Released: 2012
Bruno Mars’ “Locked out of Heaven” paints a picture of a man completely enamored and transformed by an all-consuming love; it’s an addictive tune that screams infatuation loud n’ clear. The song’s lyrics essentially portray a love so intense and blissful, it’s akin to a religious experience, nudging the boundaries of the spiritual and the sensual.
In the opening verse, Mars belts out “Never had much faith in love or miracles”, suggesting a prior skepticism towards the idea of love. Yet, he immediately follows that with “But swimmin’ in your water is something spiritual”, expressing how this love affair has not only restored his faith, but hit him with a mystical force so hard, it’s as if he’s born anew every time he shares an intimate moment with his lover.
Mars uses the phrase, ‘Cause your sex takes me to paradise’, to convey that their physical connection is so powerful, it transports him to a place of bliss and wonder – the metaphorical paradise. This metaphor introduces the main refrain of the song: “I’ve been locked out of heaven”. Now this is Mars, asserting that without her love, he feels like he’s shut out of this celestial joy – a.k.a. “heaven”.
In the following verse, Mars’ lyrics “You bring me to my knees, you make me testify” and “You can make a sinner change his ways”, accentuate the transformative power of love. It’s as if he’s a wayward soul that’s found a righteous path because of her – it’s that deep, folks!
The lines “Can I just stay here? Spend the rest of my days here?” reiterate Mars’ deep desire to dwell in this paradisiacal state of love endlessly. And with the repeated chorus about being locked out of heaven, Mars emphasizes his drastic shift from skepticism to becoming a believer, all thanks to this relationship.
To sum it all up, “Locked Out of Heaven” narrates an intense romantic experience, merging the sensual with the spiritual, where the beloved seems to hold the keys to paradise. Bruno Mars is a smitten kitten, y’all, and he ain’t afraid to sing it from the rooftops!
