Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
I've been in this place many times before
With my baby's things among my shoes
And strings and clothes, but just because I'm here
Don't mean I can't run out that door
Ain't that what those running shoes are for?
Baby likes to sleep on floor boards bare
And just to keep the peace, well, I join her there
And she might say to me, "A better man, I can't recall"
But what I think she sees ain't me at all
It ain't me at all to need somebody
Like some lovestruck casualty
It ain't me at all to feel so ready
To be what I think she sees
Baby claims I kiss like I really care
Well, I guess I'd say, "I don't", but the truth ain't fair
And sometimes she looks at me and says
"Babe, my heart just stalled"
But what I think she sees, what I think she sees
What I think she sees ain't me at all
With my baby's things among my shoes
And strings and clothes, but just because I'm here
Don't mean I can't run out that door
Ain't that what those running shoes are for?
Baby likes to sleep on floor boards bare
And just to keep the peace, well, I join her there
And she might say to me, "A better man, I can't recall"
But what I think she sees ain't me at all
It ain't me at all to need somebody
Like some lovestruck casualty
It ain't me at all to feel so ready
To be what I think she sees
Baby claims I kiss like I really care
Well, I guess I'd say, "I don't", but the truth ain't fair
And sometimes she looks at me and says
"Babe, my heart just stalled"
But what I think she sees, what I think she sees
What I think she sees ain't me at all
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More Featured Meanings
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This is a beautiful song. Justin Currie's lyrics are so deep yet cleaver. This song is about a woman who is in love with her man despite his shortcomings. He on the other hand does not really know how to take in all the emotions of being in love. Does love conquers all? You bet! this guy is in love too.
I see things completely different than Jack above. This is not a deep song and the singer is not at all in love. He says so point blank: 1) he does'nt need somebody/anybody 2) he's not lovestruck 3) he's not ready to change to the (good) person she sees 4) he doesn't care (as proved to himself when he's kissing her).
and in addition he has "running shoes" to leave at any moment.
She is in the "just fell in love" phase where the lover sees no wrong in the beloved. Simple as that.
The above comments are regardless of who wrote the the song. But when you consider the fact that Justin Currie wrote it, my interpretation is strengthened ten fold. His songs are about running, cheating, not committing, being gone in the morning never to see her again, etc., etc.
Currie's strength is writing pop melodies and hooks. That is the only significant strength of this song. The lyrics appear typical autobiographical Currie which is a very sad way to live.
I think Sugarlander nailed it, but I'm not as dismissive. I see the song as sad, regretful, almost apologetic. He wishes he could be as into her, into the relationship, as she is, but it's not in him. He's sympathetic to her vulnerability and doesn't want to hurt her--he's singing the song to someone else, not to her. A friend. The audience. It's confessional. He sees that she's putting him up on a pedestal, but he's being honest with us. He knows he's not the man she's building him up to be, that he'll eventually disappoint her and bug out. He always does. He can't be what she wants him to be, no matter how hard he might try. He knows himself too well, and if he bought into her view of him, he'd be fooling himself. He wouldn't be "me" at all. He's stuck with his own failings and unreliability, and is basically saying he prefers accepting and owning that to living a lie. Rough choice. Lonely guy. Sad. But a really good, honest, heartfelt song. Gentle. Melancholy. My favorite song of theirs, by far. One of my favorites, full stop.