The song "Gwenevieve" by Grieves tells the story of a girl named Gwenevieve who feels isolated and disconnected from the world. The lyrics portray her as being caught in a constant battle between her destructive tendencies and her desire for connection. The song starts by describing how Gwenevieve sees the world as a bleak place, wanting to escape from it by pulling the stars out of the sky and loading them into her gun. She feels broken and worn out by life and believes that she can never reach something warm and fulfilling because everything she encounters is cold. The narrator acknowledges Gwenevieve's struggles but is unsure whether to react with a smile or try to help her overcome her emotional struggles. He senses her contradictions as she fights like a lover but sleeps with the enemy, keeping people close only to eventually push them away. The bridge suggests that Gwenevieve has experienced some traumatic event that has caused her to withdraw from the world. She has built walls around herself and refuses to trust anyone. The narrator wants to show her the impact her behavior has on herself and wants to open up her emotional coffin to communicate with her. The chorus emphasizes that Gwenevieve doesn't need to see the physical fire to smell the gasoline. The fire represents her destructive behavior, while the gasoline symbolizes the underlying issues that fuel her actions. She continues to burn bridges and destroy opportunities, refusing to face her problems or make positive changes. The lyrics also explore Gwenevieve's fear of love and happiness. She hides her true emotions and keeps love on a leash, not allowing it to harm her. Furthermore, she believes that fate cannot bring her any harm if she removes its power. She seeks isolation as a means of protection from the world's judgment and scrutiny. In the end, Gwenevieve is depicted as a lonely ghost in the night, lost and consumed by her own actions. The song portrays her as someone who is fascinated by destruction and finds comfort in her own darkness. Overall, "Gwenevieve" delves into the complexities of a troubled individual who is trapped in a cycle of self-destruction and isolation. The lyrics convey a sense of pity and a desire to understand the reasons behind her behavior, as well as a struggle to find a way to help her break free from her destructive tendencies.
