Meaning of "Nitrous Gas" by Frightened Rabbit

The lyrics of "Nitrous Gas" explore themes of depression, self-destruction, and the rejection of happiness. The song delves into the mindset of someone who is deeply unhappy and finds comfort in embracing their own misery. The opening lines, "Shut down the gospel singers/Turn up the old heartbreakers," set the tone for the rest of the song, suggesting a preference for melancholic music and a rejection of anything positive or uplifting.

The narrator expresses a strong desire to be unhappy again, longing for the familiarity and perhaps even comfort that comes with self-loathing. They reject the idea of love and happiness, instead choosing to build their home in a place where these emotions do not exist. The line, "And if happiness won't come to me/Hand me the nitrous gas," suggests that the narrator seeks a temporary escape from their unhappiness through the use of nitrous oxide, a common recreational drug known for inducing a temporary sense of euphoria and disconnection from reality.

There is a sense of self-destructiveness in the lyrics, with the narrator wanting to bring others down with them. They describe themselves as a "joyless bastard" and express a desire to drag others into their misery. This can be seen in the lines, "Suck in the bright red major key/Spit out the blue minor misery/I'm dying to bring you down with me." The bright red major key represents happiness and joy, while the blue minor misery represents sadness and despair. The narrator wants to take something good and turn it into misery, perhaps as a way to validate their own unhappiness.

In the chorus, the narrator asserts their refusal to accept happiness. They would rather live without it and embrace the nitrous gas as a substitute. They reject the life-giving oxygen and choose the temporary high of the gas instead. This rejection of happiness and oxygen can be seen as a metaphor for their overall rejection of life and anything that brings them joy.

Overall, "Nitrous Gas" portrays a character who has succumbed to their unhappiness and willingly embraces a self-destructive path. The search for numbness and self-loathing becomes more enticing than the pursuit of happiness, leading to a cycle of despair and the rejection of anything positive.