Like Saint Valentine

HIM's 'Like Saint Valentine' delves into the complexities of love, loss, and the lengths one might go to preserve a relationship, even if it means living a lie. The song opens with a sense of desperation, as the narrator is 'frozen' to their partner, indicating a state of emotional paralysis. The imagery of building a bridge soaked in gasoline and passing the torch suggests a willingness to ignite and destroy, symbolizing the volatile nature of their love.

The repeated plea to 'be your valentine, Saint Valentine' invokes the martyrdom of Saint Valentine, who is often associated with love and sacrifice. The narrator offers to 'suck the sorrow out of you and try to keep the lie alive,' highlighting a willingness to absorb the partner's pain and maintain the facade of a perfect relationship. This act of self-sacrifice mirrors the saint's own martyrdom, adding a layer of tragic romance to the song.

The reference to the couple from Pompeii, preserved in their final moments, serves as a metaphor for the public display of their relationship's drama. The 'dove, stuffed in a coffin of glass entitled Love, Lust and the Holy Ghost' symbolizes the entrapment of their love, lust, and spiritual connection, now on display for all to see. The song's closing lines, 'Behead me like Saint Valentine,' further emphasize the theme of sacrifice, suggesting that the ultimate act of love might be to end one's own suffering for the sake of the other.

'Like Saint Valentine' is a haunting exploration of the darker aspects of love, where passion and pain are intertwined, and the ultimate sacrifice is seen as a testament to true devotion.