Possession

Sarah McLachlan's 'Possession' is a haunting exploration of obsession, longing, and the darker sides of love. The song opens with vivid imagery of the wind blowing across a great divide, symbolizing the emotional and physical distance between the narrator and the object of their desire. The lyrics speak of voices trapped in yearning and memories frozen in time, suggesting a deep, unfulfilled longing that haunts the narrator. The night and solitude are portrayed as constant companions, emphasizing the loneliness and isolation that come with unrequited love.

The chorus reveals the intensity of the narrator's feelings, with lines like 'I would be the one to hold you down, kiss you so hard, I'll take your breath away.' This imagery is both passionate and possessive, indicating a desire to control and consume the beloved. The act of wiping away tears and asking the beloved to 'just close your eyes' adds a layer of tenderness, but it also hints at a desire to escape reality and live in a fantasy where the narrator's love is reciprocated.

As the song progresses, the narrator reflects on their journey through life, marked by betrayal and a search for truth. The beloved's words, described as riddles and rhymes, keep the narrator alive, suggesting that their love is both a source of pain and sustenance. The final verse delves into the fear of facing another day without the beloved, and the narrator's determination to bridge the gap between them, even if it means losing their pride. The song's closing lines reiterate the narrator's unwavering resolve to possess the beloved, encapsulating the theme of obsessive love that permeates the entire song.