1987

Song Meaning

The lyrics to "1987" paint a vivid picture of a life lived on the edge, a series of narrow escapes from disaster. From a broken oak that "missed me by an inch" to a boat that sank right after being missed, the narrator recounts a history of dodging death. This relentless catalog of close calls creates an immediate sense of tension and a profound appreciation for simply existing. The core tension here lies in the stark contrast between a perilous past and a grateful present. Each verse details a brush with oblivion – from reckless youth blacking out on drugs to being pulled back from a London rooftop – yet the chorus consistently pulls back to a simple, profound appreciation: "It feels good to be with you, being alive." This juxtaposition highlights how past dangers sharpen the joy of the present moment. A particularly striking element is the evolving count of "lives left." The first chorus boasts "five lives left," a youthful, almost video-game-like sense of invincibility. By the second chorus, this has dwindled to "one life left," signaling a more mature, perhaps sobering, realization of mortality. Yet, the defiance remains, as the narrator vows to "trick my death" and "choose my time to die," asserting agency even in the face of dwindling chances. The lyrics are effective because they transform a litany of near-tragedies into a powerful affirmation of life. The narrator claims a "skeleton key to life" from "wretched gods," suggesting a hard-won control over fate. The final lines, where music "came to find me" in 1987, offer a poignant resolution, implying that finding purpose or passion is another form of survival, a way to be "lost in it since" rather than lost to the dangers.