Sia’s amazing vocal talents are showcased in this new single titled “Reaper.” Sia released the new track on January 7th (Yes, we are late to analyze it) and her tweet said the song had been co-written and co-produced by none other than Kanye West himself. Kanye West must have got out of his usual routine for this track, as “Reaper” has minimal audio effects. Who needs effects with a voice like Sia’s?
“Reaper” is a track from Sia’s upcoming album ‘This Is Acting‘ dropping on Janaury 29th.
Download “Reaper” Single on iTunes / Amazon
Pre-order ‘This Is Acting’ Album on iTunes / Amazon
Listen to the audio before we get into the analysis.
Song Meaning of “Reaper” by Sia
Honestly, I don’t find much deeper lyrical innuendo behind the song meaning of this track. It genuinely sounds like Sia wants to live another day. But let’s take a closer look at the lyrics.
Broke down
Thought that I would drown
Hope that I’ve been found
‘Fore I hit the ground
Sun rays out the corner of my eye, hey…
Saw you weeping, saw you creeping
Saw you sneaking in the shadows dawn
I feel so strong
Saw you out the corner of my eye
The first verse speaks about the breaking down of the singer. And when she was breaking down, hitting hard on the ground, falling on to her knees, she sees the creeping, looming death that has come to take her away. And at our most desperate times only we gain the most courage. Facing death is a strange and encouraging thing. It makes you want to push for another day.
Don’t come for me today
I’m feeling good
I’ma savor it
Don’t come for me today
I’m feeling good
I remember when
(Reaper!)
The chorus is a direct address to the ‘reaper’. Sia is not ready to leave this world. She feels good. It may relate to her personal life at this point. Her career is going well. “Reaper” may not have been a chart-buster, but her other songs “Chandelier”, “Bird Set Free”, and “My Arena” were all big successes. She says she is going to savor this new life.
You came to take me away
So close I was to heaven’s gates
But no baby, no baby, not today
Oh, you tried to track me down
You followed me like the darkest cloud
But no baby, no baby, not today
(Reaper) Oh reaper!
(Reaper) Oh no baby, no baby, not today – //
This verse is believed to be written on a quite personal level to Sia. Sia is supposed to have had a swing with drug abuse. Many times she was facing off the reaper, and she says Demi Moore saved her lie. Sia says she was so close to the heaven’s gate-we all know what that means. Death loomed her like a dark cloud raining on a parade. But she got through that dark phase and now is in a much better place.
It is quite funny that Sia addresses the reaper as ‘baby’, as if to mock him. Or maybe she feels so close to the reaper–maybe the reaper was present by her side more than any other person. I would like to think it’s the latter reason, just for the sake of lyrical value.
So come back when I’m good to go
I got drinks to drink, and men to hold
I got good things to do with my life, yeah
Oh, I wanna dance in the open breeze
Feel the wind in my hair, hear the ocean sing
I got good things to feel in my life, yeah
Towards the latter part of the song, Sia says why she doesn’t want the reaper to take her to the heavens. She has to life her life to the fullest while she can-she has drinks to drink, men to befriend, dance around, enjoy the nature and so on. Quite simply, she has a list of simple to-do list-not big fancy things-but simply enjoying life, as if she wasn’t able to do any of it up until now. She is 40 years old now.
The same verses repeat and the song comes to an end. It is quite odd to sing about death. But “Reaper” doesn’t make it gruesome, fearsome and ugly. The sweet melody and the amazing vocals of Sia makes us almost forget that she is singing about death. Anywho, this is another beautiful piece of music by Sia.
Leave a comment if you enjoyed this track and is excited for her upcoming album.
As always, our comments section is open for all of you to interpret this song in your own way.