Polyamorous is a rock song by the American band Breaking Benjamin. It served as the lead single of the band’s debut album, Saturate. The song performed well commercially, reaching number 31 on the Billboard Alternative Songs in the US.
Before exploring the Polyamorous lyrics meaning, you should know the intent behind its title.
Title – What does it mean?
The term “Polyamorous” means the desire or practice of engaging with multiple partners. This engagement could either be romantic or sexual or both. In this song, the narrator finds himself torn between a voice that manipulates him into cheating and a voice that encourages him to be faithful.
Now that the title of the song has been explained, it is time to understand the Polyamorous lyrics meaning.
Verse 1 – What does it mean?
Let’s go!
The day has come to an end
The sun is over my head
The narrator of this song has had a good day. He probably accomplished all the tasks set for that day and even avoided trouble at work. The expression “sun is over my head” describes how even at night he feels enthusiastic and optimistic. As he gets out of work, the narrator looks forward to meeting and chilling with his friends. The evening could turn out just as good as the day.
My polyamorous friend
He got me in a mess of trouble again
But before the narrator can make plans to do something fun, his sexual urges come to surface. He describes these urges as his “polyamorous friend”. Clearly, he has been experiencing some internal conflict due to his unfaithful nature. It has probably cost him some intimate relationships which could have blossomed into something meaningful. But he cheated on these opportunities (that is, women) and now he feels the urge to meet someone new.
It is possible that the narrator is dating someone now. His heart does not want to get into “a mess of trouble again”. But the bad habit of being polyamorous is getting hold of the narrator’s better judgement.
Chorus – What does it mean?
So just when you think that you’re all right
I’m calling out from the inside
The chorus reflects the true Polyamorous lyrics meaning. The narrator’s polyamorous side is a different person altogether. It is so powerful that it seems to take complete control over the narrator’s consciousness. Although the narrator acknowledges that this polyamorous voice is just in his head (“calling out from the inside”) it is nevertheless overwhelming. The worst part is that this unfaithful side of his kicks in automatically whenever the narrator thinks he is happy.
I never hurt anyone
I never listen at all
When the narrator tries to fight this polyamorous voice in his head, the voice acts innocent. It tries to solicit the narrator into doing its bidding. The polyamorous voice claims to be harmless. It tries to convince the narrator that it is only doing what’s good for him. But it never listens to the narrator’s side of arguments. Eventually, this innocent manipulation turns into a lost battle for the narrator. Reluctantly, the narrator gives up.
Verse 2 – What does it mean?
They’ve come to get me again
The cloud is over my head
The second verse paints an image that is opposite to the visuals in the first verse. In the first verse, the narrator was happy and felt like the sun was burning bright over his head. But now the brilliance of that sun is intercepted by gloomy clouds.
This sudden drop in the narrator’s mood could be due to multiple factors. The term “They’ve” could refer to all the women he has cheated on in the past. He blames himself for the hurt he caused them. Every time he finds himself battling with his polyamorous side, these dark memories well up in his conscience, causing him pain. Whenever he suffers a defeat by the hands of his polyamorous side, these memories give him even more guilt.
Another explanation for “They’ve” is that the narrator’s family, friends and loved ones are trying to help him. But his polyamorous side thinks of this help as a threat. It warns the narrator against these people, claiming they are out to “get me again”. Overcome with the polyamorous side, the narrator possibly ends up believing it and rejecting any kind of help.
My polyamorous friend
He got me in a mess of trouble again
It is only much later when the narrator’s own personality takes over that he realizes what’s happening. This “polyamorous friend” keeps getting the narrator into trouble. It keeps the narrator away from settling down with any girl he loves and sees a future with. Now, this polyamorous voice is trying to severe all of the narrator’s relationships. His friends and family are worried about the narrator. But the polyamorous friend does not let them help him.
Chorus – What does it mean?
So just when you think that you’re all right
I’m calling out from the inside
I never hurt anyone
I never listen at all
Just stay away from the white light
I’d say your worst side’s your best side
The imagery of white light refers to the heavenly light that pierces through the clouds, onto the earth. This “white light” illuminates the path to recovery and happiness. If only the narrator could follow it and win the final battle over his polyamorous side.
But this polyamorous side is very manipulative. It seduces the narrator by citing all the good times he has had with multiple partners. The polyamorous side shows him the parties, the sex and the women the narrator has been with. It tries to convince the narrator that his bad side is actually his “best side”.
This is also a commentary on the “Bad Boy” image. Whether it is films, novels or music videos, the bad boy is often depicted as more desirable than his good boy counterpart. The polyamorous voice is selling the same idea to the narrator.
I never hurt anyone
I never listen at all
Again, the polyamorous voice plays the innocent card. It pretends to be the narrator’s friend. In reality this voice has become the narrator’s biggest enemy.
Bridge – What does it mean?
Well, how do you know?
Well, how do you know?
Well, how do you know?
Well, how do you know?
Let’s go!
The narrator has mustered to strength to question the polyamorous voice in his head. Earlier this voice claimed to know how the narrator’s bad side is his best side. The narrator does not think that’s true. He is asking the polyamorous voice “how do you know?”
This hints at a solution. Perhaps the narrator will finally rise up against the polyamorous voice and get better.
Hope you have now understood the Polyamorous lyrics meaning.
Conclusion
Overcoming the confusion within is the true Polyamorous lyrics meaning. Everyone has a good and a bad voice in their head. Sometimes the bad voice overwhelms the good, making you commit mistakes. It is important to listen to both sides, but you should always do what is right no matter how hard it may seem.
