Formaldehyde

Editors' song 'Formaldehyde' delves into the complexities of love and the lengths one might go to preserve it. The title itself, 'Formaldehyde,' is a powerful metaphor. Formaldehyde is a chemical used to preserve biological specimens, suggesting a desire to keep love intact, unchanging, and eternal. The lyrics explore the idea of dissecting love to understand it better, even if it means causing pain. The line 'Would you butcher my love to understand it?' speaks to the vulnerability and sacrifice involved in truly comprehending the depths of one's emotions.

The recurring imagery of 'burning white heat' in the blood signifies intense passion and the consuming nature of love. This passion is juxtaposed with the cold, clinical nature of formaldehyde, creating a tension between the warmth of human emotion and the desire to preserve it in a static state. The repeated refrain 'Formaldehyde, never let you go' underscores the longing to hold onto love forever, even if it means freezing it in time.

The song also touches on themes of loss and drowning, as seen in the lines 'I'm lost to a love that's a mile wide, drowned in a bath of formaldehyde.' This suggests that the attempt to preserve love can sometimes lead to feeling overwhelmed and suffocated. The hope expressed in 'I hope we swim up out of this flood' indicates a desire to overcome these challenges and find a way to keep love alive without losing oneself in the process. Overall, 'Formaldehyde' is a poignant exploration of the fragility and intensity of love, and the lengths we might go to preserve it.