Have you ever heard the song “Constant Craving” by K.D. Lang? If you’re a fan of the song, you’ll want to read this blog post! Let’s explore the story behind the song and why it was written.
The lyrics are incredibly powerful and speak to the human experience in a way that is both relatable and unique.
Let’s also discuss some of the interpretations that have been put forward by fans of the song. Whether you’re a fan of K.D. Lang or not, I think you’ll find this blog post interesting!
Constant Craving Lyrics
Even through the darkest phase
Be it thick or thin
Always someone marches brave
Here beneath my skin
Constant craving
Has always been
Maybe a great magnet pulls
All souls towards truth
Or maybe it is life itself
That feeds wisdom
To its youth
Constant craving
Has always been
Craving
Ah ha
Constant craving
Has always been
Has always been
Constant craving
Has always been
Constant craving
Has always been
Craving
Ah ha
Constant craving
Has always been
Has always been
Has always been
Has always been
Has always been
Has always been
Who helped write the song
K.D. Lang herself wrote the lyrics to “Constant Craving.”
The song was co-written with her friend and collaborator, Ben Mink.
Mink is a Canadian musician, producer, and composer.
He has worked with Lang on several of her albums, including “Ingenue” and “All You Can Eat.”
What does the song mean?
In an interview with the Buddhist publication The Shambhala Sun, K.D. Lang (a devoted Buddhist) said, “‘Constant Craving’ is all about samsara.”
Samsara, as defined within Buddhism, is the continuous cycle of birth and death while one moves within the six realms of existence. Each realm can be either physical or psychological, marked by a specific type of suffering.
K.D. Lang elaborated on the song’s Buddhist meaning during an interview with Mojo magazine:
“I wasn’t a Buddhist when I wrote it. I’ve been interested in Buddhism since I was 18, when I first kind of started pondering reincarnation and my own existential journeys, but I didn’t become a practitioner until 2000.
More interviews
In a 2017 interview with NPR, K.D. Lang explained that the song “felt like it was incongruent to the rest of the record,” but that it recently became clear. “It’s an acquiescence,” she said. “It’s a summation of human desire. It’s like yes, OK, we all are heartbroken. We’re all nervous. We’re all vulnerable. We’re all hopeful, but at the end of the day, constant craving has always been. And it really, emotionally, just surfaced for me, the purpose of that song.”
Lang also has said that the song is about “a constant yearning for something, whether it be love or an ideal or a feeling of home.”
And she’s said that the lyrics are meant to be interpreted in a number of ways, and that they can mean different things to different people.
Whether you interpret the lyrics as being about love, or about a yearning for something more, there is no doubt that they are powerful and moving.
The song has resonated with many people over the years, and has been covered by a number of artists. The chorus is particularly haunting and memorable in some hard to describe way!
Awards
Though K.D. Lang was lauded throughout her career with multiple Grammy nominations, and even induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, “Constant Craving” marked her only Billboard Hot 100 hit until her 2010 album cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” which she originally performed for the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
A song about the struggles of life and the resiliency of the human spirit, “Constant Craving” is a great example of how a lot can be said with a concise lyric, and is notable for its short verses.
The song went on to receive Grammy nominations for Song of the Year and Record of the Year, and K.D. Lang won a Grammy for Female Pop Vocal Performance.
How Constant Craving lyrics relate to Buddhism
The song’s lyrics of “Constant Craving” can be interpreted in a number of ways, but one way to look at them is through the lens of Buddhism.
As mentioned earlier, samsara is the continuous cycle of birth and death while one moves within the six realms of existence.
This can be seen as a metaphor for the human condition, in which we constantly crave things (whether it be food, material possessions, love, or approval) and never seem to find lasting satisfaction.
The song’s opening lines – “Be it thick or thin / Always someone marches brave / Here beneath my skin” – could be seen as a reference to the fact that no matter how difficult life gets, there are always those who march on bravely.
This could be interpreted as a call to be more mindful of the suffering of others, and to appreciate the resiliency of the human spirit.
The lyrics to Constant Craving also touch on the idea of impermanence, which is a central tenet of Buddhism. Nothing in life is permanent, and everything is constantly changing.
This can be seen as a source of both pain and comfort; pain because we can never hold on to anything (whether it be a person, an object, or a feeling), and comfort because nothing lasts forever (including our suffering).
Watch the Music Video
Want to see K.D. Lang and various actors perform a fanciful recreation of the song?
In conclusion, “Constant Craving” is a complex and nuanced song that can mean different things to different people. Whether you interpret Constant Craving as being about love, cravings, or about the nature of the universe, the lyrics and musicality are sure to capture your attention and ear!
For more general about cravings, I’m talking about food cravings here specifically, then read this blog post for the common meanings!
