So High

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of an intense, almost overwhelming connection that leaves the narrator perpetually "high." The initial imagery of "burning into my atmosphere" and being "on cloud nine" suggests an exhilarating, perhaps unexpected, encounter. However, this elevated state is immediately framed by a sense of impermanence, a "matter of time till she gets released." This hints at a relationship or feeling that is inherently unstable, destined to come down. The central tension lies in the narrator's compulsive desire for this person, described through the repeated hook: "Every time I'm with you I want to get it / Every time I miss I want to hit it." This phrasing, especially "hit it," carries a double meaning, suggesting both a physical craving and a desperate attempt to recapture a lost feeling or state of being. The narrator acknowledges the difficulty of leaving this "high," admitting, "It's the hardest damn thing I've tried to leave," and feeling "hazy" as a result. The most striking craft element is the constant oscillation between "high" and "down." The chorus repeatedly asks, "How we get so high," while the bridge explicitly states, "we're going down, down, down, down." This cyclical pattern, coupled with the line "Now I see she's been smoking since she landed here," suggests that the "high" might not be entirely natural or sustainable, but rather a consequence of something addictive or artificial. The narrator's plea to "kiss the sky" and then immediately "going down" until they "get so high" reinforces this push-and-pull dynamic. Ultimately, the lyrics are effective because they capture the intoxicating, yet precarious, nature of intense infatuation or addiction. The repetitive structure of the hook mirrors the compulsive thoughts and actions of someone caught in this cycle. The ambiguity of "get it" and "hit it" allows the listener to project their own experiences of craving and dependency, making the narrator's desperate pursuit of this elusive "high" feel both specific and universally understood.