1. Neha Raithatha
Analysis of the lyrics
A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
Heart beats fast
Colours and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.
One step closer
[Chorus:]
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer
[Chorus:]
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
This song was written by Christina Perri to feature in the first part of the final Twilight Saga
film – Breaking Dawn Part One.
Therefore, the lyrics are meant to represent the relationship between the two protagonists,
Edward Cullen and Bella Swan. As Edward is a Vampire, the most obvious analysis would be
that Edward has waited for ‘a thousand years’ to find Bella and to truly fall in love, as by
being a vampire, he never ages and is therefore over one hundred years old. This age gap
has been exaggerated to form the title of this song ‘a thousand years’. Additionally, it seems
as the protagonists have a very unique relationship and are able to experience love in its
truest form, therefore even though it may seem as if they have waited their whole lives to
be together, they are aware that it was well worth the wait: “I have loved you for a thousand
years, I’ll love you for a thousand more”.
However as a writer and musician, Perri did not want to narrow her target audience just to
those who are fans of the Twilight Saga. The lyrics portray a deep love between two people

2. Neha Raithatha
that is worth the wait. She sings about the way such a pure and true love makes her
feel stronger “How can I love when I'm afraid to fall? But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.” Additionally, the hook before every
chorus “one step closer” suggests that by waiting for so long for her love, Perri is one
step closer to being with him as time slowly passes.
The chorus is almost ironic as it talks about dying, even though Vampires are
immortal: “I have died everyday waiting for you”. Even though Edward will never die,
the wait for his love seems to kill him slowly, even though he knows that it will be
worth the wait. Perri (from the perspective of Edward) seems to be re-assuring her
lover that no matter how long it takes, or the obstacles that must be faced, true love
will always be worth the wait in the end.