Follow Your Fire

Kodaline's 'Follow Your Fire' is a poignant reflection on youthful love and the passage of time. The song's lyrics transport listeners back to a time when the narrator and their partner were seventeen, filled with the reckless abandon and boundless dreams characteristic of youth. The imagery of drinking, kissing in the street, and stealing a car to drive around until dark paints a vivid picture of carefree days and nights. These moments are described with a sense of longing, as if the narrator is yearning to relive those simpler times.

The recurring question, 'Did you follow your fire?' serves as the emotional core of the song. It suggests a deep curiosity and concern about whether the person they once loved has pursued their passions and dreams. This question is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the uncertainty and the distance that has grown between them. The metaphor of 'reaching and catching stars' symbolizes the aspirations and hopes they once shared, and the narrator's admiration for their partner's fearless pursuit of those dreams.

The song also touches on the theme of lost connections and the bittersweet nature of memories. The narrator reminisces about carving their names into a tree, a symbol of their promise to never part. However, the repeated refrain of 'Did you follow your fire?' indicates that despite these promises, life has taken them on different paths. The song captures the universal experience of looking back on past relationships and wondering what could have been, as well as the hope that the other person has found happiness and fulfillment.