While it might seem far-fetched at first, there's a compelling argument to be made that Post Malone's song "Circles" can be interpreted as a thematic exploration of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," specifically regarding the One Ring's influence and its cyclical, destructive patterns.
The lyrics, "We couldn't turn around / 'Til we were upside down," evoke the inverted world that the One Ring creates. Its power corrupts those who possess it, turning their world and moral compass upside down.
"I'll be the bad guy now / But, no, I ain't too proud / I couldn't be there / Even when I tried," could be seen as a reference to characters like Boromir and Gollum, who succumb to the One Ring's influence despite their initial resistance or good intentions. In their struggle with the Ring, they end up being seen as the "bad guy," even if they didn't want to be.
The lyrics, "Seasons change and our love went cold / Feed the flame 'cause we can't let it go," echo the eternal, unyielding power of the One Ring. As the ring passed through different hands and eras ("seasons change"), its allure only became more irresistible ("our love went cold"). Yet, individuals and societies keep feeding the flame of desire, unable to let go of the power it promises.
The chorus, "Run away, but we're running in circles," is a potent metaphor for the cyclical nature of the One Ring's power. Despite attempts to escape its influence, characters in the story often find themselves caught in a loop, always returning to the Ring and the power it holds.
In the verse, "I got a feeling that it's time to let go / I say so / I knew that this was doomed from the get-go," one can see a parallel with Frodo's daunting realization that he has to let go of the Ring to save Middle Earth. Similarly, Gandalf had foreseen the doom from the start, understanding the One Ring's true nature and the destruction it could cause.
"Maybe you don't understand what I'm going through / It's only me / What you got to lose?" can be tied to the isolation Frodo experiences as the Ring's bearer. His unique burden separates him from others, reinforcing the notion that only he truly comprehends what he's going through.
While it's not definitively clear that "Circles" was written about "The Lord of the Rings," the recurring themes of power, corruption, cyclical struggle, and the need to let go present in both works make this interpretation not just plausible, but also compelling.
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