Cherry, a lyrical analysis from Fine Line, a Harry Styles album

 Cherry, Song Meaning and Lyrical Interpretation

Welcome everyone! Today I discuss a song that is a member of my favorite genre of Harry Styles songs - fruits! Yes, welcome cherry! Join the cool club with watermelon and kiwi!

When I started researching Cherry on the internet, my main reaction was, "awwwww, Harry is so cute." I actually didn't know that most of his songs on Fine Line are about Camille Rowe, a French model he dated in 2018. It looks like he was affected deeply by the breakup. I don't want to make assumptions but it does seem like the break up was more Camille's decision than his by the emotions he expresses in this song and To Be Lonely.

The song starts with the word, "Coucou," which, according to the internet, is used to say hello to the listener. This is a French word and Camille Rowe is French.

Don't you call him "baby"
We're not talking lately
Don't you call him what you used to call me

These are pretty simple lyrics! Harry is jealous of Camille's new lover.

I, I confess I can tell that you are at your best
I'm selfish so I'm hating it
I noticed that there's a piece of you in how I dress
Take it as a compliment

Harry Styles is being very vulnerable here by admitting that he's jealous of Camille's happiness without him. "I noticed that there's a piece of you in how I dress," might be a nod to how Harry is embracing more feminine styles of dress. Just last year, the internet was ablaze when Harry wore a dress on the cover of vogue. But also, during my research, I found out that Harry Styles has literally been wearing pieces of jewlery and clothing items that Camille used to own.

I, I just miss
I just miss your accent and your friends

Did you know I still talk to them?

Harry's so cute! He still keeps in touch with her friends because during the relationship they became his friends as well. It shows that he was very serious about her because he took the time to really embrace her world. 

Does he take you walking 'round his parents' gallery?

This is my favorite line from this song because I looked up the background behind it and it's very thought provoking! It looks like Camille broke up with Harry to date Theodorakis Niarchos. Theodorakis's family owns 2.2 billion dollars of art due to his grandfathers investing in art in the past. It's thought-provoking to me because its the age old Great Gatsby question of: new money VS old money. If you look up Harry Styles' net worth - it's not anywhere close to 2.2 billion dollars. A billion is an insane amount of dollars!! It's just interesting to see how Harry Styles - a celebrity, a musician, and a household name - might never make as much as someone with generational wealth. 

Camille Rowe and Harry Styles. Love her sweater!

Coucou ! Tu dors ? Oh, j'suis désolée...
Bah non... Nan, c'est pas important...
Ouais, on a été à la plage, et maintenant on—

Parfait ! Allez !

The internet tells me that this is a voice note from Camille!  During an interview with Rolling Stone, Harry said this: "That’s just a voice note of my ex-girlfriend talking. I was playing guitar and she took a phone call—and she was actually speaking in the key of the song."

I think it's WILD that Harry is actually confirming who the song is about. Mentioning the art galley boyfriend PLUS including her actual voice in the song. You usually don't hear artists ever confirm who a song is about! Taylor Swift would never admit who she wrote All Too Well about!

In conclusion, this is a sweet and vulnerable song Harry wrote for his ex-girlfriend.

Do you agree or do you interpret these lyrics differently? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

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Vote: What is your favorite song off Fine Line?

Lights Up, a lyrical analysis from Fine Line, a Harry Styles album

 Lights Up, Song Meaning and Lyrical Interpretation

Lights Up was Harry Styles' first song for the Fine Line era! When I first heard it, I thought it was fun and catchy. I didn't really see this as a song you would try to interpret because it just seems like a fun, dance tune. But since I am analyzing every song off of Fine Line, I must look into these lyrics a little more deeply.

What do you mean?
I'm sorry by the way

Do you know what these two opening lines remind me of?  Justin Bieber 😂😂😂. Yes, it reminds me of one of Justin's 2015 Purpose era when he released two songs called, "What do you mean" and "Sorry." Just an interesting coincidence I noticed. 😁

In all seriousness, let's continue:

What do you mean?
I'm sorry by the way
Never coming back down
Can't you see?
I could, but wouldn't stay

I think this song is about Harry apologizing for his stardom. He's sorry about all the troubles he may have caused his loved ones but there's no way he can go back to his old life ("Never coming back down").

All the lights couldn't put out the dark
Running through my heart
Lights up and they know who you are
Know who you are
Do you know who you are? (Oh)

This stanza is what really made me think he is talking about his stardom. When the lights come on, the audience knows who he is. He is Harry Styles playing a concert! He is shining bright and having a good time being a star, but it still doesn't stop the darkness he has in his heart. This darkness can sometimes hurt his loved ones which is why he is apologizing in the previous stanza. 

He asks, "Do you know who you are?" because in all this glamour, it is easy to lose yourself. He is just reminding himself to be introspective. The audience knows who he is - but does HE know who he is?

Shine
Step into the light
Shine
So bright sometimes
Shine
I'm not ever going back

The light can be too bright sometimes, but he is not going back to his old life. He loves his stardom but he still has to take a moment to remind himself who he really is.

Do you agree or do you interpret these lyrics differently? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

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Adore You	Harry Styles Lyrical Analysis Masterpost	Cherry

Vote: What is your favorite song off Fine Line?

If I Was A Priest, a Bruce Springsteen lyrical analysis from his new album Letter To You

If I Was A Priest, a Bruce Springsteen lyrical analysis from his new album Letter To You

I LOVED this song by Bruce Springsteen when I first heard it and I really enjoyed the lyrics so I wanted to talk about it here. Bruce is hosting SNL next month with Timothee Chalamet and I just love the juxtaposition of that! It's like the exact intersection of my interests. 

