On Board by Friendly Fires Lyrics Meaning – Riding the Waves of Life’s Duality
Lyrics
Impure thoughts right out your head
Love the poor complexity
You wouldn’t want it any other way
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more, a little bit
Just beating during the sun
Defibrillated hearts with every pulse
Without your own defiling
You’d backwards circle right above our heads
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more, a little bit
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more, a little bit
Don’t stop, don’t stop
Don’t stop, don’t stop
Don’t stop, don’t stop
Don’t stop, don’t stop
We’ve had to cross the line
Despite the fact our feet dipped in the fire
We pressured a bull again
Then shake your tambourines into the dust
You need some kind of saint
To pull those impure thoughts right out your head
Like the poor complexity
You wouldn’t want it any other way
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
(Don’t stop)
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
(Don’t stop)
Giving it a little bit more
(Don’t stop)
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
(Don’t stop)
Giving it a little bit more
(Don’t stop)
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
(Don’t stop)
Giving it a little bit more
(Don’t stop)
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
(Don’t stop)
Giving it a little bit more
(Don’t stop)
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
(Don’t stop)
Giving it a little bit more
(Don’t stop)
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
(Don’t stop)
Giving it a little bit more
(Don’t stop)
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
(Don’t stop)
Giving it a little bit more
(Don’t stop)
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
Climbin’ on, climb on aboard
Giving it a little bit more
…
Peering through the kaleidoscopic lens of indie dance anthems, Friendly Fires’s ‘On Board’ presents itself as a vivid and pulsating journey, inviting listeners to peel back its vibrant exterior. Behind its rhythmically infectious beat lies a profound narrative, rich in metaphor and introspection.
The track, an indie disco staple, does more than just get feet moving; it spins a yarn of human complexity, of pure thoughts entangled with indecent urges, and the relentless pursuit to transcend personal limitations. Let’s delve into the fire and fervor of ‘On Board’ by Friendly Fires, a song that invites both hedonistic dance and thoughtful ponderance.
Saints and Sinners: The Eternal Human Conflict
At the song’s onset, there’s a provocation that invokes the imagery of saints removing ‘impure thoughts right out your head.’ It’s a poignant reflection on morality, expressing the tension between virtue and vice that every soul wrestles with. This spiritual undercurrent is wrapped in a frenetic beat, symbolizing the internal struggle we face daily.
Friendly Fires don’t shy away from acknowledging this turmoil. Stealing into our consciousness, the lyrics acknowledge the ‘poor complexity’ we grapple with, suggesting perhaps this messy duality is not just an affliction, but also a treasured aspect of the human condition. ‘You wouldn’t want it any other way’ hints at an embrace of this chaos, painting a portrait of a life more colorful for its imperfections.
Embarking on an Odyssey: The Signature Chorus Breakdown
The infectious ‘Climbin’ on, climb on aboard’ chorus becomes a rallying cry for those ready to face life’s endless escalations. Metaphorically, the ship we are invited to board sets sail on turbulent waters, navigating through the ever-shifting landscapes of existence, urging us to give ‘a little bit more,’ as though each measure of effort propels us forward into uncharted territories.
The chorus is a masterstroke in simplicity and repetition, urging listeners into a state of almost trance-like determination. This refrain isn’t a mere hook – it’s a mantra for the relentless human spirit that keeps seeking growth amidst routine and repetition.
The Heart’s Pulse and Life’s Drum: A Dance of Resilience
The verse ‘Just beating during the sun / Defibrillated hearts with every pulse’ uses powerful imagery of heartbeats reviving us. It suggests a heart restarted not just by medical means but by exposure to the raw elements of life – love, hardship, and unrelenting sun. By surviving ‘despite the fact our feet dipped in the fire,’ the lyrics unveil a striking dichotomy of pain met with perseverance.
In this light, ‘On Board’ becomes an anthem of survival, embodying the dance each person performs in the face of adversity. The heartbeat thus isn’t merely a biological function; it is the drumbeat to which life’s dance is choreographed.
Unveiling the Song’s Hidden Meaning: A Transcendental Experience
Friendly Fires have created a multifaceted gem in ‘On Board,’ a song that operates on multiple planes. At the zenith of its message lies the concept of transcendence. The ‘climbing aboard’ is not just onwards; it’s upwards – a higher state of being where dichotomies fuse and resolve into a more profound sense of self.
The repetition of ‘Don’t stop’ towards the end serves as a fervent command to maintain motion, a resistance to stagnation. It speaks to the existential journey that requires constant action, a testament to the philosophy that life is not about the destination, but the relentless pursuit—the on-going voyage.
Memorable Lines: Tambourines, Saints, and the Dance of Life
‘We’ve had to cross the line / Despite the fact our feet dipped in the fire,’ these lines encapsulate the essence of daring to experience life in its full spectrum, embracing even its most burning trials. The mention of ‘shaking your tambourines into the dust’ is reminiscent of celebration amidst desolation, urging listeners to find joy even as they confront their proverbial demons.
The request for a ‘kind of saint’ to cleanse impure thoughts isn’t a plea for purification, but a recognition of the need for balance between our celestial aspirations and our terrene desires. The song’s most memorable lines capture not just the tenacity but the beauty of human complexity, crafting a narrative that resonates long after the music stops playing.
