On Tour with Zykos

This song is amazing.

I love it because of the story it tells, and because it is built in such a perfect way to tell that story. The song is basically split into two separate 'scenes' that tell a kind of before and after of this girl's story. Both of the scenes try to describe some really powerful but subtle things, and in my opinion, perfectly capture the feeling of these two moments.

The first 'scene' describes the moment when the girl and 'John' are breaking up; he's talking with her and trying to be nice but she just reacts with anger - but not even because she actually wants him to leave; she's lashing out like that and wants him gone because she loves him and is being hurt so badly by this. She's bitterly telling him: fine, leave, be a rock star, go have fun, but really she wants him to stay and cling to whatever she can. As she says in the last line; ‘How come I say goodbye when God knows I just want to/ Make this white lie big enough to climb inside/ with you.’ It’s about being torn; wanting someone to leave, but really not wanting that at all, not even a bit.

Then, some time later, we’re shown the second 'scene': what the girl's life has become since John left. In the first scene she was still defiant and proud - ‘Think you can get up above me?’ - and told him to get lost. But now, she's just fading. She’s leading a life that she hates, going through the motions of her job and her habits - ‘What a sad way to be/ What a girl who got tired.’ And all the while, she remembers who she thought she'd be, and feels things were meant to be different for her... ‘I was supposed to be writing/ The most beautiful poems.’

The end of the scene finds her thoughts wandering back to him; where he is, who he's with now. She wonders what new girl is feeling the rush that she felt when she was with him; it was the opposite of the emptiness she feels now.

I feel like this song is a companion piece to 'On calling and not calling my ex' because they both have very similar themes; a person left behind by a someone who went on to bigger and better things, and the ache of wanting that person. The second scene’s image of this broken girl fading away is truly heartbreaking. I think like the best music, this song captures some very real feelings, shares them, and helps us understand them a bit better.

I don't think it's referring to the breakup of a long-term relationship. Rather, the scenario I'm seeing here is that this girl is obsessed with some musician, has a one night stand, and attributes more to the relationship than actually exists: She's in love with him, but ultimately she's a groupie and he's just going to move on to the next show.

yes the zykos are a bag which okkervil toured with, and I believe it is just a reference to being on tour, because this song is about a girl who's in love with a touring musician (John).

they are a band. not a bag. and i love this song, one of the best on the new record, but wtf with the ALL of all that much at all.

This album's a lot more focussed than the last one. D'ya reckon this one's about the groupie lifestyle, too?

I think it may actually be "Her head alright," which I like better because it could not only refer to drugs or feeling euphoric but also contrasts the way the girl's head feels to how the narrator's head feels (most certainly not alright).

divine mysteries of cloaks? Seriously?

lol. It most certainly should be "Divine mysteries UPCLOSE."

"discussed with desire" not "disgust".

this song the first song i really fell in love with this on this cd. I mean who has never had such strong feelings for someone that you knew that there was no way it would never work out, and you knew that it was just such a bad idea to be with that person. Like the line about crawling into that white lie...the girl (well Sheff from a girl's point of view) bashes the guy shes talking about yet still in the end wants to be with him. its sad, but such a great observation on humans and their relationships/perspectives on relationships. just so beautiful...