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forgewolf's avatar

What does the set the fire to the third bar by snow patrol mean?

Asked by forgewolf (221points) June 27th, 2010

have you guys heard the song set the fire to the third bar? can anyone tell me what the song mean? especially the “set the fire to the third bar”.

I find the map and draw a straight line
Over rivers, farms, and state lines
The distance from A to where you’d B
It’s only finger-lengths that I see
I touch the place where I’d find your face
My fingers in creases of distant dark places

I hang my coat up in the first bar
There is no peace that I’ve felt so far
The laughter penetrates my silence
As drunken men find flaws in science

Their words mostly noises
Ghosts with just voices
Your words in my memory
Are like music to me

I’m miles from where you are
I lay down on the cold ground
I pray that something picks me up
And sets me down in your warm arms

After I have travelled so far
We’d set the fire to the third bar
We’d share each other like an island
Until exhausted, close our eyelids
And dreaming pick up from
The last place we left off
Your soft skin is weeping
A joy you can’t keep it

I’m miles from where you are
I lay down on the cold ground
And I pray that something picks me up
And sets me down in your warm arms

I’m miles from where you are
I lay down on the cold ground
I pray that something picks me up
And sets me down in your warm arms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=084l5-SA_nU

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2 Answers

Vunessuh's avatar

There are several different theories as to what the title of the song means.
Some think it refers to the old-fashioned electric heaters that had three bars, the third bar being the warmest. Others think the word bar literally means a bar/pub. I think it could actually be a play on words of both an electric heater and a bar. Just a clever pun.

Some think that it could be talking about the bars on a map that denote the scaling for distance, thus, by setting the fire to the third bar, the couple is being brought closer together.

This indicates that the song title is indeed describing an electric heater.

forgewolf's avatar

@Vunessuh thanks, it now makes sense to me.

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