Miscellaneous album cover

Florence – Drumming Song Lyrics

Electronic

There's a drumming noise inside my head
That starts when you're around
I swear that you could hear it
It makes such an almighty sound
There's a drumming noise inside my head
That throws me to the ground
I swear that you should hear it
It makes such an almighty sound

Louder than sirens, louder than bells
Sweeter than heaven and hotter than hell

I ran to the tower where the church bells chime
I hoped that they would clear my mind
They left a ringing in my ear
But that drum's still beating loud and clear

Louder than sirens (Louder than sirens)
Louder than bells (Louder than bells)
Sweeter than heaven (Sweeter than heaven)
And hotter than hell (Hotter than hell)
Louder than sirens, louder than bells
Sweeter than heaven and hotter than hell
Louder than sirens, louder than bells
Sweeter than heaven and hotter than hell

As I move my feet towards your body
I can hear this beat
It fills my head up and gets louder and louder
Fills my head up and gets louder and louder

I run to the river and dive straight in
I pray that the water will drown out the din

But as the water fills my mouth
It couldn't wash the echoes out
But as the water fills my mouth
It couldn't wash the echoes out
I swallow the sound and it swallows me whole
Till there's nothing left inside my soul
I'm empty as that beating drum
But the sound has just begun

As I move my feet towards your body
I can hear this beat
It fills my head up and gets louder and louder
Fills my head up and gets louder and louder

There's a drumming noise inside my head
That starts when you're around
I swear that you could hear it
It makes such an almighty sound
There's a drumming noise inside my head
That starts when you're around
I swear that you could hear it
It makes such an almighty sound

Louder than sirens, louder than bells
Sweeter than heaven and hotter than hell
Louder than sirens, louder than bells
Sweeter than heaven and hotter than hell

As I move my feet towards your body
I can hear this beat
It fills my head up and gets louder and louder
Fills my head up and gets louder and louder

About This Song

"Drumming Song" is a visceral exploration of obsessive love and the overwhelming physical sensations that accompany intense romantic desire. The song uses the metaphor of an incessant drumbeat inside the narrator's head to represent the all-consuming nature of infatuation-a rhythmic pounding that drowns out rational thought and becomes both torturous and addictive. Florence Welch's lyrics capture the paradoxical nature of passionate love, describing it as simultaneously "sweeter than heaven and hotter than hell," suggesting how desire can feel both transcendent and destructive. The protagonist seeks refuge in a church tower, hoping the sacred bells will cleanse her mind, but finds that nothing can silence the internal drumming that this person has awakened within her. Musically, the track builds from haunting, sparse verses into explosive, gospel-influenced choruses that mirror the emotional crescendo described in the lyrics. The production features tribal-like percussion that literally embodies the "drumming" metaphor, while Welch's powerful, operatic vocals convey both vulnerability and fierce intensity. The song resonated with listeners because it perfectly captures the physical reality of overwhelming attraction-the way love can feel like a fever, a possession, or a kind of beautiful madness that takes over one's entire being. Its blend of religious imagery, primal rhythms, and raw emotional honesty established Florence + The Machine's signature style of turning personal turmoil into epic, cathartic art.

Comments (15)

  • Anonymous
    Tremendous! This and 'Howl' are my favourites (at the moment at least) - though the entire album is amazing! She should have won the Mercury!
  • Anonymous
    i love this song... well i love all florences song, but this one the most! shes amazing. x
  • Anonymous
    This is my favourite song of the moment.and my speciality song for singing ;')ILOVEITheidileighsutterby.
  • Anonymous
    florence said that this was about when you are near someone you love and how you feel around them. xx luv this song! xx
  • Anonymous
    just amazing, she put her life into lyrics and is making millions, delighted for her
  • Anonymous
    I'm frothing on this song.. Definately my fav...............................................................
  • Anonymous
    Woooooooohooooooooooo!!!!!! Omg LOVE IT!!!!!!!this song is just the greatest!!!!! Oh how I love to listen to it. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Anonymous
    Ugh! Florence is so underrated! Her lyrics have more meanings than most hits these days. I love her and her lyrics! Go Florence!
  • Anonymous
    i fink florence shouldve won every singing award known to man!!! :) ;) shes better than justin bieber and thats something coming from me!!
  • Anonymous
    she has amazing songs! this one is one of my favorite!!!!!!!!........................
  • Anonymous
    WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i have suffered mental ilness for such a long time and im finding great and inspiring therapy by dancing..and i came across this album..this song has hit me in so many ways im getting married next year and i am dancing this song at my wedding for a little closure..all our friends have been there throu all my bad and serious times i will never be cured but i can get closure ...this is what florence and the machines does for me...it lifts nme above like im watching over everything..i love that feeling..josie
  • Anonymous
    Such a good song with amazing video! cant wait till her next album!!!Go Florence!!!
  • Anonymous
    If anyone is familiar with Doctor Who then this song has a particular coolness. His childhood friend and now evil counterpart, The Master, hears a drumming beat in his head that never stops. There is a video someone put together with clips from the show. So, that's what runs through my head when I hear it. Great song!
  • Anonymous
    i love this song its amazing and im definetley gonna get her album!!!!! Plus is was the first florence and the machine song ive ever heard! GO FLORENCE!!
  • Anonymous
    This song is so amazing, I haven't stopped listening to it in days. Her voice is haunting and magical. I was listening to this song on my Ipod today and was in a dream state (this song has that effect on me!) - I bumped into my ex-boyfriend while listening to this song and felt it even more. It was a spin out. I can really relate to the lyrics - the song just beautifully expresses that feeling that someone gives you, it's quite rare.