I’m gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier/
I’m gonna live like tomorrow doesn’t exist.

In “Chandelier”, Sia demonstrates her amazing range as well as her amazing voice. “Chandelier” is about a party girl who gets really hammered and dries her tears as she swings from the chandelier. Metaphorically of course. She is a mess. She is ‘holding on for dear life’. We don’t get the feeling this is a one-night thing for her: she is a party girl after all.

Sia might be the best at creating party songs with great melodies and “Chandelier” is a prime example. One interesting aspect to her music is that she usually releases a regular version that is a “dance” mix as well as a “piano” mix. For Chandelier, both are great,

That speaks a lot to her versatility as a performer as well as her imagination. In Chandelier, each version changes the tone and meaning of the song due to the ambiguous lyrics. The dance version’s sounds like it could be a celebration of getting drunk and partying.  Lets worry about everything tomorrow. The beat can hide meaning!

In the piano version we hear a less ambiguous tone and it sounds like someone  crying out for help. Sia has discussed her issues with recovery so this is probably closer to the “accurate” meaning.

Chandelier Lyrics

One, two, three, one, two, three, drink
One, two, three, one, two, three, drink
One, two, three, one, two, three, drink

Throw em back, till I lose count

I’m gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I’m gonna live like tomorrow doesn’t exist
Like it doesn’t exist
I’m gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I’m gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier

And I’m holding on for dear life, won’t look down won’t open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, ’cause I’m just holding on for tonight
Help me, I’m holding on for dear life, won’t look down won’t open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, ’cause I’m just holding on for tonight
On for tonight

Party girls don’t get hurt
Can’t feel anything, I push it down, push it down

I’m the one “for a good time call”
Phone’s blowin’ up, I feel the love, feel the love

I feel the love, feel the love
Sun is up, I’m a mess
Gotta get out now, gotta run from this

Here comes the shame, here comes the shame
One, two, three, one, two, three, drink
One, two, three, one, two, three, drink
One, two, three, one, two, three, drink
Throw em back till I lose count

I’m gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I’m gonna live like tomorrow doesn’t exist
Like it doesn’t exist
I’m gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I’m gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier

And I’m holding on for dear life, won’t look down won’t open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, ’cause I’m just holding on for tonight
Help me, I’m holding on for dear life, won’t look down won’t open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, ’cause I’m just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
On for tonight

written by Sia