I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Wash your back so you won't stab mine
Get in bed with your own kind
Live your life so you don't see mine
Drape your back so you won't shine
Ooh, then she hold my hand
And I lie to get a smile
Ooh, then she hold my hand
And I lie to get a smile
Using what I want
To get what you want
Using what I want
To get what you want
Using what I want
To get what you want
Using what I want
To get what you want
Ooh, sweet amber
How sweet are you?
How sweet does it get?
How sweet are you?
How sweet does it get?
Chase the rabbit, fetch the stick
She rolls me over 'til I'm sick
She deals in habits, deals in pain
I run away, but I'm back again
Chase the rabbit, fetch the stick
She rolls me over 'til I'm sick
She deals in habits, deals in pain
I run away, but I'm back again
Ooh, then she holds my hand
And I lie to get a smile
Ooh, yeah
And she squeezes tighter
I still lie to get a smile
Using what I want
To get what you want
Using what I want
To get what you want
Using what I want
To get what you want
Using what I want
To get what you want
Ooh, sweet amber
How sweet are you?
How sweet does it get?
How sweet are you?
How sweet does it get?
She holds the pen that spells the end
She traces me and draws me in
She holds the pen that spells the end
She traces me and draws me in
Ooh, sweet amber (ooh, sweet amber)
Ooh, sweet amber
How sweet are you?
Ooh, how sweet does it get?
How sweet are you?
How sweet does it get?
It's never as sweet as it seems
Get in bed with your own kind
Live your life so you don't see mine
Drape your back so you won't shine
Ooh, then she hold my hand
And I lie to get a smile
Ooh, then she hold my hand
And I lie to get a smile
Using what I want
To get what you want
Using what I want
To get what you want
Using what I want
To get what you want
Using what I want
To get what you want
Ooh, sweet amber
How sweet are you?
How sweet does it get?
How sweet are you?
How sweet does it get?
Chase the rabbit, fetch the stick
She rolls me over 'til I'm sick
She deals in habits, deals in pain
I run away, but I'm back again
Chase the rabbit, fetch the stick
She rolls me over 'til I'm sick
She deals in habits, deals in pain
I run away, but I'm back again
Ooh, then she holds my hand
And I lie to get a smile
Ooh, yeah
And she squeezes tighter
I still lie to get a smile
Using what I want
To get what you want
Using what I want
To get what you want
Using what I want
To get what you want
Using what I want
To get what you want
Ooh, sweet amber
How sweet are you?
How sweet does it get?
How sweet are you?
How sweet does it get?
She holds the pen that spells the end
She traces me and draws me in
She holds the pen that spells the end
She traces me and draws me in
Ooh, sweet amber (ooh, sweet amber)
Ooh, sweet amber
How sweet are you?
Ooh, how sweet does it get?
How sweet are you?
How sweet does it get?
It's never as sweet as it seems
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Yo La Tengo
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Hm... to me, this song just sounds like a normal relationship played out by, say, two rival spies? Of course, that's just from the first and second lines, and no other line supports this theory. And then again, there could be more... since Metallica likes weaving stories in songs (Unforgiven, Ronnie, The Phantom Lord, Harvester of Sorrow) as well as write songs about stories (For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Thing That Should Not Be, Creeping Death), this could be an example. In the beginning, both are agents or spies. But after a while, the guy and hence the narrator quits "the business" to be with "Amber", although she stays in it. He basically gets screwed over from there. Then again, maybe I've just watched Tarantino films too many times, since my interpretation sounds like something he'd write. Speaking of Tarantino, how many of you knew (or cared to know) that Lars (yes, Metallica's Lars) is producing the soundtrack for his latest, Kill Bill?
Actually in the first two lines hes talking about a dispute with the radio industry in that they want them to do some promotional thing which they disagree with. Upper management is trying to get them to agree this way they get played on the radio
@BlackMage really? did not know he produced that... wow.<br />