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Chain Lightning

Don McLean

song-cover

Chain Lightning

Song byDon McLean
in AlbumHeadroom

Sometimes when I'm thinkin' that love's not around

My heart begins sinkin', I don't hear a sound

And the world is in blackness, no light shines on me

I suffer no blindness, no one can I see

Then a flash from the heavens like a loud jagged wire

And the silence is broken, and the night is on fire.

Chorus:

It's like chain lightning, this love that I feel.

Who know's where it strikes or when it will hit,

How long it will last, or when it will quit.

In the forest I'm burning, struck down by the blast

The fever is churning, and the heat rises fast.

and those standing nearest can show their concern

but I swear if they touch me that they too will burn.

They fear for their lives for death will soon dwell

in the warmth of your love is the fire of hell.

(Chorus)

And soon the sparks scatter and wind whips the flame

and love will soon shatter what it cannot tame

and the cycle continues, from life into dust

for I am now in you with the fire of lust.

And I hear the explosion, of thunder and rain,

the water is falling, the ashes remain.

(Chorus)

The Indian's tell us that the Phoenix can rise

from the smoldering ashes that once were my eyes

and watch beautiful colours from black and from grey

be formed into wings and take me away

where evil is darkness and goodness is light

and love is the lightning that cuts through the night

and strikes only once in a dark place in time

and forms a gold stairway that all of us climb.

LanguageEnglish
Translated byAllen Morningstar

About this Song

Chain Lightning by Don McLean is a reflective and metaphorical song that delves into themes of love, change, and introspection. The song uses the imagery of 'chain lightning' to signify unexpected and sudden events or feelings that connect and influence one another. This metaphor paints a vivid picture of how emotions and experiences, though striking and sometimes startling, are interconnected. The lyrics invite listeners to contemplate the transformative power of love and the way it shapes our lives, often in unpredictable ways. Poignant moments in the song include references to natural phenomena, showcasing McLean's knack for weaving complex human emotions with elements of nature, highlighting the timeless and universal nature of these experiences.

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