“Ambiguous” Reflection – “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol
The term “ambiguous” is uniquebecause it marks something as undefinable and open to many interpretations. To think of song that is “ambiguous” was hard but I think I made a solid choice with the song “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol. This song was a hit back in the early 2000’s and I distinctly remember it playing on the radio when taking the bus to school is 6th grade. Many people think this song is really sad and so did I when I was younger. However, as I grew older the’s song’s meaning changed from sadness to embracing love.
The song begins with a repetitive guitar note that sounds like metronome or a phone dial. The tone of the song also seems very somber and sad because of the slow melody and the soft, droning voice of the singer. The whole feel to the song too is very ambiguous because of the combination of that repetitive melody and the singer’s voice. At first glance people listening to the song might view the lyrics “If I lay here,If I just lay here,Would you lie with me and just forget the world? ” as relating toward someone who is dying or about to commit suicide. To be honest the somber tone of the song creates that sad, hopeless feeling to the listener. However, if the song is listened to many times you realize that due to the ambiguous nature of the song, its meaning can be open to many interpretations.
For me this song has a dual interpretation of sadness (younger me) and happiness/appreciating love (older me). The title itself is also very loose in it’s interpretation by the listener as well. The phrase “Chasing Cars” to younger me meant chasing false dreams, hopes, and fantasies that seemed unobtainable. To older me “Chasing Cars” means the exact opposite! It means going after what you desire no matter how silly it may seem to someone else. Having that switch is significant to me because it’s incredible to see how a song can change it’s meaning based on your life and the way you feel, think, and act.
Younger me was quite the downer because of people constantly beating down my ideas and my self esteem. For older me I have learned to grow myself despite the judgement of others. I can explain this shift in me through this song with a couple of examples of dual interpretation in the lyrics. The lyrics, “We don’t need,Anything,Or anyone” to younger me was that me and my ideas had to be isolated and didn’t requite the love and appreciation of others. To older me this lyric is completely different because I have a boyfriend. In my life, I have searched and gained opportunities in science, academics, and service but never matters of the heart. College was the first time I enabled myself to love someone as much as I love/appreciate myself. To me the lyric, “We don’t need,Anything,Or anyone” is that I have the ability to love someone without fear of adversity of judgement of others.
Another lyric that I would like to discuss a dual interpretation of is “I don’t know where,Confused about how as well,Just know that these things will never change for us at all”. The lyric to younger me interpreted it as those feelings of isolation, depression, and sadness would stay and haunt my life. However, to older me it represents no matter how confusing life gets and how frustrating everything may seem that love can be something that is constant and beautiful.
Works Cited
Lee, Jacknife. By Gary Lightbody. Chasing Cars. Snow Patrol. Jacknife Lee, 2005. CD.
Lyrics:http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/snowpatrol/chasingcars.html
