Gravity

Sara Bareilles' song 'Gravity' is a poignant ballad that delves into the complexities of a past relationship that continues to exert a powerful, almost gravitational pull on the narrator. The lyrics express the struggle of being drawn back to a person despite attempts to move on. The opening lines, 'Something always brings me back to you / It never takes too long,' suggest an inevitable and uncontrollable force that keeps the narrator tied to their former lover.

The metaphor of gravity is used throughout the song to describe the emotional weight and pull of this relationship. Bareilles sings about the paradox of feeling held by someone without physical touch and the desire to be set free from this emotional entanglement. The chorus, 'Set me free, leave me be / I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity,' is a plea for liberation from the emotional hold that the other person has over her. Despite standing tall and appearing strong, the narrator acknowledges the vulnerability and weakness that surface when confronted with this person's influence.

The song also touches on themes of vulnerability and strength. The narrator initially sees herself as strong but realizes that this strength is fragile when faced with the emotional connection to her past love. The line 'You loved me 'cause I'm fragile / When I thought that I was strong' reveals a self-awareness and a sense of irony in how the relationship has changed her perception of herself. Ultimately, 'Gravity' is a deeply personal and introspective song that resonates with anyone who has experienced the difficulty of letting go of a significant but perhaps unhealthy attachment.