: Some speculate it refers to the death of a former bandmate, though there is no official confirmation of this. The Official Video Style

: Realising the original lyrics weren't relatable, Lynne rewrote them in about 30 minutes to be about the loss of love . He has since clarified that the "livin' thing" is simply love itself—something beautiful and vital that is a "terrible thing to lose". Misinterpretations and Urban Legends

Despite the song's grand, cinematic sound, frontman has revealed that the "livin' thing" he initially wrote about was actually a bout of food poisoning .

Because the lyrics are poetic and somewhat vague, several theories have emerged over the decades:

The "story" behind official video is primarily centered on the song's unexpected inspiration and the various interpretations that have followed it since its 1976 release. The True Inspiration

: Lynne once joked that the lyrics were inspired by a bad holiday meal in Spain. He famously remarked, "I wouldn't want anyone to think it's about a bad paella on a Spanish holiday," but admitted the physical feeling influenced the song's early stages.