☝️ Key Points
- The song describes the strong romantic and physical attractions between two people.
- The chorus 'Jump in that water, be free, Come South of the Border with me' is a metaphor for freedom and unconditional devotion to passion.
- The main characters express mutual desire to get to know each other better and establish a more intimate bond.
- Cardi B's rap part could be interpreted as a message of empowerment and independence.
- Overall, the song addresses desire, attraction, and the joy of intimacy with another person.
Interpretation
The song 'South of the Border' by
Ed Sheeran is a passionate song about the attraction and intimacy between two people. The lyrics describe the intense desire and romantic attraction that the main characters of the song feel for each other.
In the first part of the song, the male protagonist describes a woman he has been observing from a distance. He describes her as attractive and fascinating ('She got the mmm, brown eyes, caramel thighs, Long hair, no wedding ring'). He expresses his desire to get to know her better and be intimate with her ('So join me in this bed that I'm in').
In the second part, the female protagonist reciprocates his feelings in the same way. She also describes him as attractive and shows interest in getting to know him better ('He got that mmm, green eyes, givin′ me signs, That he really wants to know my name').
The chorus 'Jump in that water, be free, Come South of the Border with me' is a call to freedom and surrendering to passion. 'South of the Border' could symbolically represent a place of freedom and passion where the protagonists want to escape to together.
The song also features a rap verse by Cardi B, in which she talks about her successes and her own path to independence ('You got a girl that could finally do it all, Dropped an album, dropped a baby, but I never drop the ball'). This could be interpreted as a message of empowerment and independence.
Overall, 'South of the Border' is a song about attraction, desire, and the joy of intimacy with another person.