Released: 2017
The song “Apocalypse” by Cigarettes After Sex paints a hauntingly beautiful scene of love and loss. It speaks about a relationship that’s so intense, it’s like an impending apocalypse. However, there’s a resistance to let go, hence the constant refrain “You’ve been locked in here forever and you just can’t say goodbye.”
In the first two verses, the lyrics “You leapt from crumbling bridges watching cityscapes turn to dust” and “Filming helicopters crashing in the ocean from way above” paint a grim scene. It could allude to the end of a once thrilling relationship, where the thrill is now akin to a catastrophe. It’s a clever way of saying things have gone sour, but the memories still linger.
Then we move onto the line “Got the music in you, baby”. In pop culture, ‘music’ is often referenced as a source of joy, an inner rhythm that keeps you upbeat. It’s like saying, ‘You’ve still got that spark’, even as the apocalypse looms.
The lines “Kisses on the foreheads of the lovers wrapped in your arms, You’ve been hiding them in hollowed-out pianos left in the dark” could be hinting at the secrecy often found in tumultuous relationships. Being ‘wrapped in your arms’ suggests protection, while the ‘hollowed-out pianos left in the dark’ can symbolize memories of the relationship that are now abandoned and untouched.
The main chorus “Your lips, my lips, Apocalypse”, could be about a kiss signifying a pivotal moment, perhaps the end or the climax of their relationship – essentially, their personal ‘apocalypse’.
The latter part of the song takes a more hopeful turn with “When you’re all alone, I’ll reach for you, when you’re feeling low, I’ll be there too.” Despite the tumultuous feelings and memories, there is still the promise of comfort and companionship, indicating a deep, unshakeable bond.
In all, it’s a moving tale of love, pain, and resilience, drawing intense imagery of an ‘apocalypse’ to depict the highs and lows of their relationship.
