And Is It Worth The Wait?
Yes, with album three…but also Heavy in Your Arms, like you’ve never thought of it before
I
'm so heavy, heavy in your arms.
harrowing backing vocals here especially haunt the soul. At
The song written for the Twilight soundtrack, and
this point, the keen listener begins to doubt who they are
arguably multiplied Florence and the Machine's fame
siding with here: Florence who is protected from hurt and
in the US by the biggest factor of all their songs.
euphoric due to her being with this lover, or her lover who
seems willing to help, but is taking the hits for Florence.
Produced by Paul Epworth, the track is one of the band's
That's why this song is so special; unlike most typical songs
most elaborate and explosive songs, and could even be seen
where it is standard to agree with singer (who is being
as "Over the Love’s” little sibling. The instruments layer
cheated on, or alone etc.), we begin to actually feel like
and integrate like perfectly-oiled cogs, all rotating
Florence is the antagonist.
harmoniously to make the perfect ticking. So much so, the
backing of the track almost resembles the ticking of a clock
"And this will be my last confession, 'I love you' never felt
- a basis of the song (listen carefully!)
like any blessing". Florence admits she's been keeping a
secret: when her love used to tell her he loved her, she didn't
The clockwork begins to turn, grinding faintly, and a few
feel like it was a blessed thing, maybe because of her
seconds later, Florence Welch's voice grabs the attention of
knowing she's selfishly hanging on to him for her own
the listener from the mesmerising ticking. The striking first
benefits.
words "I was a heavy heart to carry" set the mood for the
The song lulls and swells. Florence wails, as if pained by the
song - Florence's underlying message that she knows she's a
reality of her feelings, to an epic climax. Angrily and
burden on her love. "My fingers laced to crown" both in the
sincerely, Florence finally admits her motive for her love.
sense that Florence controls her love's mind, and physically
"But he never let me down, and when he held me in his
weighing him whilst caressing him. The tone is set -
arms, my feet never touched the ground".
Florence feels powerful in this love. She has her grip on him
As if a weight has been lifted from her shoulders - the weight
- it's his life that's affected by her, and she is the sole benefit
of secrecy - the song dwindles. The calm after the storm; the
of it. She knows she's being selfish, but it's saving her.
same way arguments end. Florence reiterates that she's a
heavy in his arms again, and with that reflection to the song
As the second verse begins, the drums start rolling. Another
title, the melody gently grows and sways to a halt.
cog in the clockwork. "Are you strong enough to stand;
protecting both your heart and mine?" An interesting turn
A beautiful song, with a twisted and layered meaning. And
in the pace of the song here, and a slight admittance that
then came "Over the Love"…
she is feeling sorry for her being so attached to her love. The
Photo: Tom Beard
The Flow Magazine – Issue 7/Summer 2014
13