Angel On Fire
Halsey
The Flickering Flame: Halsey's 'Angel On Fire'
Halsey's song 'Angel On Fire' delves into the emotional turmoil of feeling forgotten and overlooked. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a once-vibrant individual who now feels like a shadow of their former self. The opening lines describe a chaotic scene in the living room, symbolizing the internal mess and disarray the protagonist feels. The imagery of broken bottles and nocturnal visitors who don't wake her up suggests a sense of isolation and disconnection from the world around her.
The chorus, with its repeated line 'I used to be on fire,' serves as a poignant reminder of the protagonist's past vitality and passion. This metaphor of fire represents a time when she felt alive, important, and noticed. However, now she feels like she's 'standing in the ashes' of who she used to be, indicating a loss of identity and self-worth. The reference to flying too close to the sun and melting wings is a nod to the Greek myth of Icarus, symbolizing the dangers of ambition and the subsequent fall from grace.
Throughout the song, there's a recurring theme of unreciprocated attention and the struggle to be seen and heard. The protagonist's anxiety makes social interactions difficult, and she feels invisible in a crowd, screaming internally for recognition. This sense of fading away and the longing for the past highlights the emotional weight of feeling irrelevant and the desire to reclaim one's former glory. Halsey's raw and introspective lyrics resonate with anyone who has ever felt like they've lost their spark and are yearning to reignite it.