When It's Cold I'd Like To Die
Moby (Vocals by Mimi Goese) Lyrics

The lyrics of Moby's song When It's Cold I'd Like To Die are a melancholic expression of loneliness, detachment, and hopelessness. The singer reflects on a moment when they were left to suffer, without someone to share their burden, feeling trapped and isolated. The first stanza describes the singer's mental and emotional state, evoking a sense of displacement and dereliction. The use of the metaphor of "Someone flying, only stolen" underscores the feeling of loneliness and disconnection, as the person feels like they are stranded on the ground, watching others moving freely. The desperation and exhaustion of the moment are evident in the line "I can't tell, this night's so old," suggesting a long, dark night that never ends.

The second stanza continues in the same vein, with the singer expressing a desire to escape the struggles of life. However, the escape is not into the unknown, but rather a longing for an end to the pain. The repetition of the line "I don't want to" reinforces the sense of helplessness and resignation. The use of water imagery - ocean, tide, swimming - suggests the idea of being overwhelmed, of struggling to stay afloat. The line "When it's cold I'd like to die" is a striking expression of the singer's despair, indicating that death would be preferable to enduring the coldness of life.

The third stanza introduces a new character - "my sweet sweet nothing" - who may be the source of the singer's sorrow, or simply a representation of the singer's own sense of despair. The use of the phrase "I can't hear you through the fog" further emphasizes the singer's feeling of disconnection and distance from the world. The lines "If I holler let me go, If I falter let me know" suggest a longing for guidance and direction, indicating that the singer is willing to surrender control, to be rescued from their suffering.