Song Analysis Week 7: Infinity
One Direction is easily the most iconic boy band. One Direction defined all of Gen Z’s childhood. We idolized those five boys (Niall, Louis, Harry, Zayn, and Liam), and if you’re like me, you still do. When I was little I loved the boys and the music. However, the older I get the more I learn to appreciate the lyrics. One Direction has five albums, the song “Infinity” is featured on Made in the AM. This song is very different for the group. It uses heavier drums, stronger and deeper vocals, and more meaningful lyrics.
“Infinity” starts with the lyrics, “Down to Earth, Keep on falling when I know it hurts, Going faster than a million miles an hour, Tryna catch my breath some way, somehow”. This means that when Niall is with his lover he falls harder and faster when he’s with them. It feels as though time is moving too fast when they are together. Next are the lyrics, “Down to Earth, It’s like I’m frozen, but the world still turns, Stuck in motion, and the wheels keep spinning ‘round, Moving in reverse with no way out”. Time is moving so quick it seems to halt around the other. His mind is wrapped around them and he constantly thinks about them, but he feels stuck in the relationship.
In the pre-chorus, Liam sings, “And now I’m one step closer to being, Two steps far from you, When everybody wants you, Everybody wants you”. Liam is moving farther from his love, they are developing a distant relationship. He starts to realize that many others love his love and he will have to work for them.
The chorus begins with the lyrics, “How many nights does it take to count the stars? That’s the time it would take to fix my heart, Oh, baby, I was there for you, All I ever wanted was the truth, yeah, yeah”. There is an infinite number of stars in the sky so, he is saying his heart is so broken over his lover that it can never be fixed. The singer spent endless amounts of time with them and he felt the relationship collapsing, all he wanted from them was the truth of what happened. Next, “How many nights have you wished someone would stay? Lie awake only hoping they’re okay, I never counted all of mine, If I tried, I know it would feel like infinity”. The end of this relationship appears to be the end of the world for the singer. Moving on from this may seem impossible. He is laying awake all night hoping that their new lover loves them just as much.
Onto the next verse, “Eyes can’t shine, Unless there’s something burning bright behind, Since you went away, there’s nothing left in mine, I feel myself running out of time”. Liam is singing how this love took everything out of him. He feels like a life without his lover isn’t worth living. He feels like he has limited time that he can make it without them.
The pre-chorus and chorus repeat and the song ends. This is definitely one of my favorite One Direction songs. It’s relatable and beautiful. The metaphors and imagery used are perfect for the vibe of the song.
Song Link: https://open.spotify.com/track/6N5xh0tYYLTQRiCCaNbAUt?si=Cs-jM2QwTHCzxEXe3e9vvw
Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=FaJbYPX32Ys&feature=emb_title https://www.songfacts.com/facts/one-direction/infinity