I believe "If I Was A Priest" is about questioning the religious rules that we have been taught and following your heart instead.

There's a light on yonder mountain and it's calling me to shine
There's a girl over by the water fountain and she's asking to be mine
And Jesus is standing in the doorway in a buckskin jacket, boots and spurs so fine
He says, "We need you son tonight up in Dodge City
'Cause there's just too many outlaws trying to work the same line"

The song starts off with Bruce Springsteen dreaming about his future. He wants to follow his passions (music, where he shines), and he wants a beautiful love story. He wants to follow his dreams but Jesus is in the way, dressed like a sheriff, telling him, "no, you need to do this." Jesus is the authority figure. When Jesus says, "there's just too many outlaws trying to work the same line," he means there are so many people who don't follow the religious path, and so Bruce shouldn't be an outlaw like them.

Plus, the song is titled, "If I Was A Priest," and priests definitely give up love with another woman and other worldly dreams so they can be truly engrossed in religion. 

Well things ain't been the same in heaven since big bad Bobby came to town
He's been known to down eleven, then ask for another round
Me I've got scabs on my knees from kneeling way too long
It's about time I played the man, took a stand where I belong

Bobby drinks too much (which is a vice! and too much alcohol can cause sin!) and is described as being "bad." But the key thing to note is that Bobby makes it to heaven! Meanwhile, Bruce has been super devoted to his religion, getting scabs on his knees from praying. He is doing so much but will probably make it to the same place as Bobby - heaven! This makes Bruce think that he doesn't want religion to constrict him. He wants to live the life he dreams of.

Well there's a light on yonder mountain and it's calling me to shine
There's a girl over by the water fountain 'cause she's asking to be mine
Jesus is standing in the doorway, six gun drawn and ready to fan
Said, "We need you tonight son up in Dodge City"
Told him I was already overdue for Cheyenne

In this verse, Jesus tells him to continue following his religious rules (go to Dodge City), but Bruce finally tells him, he actually needs to follow his dreams instead (go to Cheyenne...a city in Wyoming...but also a woman's name?).

There's still too many bad boys trying to work the same line

I interpreted this line two ways. The first I talked about earlier in this post - Jesus saying there are too many people straying from religion. But you can also interpret this line through Bruce's point of view. Bruce can say, "there are too many people who appear religious but are actually bad." They are all "working the same line" as in, "going through the motions" of religion.  

Thanks for reading! I chose not to analyze every lyric - just the ones that spoke to me.

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Vote For Your Favorite Song Off Fine Line, a Harry Styles Album

Wanted to make sure this poll doesn't fall off the radar. Vote for your favorite song off of Fine Line! I'll keep this poll up until a month after I finish analyzing the last song. Then I'll reveal which song wins.

Click here to see which song won for the poll for Harry Styles' first album.

What is your favorite song off of Fine Line - Harry Styles' new album?

Golden

Watermelon Sugar

Adore You

Lights Up

Cherry

Falling

To Be So Lonely

She

Sunflower, Vol. 6

Canyon Moon

Treat People With Kindness

Fine Line

Thanks for voting! Check out my analyses of these songs and more in the following blog posts:

• Golden
• Watermelon Sugar
• Adore You

Harry Styles Lyrical Analysis Masterpost - - Click here to see analyses of all Harry's songs  

Adore You, a lyrical analysis from Fine Line, a Harry Styles album

Adore You, Song Meaning and Lyrical Interpretation

Adore You is such a sweet song - and it is what we'll be discussing today. Before I begin, I wanted to shout out Harry Styles for getting his first number one hit with Watermelon Sugar! This has been a summer of watermelon and sugar - mostly because of quarantine and there isn't much to do xD.

Walk in your rainbow paradise (paradise)
Strawberry lipstick state of mind (state of mind)
I get so lost inside your eyes
Would you believe it?

Adore You is, simply, a love song. I think it's a really good one that should go down in history (but I don't think it charted too high). It's got classic rock elements that give it an old-schooled solid love song vibe. "I get so lost inside your eyes," could be considered a cliche in love songs but it's a good one! I'm a sucker for people in love getting lost in each others eyes.

"Strawberry lipstick," is a call back to Harry's love of fruits that is seen throughout this album with Watermelon Sugar and Cherry.

You don't have to say you love me
You don't have to say nothing
You don't have to say you're mine

This verse shows that Harry loves unconditionally. It is very sweet because he doesn't expect anything back from this other person. Harry is willing to give love freely - there are no expectations. What can be more self-less and romantic?

Honey
I'd walk through fire for you
Just let me adore you
Oh, honey
I'd walk through fire for you
Just let me adore you
Like it's the only thing I'll ever do

It looks like Harry's love interest isn't reciprocating, but Harry doesn't mind. He is asking her to accept his love, because he'll protect and adore her, always. "Like it's the only thing I'll ever do," is Harry's dramatic way of saying that he's fine with his life even if the only thing he accomplishes during it is to love her.

Your wonder under summer skies (summer skies)
Brown skin and lemon over ice
Would you believe it?

I've said this before, and I will say it again, Fine Line is a summer album!! "Brown skin," could be saying that his lover has a tan due to the sun (though, of course, she could always just be not-white). "Lemon over ice," is talking about lemonade which is a summer staple! Lemonade quenches the thirst built up by the heat of summer.

Maybe Harry is having a summer romance. But I wouldn't be quick to say so - this song talks about serious love. A love that is all-encompassing, unconditional, and sweet.

Do you agree or do you interpret these lyrics differently? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

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Watermelon Sugar	Harry Styles Lyrical Analysis Masterpost	Lights Up

Vote: What is your favorite song off Fine Line?