: 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.
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 . Electric Light Orchestra - Livin' Thing (Official Video)
: 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 : Lynne once joked that the lyrics were