathing
I wanna to feel like I am floating
Instead of constantly exploding
In fear and loathing"
This section is fairly self-explainatory - she doesn't want to live this way anymore, and she wants to feel like she is 'floating'. I think the floating part means she wants to have the weight of bitterness lifted off her shoulders, and the constantly exploding part means she pushes people away by getting angry because she is scared to form relationships with them.
"Got different people inside my head
I wonder which one that they like best
I'm done with tryin' to have it all
And ending up with not much at all"
This section is a little confusing, but I think it means that she feels like she has heaps of personalities all battling (going back to the 'lived a lot of different lives' part), and she isn't sure which one is really her. She wants to please everyone, including herself, but it is impossible, and she is left with 'not much at all', hence her emptiness.
"And now the time is here
Baby, you don't have to live your life in fear
And the sky is clear
It's clear of fear, of fear
Don't wanna live in fear and loathing
I wanna to feel like I am floating
Instead of constantly exploding
In fear and loathing"
Same as above.
"And when the time comes along
And the lights run out
I know a light will burn on
When they blow me out"
I'm not entirely sure about this section either, but it has a vaguely spiritual feel to me. I'm not religious, but I feel like this speaks of the afterlife - 'I know a light will burn on when they blow me out'. Maybe she feels like she has to change the way she views the world and the way she forms relationships before she has no time left.
This is my interpretation of the song, and I love reading others' too. It is really interesting to see what other people get out of this incredible song.
I find this song really uplifting and inspirational. I feel like there is a definite connection between Marina's songs (like, they all go in a certain order, and she uses similar ideas/lyrics to link songs). She is the only artist I know who does this, and it really gets me every time.
On the official Marina and the Diamonds Vevo account, the music video for this song is labeled as 'Part 1: Fear and Loathing' - this is really important, because it shows us that this song is the beginning of a transformation. Her previous album is all about being an outsider, not trusting anyone, and basically feeling like crap. My interpretation of 'Fear and Loathing' is that Marina is realising that she doesn't want to live like this anymore, in 'fear' (of herself and of relationships) and 'loathing' (herself and other people).
"I've lived a lot of different lives Been different people many times I live my life in bitterness And fill my heart with emptiness"
This section is talking about how she has spent her life trying on different personalities, trying to figure out who she is. We can see this in her first album too - she plays with a few different looks, costumes, even music genres. She is a bitter person, doesn't deal well with people/relationships, and she struggles with the feeling of emptiness that results from this.
"And now I see, I see it for the first time There is no crime in being kind Not everyone is out to screw you over Maybe, yah, just maybe they just want to get to know you"
This section is Marina realising that it's okay to let people in, and to form relationships. I think she must have had a tough time with relationships as a kid/teenager, and that people have 'screwed her over' too often, making her bitter and cynical. It's a realisation that people don't always have ulterior motives, as she has always felt, and that she is lonely because of her fear of forming relationships.
"Now the time is here Baby, you don't have to live your life in fear And the sky is clear It's clear of fear"
In this section, Marina is talking to herself, telling herself that it's time to let go of her bitterness and fear. This is a beautiful part of the song, like a gentle push to go out and let people in. She has finally realised that she doesn't want to live under 'clouds', and now 'the sky is clear'.
"Don't wanna live in fear and loathing I wanna to feel like I am floating Instead of constantly exploding In fear and loathing"
This section is fairly self-explainatory - she doesn't want to live this way anymore, and she wants to feel like she is 'floating'. I think the floating part means she wants to have the weight of bitterness lifted off her shoulders, and the constantly exploding part means she pushes people away by getting angry because she is scared to form relationships with them.
"Got different people inside my head I wonder which one that they like best I'm done with tryin' to have it all And ending up with not much at all"
This section is a little confusing, but I think it means that she feels like she has heaps of personalities all battling (going back to the 'lived a lot of different lives' part), and she isn't sure which one is really her. She wants to please everyone, including herself, but it is impossible, and she is left with 'not much at all', hence her emptiness.
"And now the time is here Baby, you don't have to live your life in fear And the sky is clear It's clear of fear, of fear
Don't wanna live in fear and loathing I wanna to feel like I am floating Instead of constantly exploding In fear and loathing"
Same as above.
"And when the time comes along And the lights run out I know a light will burn on When they blow me out"
I'm not entirely sure about this section either, but it has a vaguely spiritual feel to me. I'm not religious, but I feel like this speaks of the afterlife - 'I know a light will burn on when they blow me out'. Maybe she feels like she has to change the way she views the world and the way she forms relationships before she has no time left.
This is my interpretation of the song, and I love reading others' too. It is really interesting to see what other people get out of this incredible song.