Released: 2012
‘Slow It Down’ by The Lumineers is a poignant tale of a troubled relationship, marked by emotional turmoil and the struggle to keep love alive amidst adversity. The song’s lyrics depict a raw and gritty picture of love, hinting at the darker aspects of romantic relationships.
The opening lines, ‘I feel her filth in my bones / Wash off my hands ’til it’s gone’, hint at a relationship that’s become toxic. The ‘filth’ here likely represents negative emotions or actions that have deeply affected the narrator, while ‘washing off’ suggests an attempt to cleanse oneself of these harmful influences.
The lyrics ‘The walls they’re closing in / With velvet curtains’ and ‘Lift up a red high heel / Lock up your doors with steel’ depict a world that’s both enticing and threatening. The ‘velvet curtains’ and ‘red high heel’ symbolize allure and glamour, while ‘closing walls’ and ‘doors with steel’ suggest a sense of danger and confinement.
The chorus, ‘Slow it down, Angie, come back to bed / Rest your arms and rest your legs’, is a plea for Angie to take a break from the chaos and return to the comfort of their shared space. It’s a call for intimacy and connection amidst the turmoil.
The lines ‘And when she stood, she stood tall / She’ll make a fool of you all’ show admiration for Angie’s resilience. However, the line ‘Don’t ask for cigarettes / She ain’t got nothing left for you’ suggests that she’s emotionally drained and has nothing more to give.
The song ends on a hopeful note with ‘Don’t you frown when you’re feeling like that / Only love can dig you out of this’, suggesting that despite the hardships, love has the power to heal and overcome adversity. It’s a testament to the enduring power of love, even in the face of struggle.
