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

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 .

: 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

: This is the most persistent theory. Many listeners believe the "living thing" refers to an unborn child. Lynne has repeatedly denied this, stating it was never his intention to make a political or social statement.

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

: Others have interpreted the song as a call to protect the earth or whales, a theme reinforced when it was used in environmental campaigns.