☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics describe a painful, toxic, and doomed relationship.
- The lack of communication between the two partners is highlighted in the line 'All I said was 'Hello, hello''
- Goulding pleads for mercy and redemption from the pain in the lines 'I can't stay on my knees / Give me some mercy, please'
- The line 'It's alright let it die' shows her willingness to end the relationship and value herself.
- 'Let it Die' is a song about emotional liberation and self-love, and the importance of letting go of harmful relationships.
Interpretation
The lyrics of 'Let it Die' by
Ellie Goulding describe an emotional and painful relationship that was doomed to fail from the start, as depicted in the lines 'I was never yours, never mine'. She emphasizes that they never truly belonged together.
The line 'All I said was 'Hello, hello'' shows the lack of communication or misunderstandings between the two. She expresses her pain and frustration because her partner watches her suffer ('You just stood and watched me cry to pass the time') and she doesn't know how to say goodbye to this toxic relationship ('Tell me how to say 'goodbye,' cause it's goodbye').
In the lines 'I can't stay on my knees / Give me some mercy, please' she pleads for mercy and emphasizes that she can't stay in this position any longer. She asks to be released from the pain.
The line 'It's alright let it die' shows her acceptance and willingness to end the relationship. She acknowledges that she wanted more than what the other's love could give her ('I wanted everything / More than your love could give'). She is ready to let the relationship die and move on.
Overall, 'Let it Die' is a song about emotional liberation and self-love, highlighting the importance of valuing oneself more and being able to let go of harmful relationships.