"I Want to Live" lyrics deep dive

So bare with me, sometimes I struggle to properly organize my thoughts or express them well. But I got stuck on this song for hours, just listening to it and reading about it. It captivated me. I had read that the song writer said the song was about Tav on Twitter/X but that didn't sit well with me at all. I suppose that could be an easy explanation since Tav can be whoever and whatever you, the player, wants. But even then it didn't sit well with me. The lyrics fit the origin companions way too well and matches their personal stories/personalities perfectly.

I wanted to drop my thoughts and interpretations with you guys and hear what you all have to think as well! I've also seen a lot of people say this is "Astarion's theme" or "Astarion and Tav's theme", all the lyrics being able to match him in some way and how this song plays if you stand on a rock behind his tent in Act 1; that's perfectly valid!! I 100% see it and I believe that's a wonderful way to view it and I like viewing it as well. For a while that was the only way I could see it but after thinking about the other companion's stories more and the lyrics I can see it as both now. But I do really believe that the song was meant to cover the origin companions and was the intention of the lyrics. I could be completely wrong.

Some sections are longer for a character than others too but it's more or less balanced I think. The second half of the song is more or less a repeat of the first half one to one or with minor differences, some more major than others.

Just a quick disclaimer, I have not 1000% beat Baldur's Gate 3 yet. I beat most of it, got to Act 3. I spoiled myself for some parts mostly because I don't mind spoilers personally. Yes, I plan on beating it, obviously! :) But I also haven't personally experienced all of the companion's quests. A good chunk of them I have though! So I may or may not be wrong about some things. Feel free to correct me if so! (Nicely pls, I'll cry) Anyways, lets get into it:

I feel your breath upon my neck A soft caress as cold as death (Cold as death)

-This 100% is Wyll, I believe, Mizora always haunting him and bound to him due to his contract with her. A soft caress touching upon her 'seductiveness' and 'cold as death' reminding you of her true, dark nature as a devil. The art of him with Mizora peering over his shoulder supports this too! Though it may or may not be intentionally connected. Another way to view this is for everyone. It could have a double meaning as I will bring up in upcoming lines. In a way, the parasite is always there, looming over their shoulder like the grim reaper breathing on their neck. It's a burden all the companions and Tav are forced to bare as they scramble to try and survive. This line does not change in the second half of the song.

I didn't know you well back then I blame it all on luck and vain (Luck and vain)

-This line belongs to Gale, I believe. His quest is one I have yet to deep dive into but from what I have experienced, he has made some very poor and very dangerous choices with the goddess Mystra and magic in the name of ambition and over confidence and/or arrogance. He didn't understand or refused to acknowledge the consequences of his actions until it was too late and now he's paying the price.

Your blood like wine, I wanted in Oh darling, get me drunk and make me feel

-Painfully obvious, this is Astarion, our favorite vamp. The poetic speech and the usage of 'darling' feels very deliberate, adding his own way to speaking into words. The talk of blood being like wine, yeah vampire. But the 'get me drunk and make me feel' is very much attached to his storyline, having endured abuse and torture for 200 years, twisting his personality and ruining his empathy. We know, deep down, he longs to be able to feel affection again, to be able to truly trust someone and show him the world isn't as evil and cruel as he's been made to believe through his trauma.

It's not my fault I'm not to blame These ain't my sins I broke my chains

-This screams Karlach to me, her past in being forced to be a wardevil in the Hells against her will. Her being the embodiment of a wholesome, pure golden retriever who doesn't want to hurt anyone. Again, I feel like the lyrics are deliberate in how her speech in the usage of 'ain't'. Of course you absolutely could apply these to other characters, for example, Astarion due to being forced by his master to lure in civilians to said master where they either died or were turned into vampire spawn. However, while that is a very valid and possible view, I believe these lines truly belong to Karlach with the speech usage (Astarion wouldn't use 'ain't') and how desperate it feels with regret and pain. These line do not change the second half of the song.

There's more to do And I still want to live

-This line is meant to cover everyone, including Tav. Maybe you could say this is Tav's because you can make them whatever and whomever and yet their motivations are the same in the end; they want to live. However because of how wide of a statement it is, it falls under all companions, they all wanting to live as their biggest priority.

I feel your breath, upon my neck A soft caress, as cold as death (Cold as death)

-Same as the first part, Wyll and/or everyone. No new lyrics.

I feel your heart-beat in my soul Our futures bound, our bodies know (Bodies know)

• This one I would say Gale, seeing as his part in the first half was here and he and Mystra are deeply connected via the weave and their history. However, I feel like another perfectly good view of this part is Tav and the other origin companions, how they instantly connect to each other thanks to the parasites, it's not just a mind thing but it's a feeling. They share a common goal and a (kind of) shared destiny. (That's more up to the player's choices though)

Your blood like wine, I wanted in Oh darling get me drunk, invite me in

• Obviously, Astarion again. But there is a small change to 'invite me in'. I could be wrong but I did read somewhere that in the lore of D&D, vampires DO have to be invited in like the classic tales. Just like how Tav has to be the one to invite Astarion to trust them and open up.

It's not my fault I'm not to blame Thesе ain't my sins I broke my chains

-Likely Karlach, no change in this section.

There's morе to do If I can only live

-Likely everyone, including Tav if not only Tav. No changes.

I can't go yet Don't let me die

-Shadowheart and if I'm even close to being right, she definitely got shafted in the lyrics section. Nothing else really fits her in the other lyrics except these, being a reflection of your first meeting with her, begging you to save her life from the pod. Aside from wanting to live, she can't die yet because she has a mission for Shar to carry through. You could also apply this to everyone and their wishes to live.

I'll never stop Until I'm done But just tonight Maybe I'll rest in peace

-Lae'zel, mostly having to do with her character development than her story. When you first meet her, she is very impatient and wants to rush to find a creche. The first long rest you take, if you talk to her at camp, she'll complain about resting and wasting time. She just wants to go, go, go and get back to her life. But as time passes, she softens up to you and the others and comes to learn patience and peace. To an extent. She allows herself to peacefully take a rest once in a while instead of constantly fighting.

I feel your breath upon my neck A soft caress as cold as death (Cold as death)

-Likely Wyll again. No changes from the previous two times.

I hear your heart-beat in my soul Our endings bound, our bodies know

-Likely Gale or everyone again. Slightly changed from the previous line but instead of futures being bound, their endings are bound together. Just another way to say their futures are bound together. Or you could see it as after the parasites are placed in them, their endings are all placed upon Tav as they are the only one to bring everyone together as if Tav wasn't there or involved, most of the companions wouldn't give each other the time of day and/or die. (There is a great youtube video that actually covers that, how BG3 might go if Tav(the player) didn't exist. You can watch it here if you're interested! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gprjaAjlETg )

I can't go yet Don't let me die

-Again, no changes and likely Shadowheart while also possibly being about everyone.

I want to live My only one There's more to do, if we can only live The clock won't stop and this is what we get

-This one is for everyone, you only have one life to live and everyone has their missions/goals after they rid themselves of the parasite's threat. Pretty self explanatory but also a hint that time is always against them in their journey.

This was a lot of fun to think up and I hope you guys enjoyed it, maybe see the song in a different light. Or maybe not. Maybe you already knew all this. Just to be safe as these touch gently upon spoilers for all of the game, I made it Act 3 spoiler marked. Let me know if I missed anything, if there's something to add or if you have a different view, your opinions and such! I really love this song!

Edit: Sorry for all the weird/poor formatting. I rarely make posts on Reddit.