Lightning

Morten Harket's song "Lightning" delves into the intense and often overwhelming nature of love and memory. The metaphor of lightning is used to describe the sudden and powerful impact someone can have on another's life. Just as lightning strikes with a force that is both awe-inspiring and terrifying, the person in the song hits the narrator with a similar intensity. This person provides shelter from the metaphorical rain, suggesting they offer comfort and protection during difficult times. The repeated phrase "stay down way down" indicates that this person remains deeply embedded in the narrator's thoughts and emotions, much like a persistent flashback or a whiteout that obscures everything else.

The lyrics also explore the idea of longing and the lengths one would go to recapture a lost connection. The narrator expresses a willingness to give up everything they own and live as they once did to find their way back home, which symbolizes a return to a state of emotional fulfillment and security. This longing is underscored by the passage of time, which the narrator finds frightening, yet it feels as though nothing has changed in their emotional landscape. The person they long for continues to race through their veins like a new drug, providing a rush that is almost, but not quite, like pain.

Harket's use of vivid imagery and emotional depth in "Lightning" captures the essence of a love that is both exhilarating and haunting. The song speaks to the universal experience of holding onto memories of someone who has profoundly impacted one's life, and the enduring desire to reconnect with that lost sense of completeness. The emotional intensity and the metaphorical language make this song a poignant reflection on love, memory, and the passage of time.