Holding soft, to holding back, to keep his own heart.
All in all, you need to learn to let it go.
Feelings for her

For all you know.
You keep yourself from rising tone, no future holds.
Slowly look up, you're looking hard to find love.
Low key, fatal tune.

Hold me, you know this wasn't planned.
Hold me close, you'll hold.
Hold me now, to keep it all in sand.
Hold fire, you'll hold.

Under unnatural circumstances, I forget about your vain pretenses.
But if you want to recreate the sea, another sky for me, I got you.
Under unnatural circumstances, I forget all of your vain pretenses.
But if you want to recreate for me, another sky and see, I got you.

(Personify)

So hold me, you know this wasn't planned.
Hold me close, you'll hold.
Hold me now, to keep it all in sand.
So hold fire, you'll hold.


Lyrics submitted by Petrelaninja

You and I Lyrics as written by Caroline Elizabeth Polachek Ernest Weatherly Greene

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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You and I song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    Great interpretation, but I'd like to correct a few things, at least the way I hear them.

    "Slowly look up, you're looking hard to find love" should read: It's all you got, you're looking hard to find love.

    If you listen carefully, I think you'll agree with me. :) Thanks.

    maclaschon June 27, 2011   Link
  • +3
    Lyric Correction

    Great song!! Interestingly enough, I think the lyrics were changed quite a bit in the album release (Jul 12, 2011) as opposed to the 2010 release. Here's my corrections & interpretations for the NEW VERSION:

    (For you, sigh)

    And all these hurts to hold you back, to keep your sort in knots. You want it all, you need the words to let it go: feelings for no one.

    For all you know, you keep yourself from rising towards, no future hold knowns. It's all you've got, you're never going to find enough. You keep it all deep low.

    Don't hold embrace, you know just just what you've got. Don't hold me close, you'll hold. Don't hold me nice, to keep it all inside. Don't hold fire, you'll lie.

    Under untrue circumstances, I forget all of your vain pretenses. But if you want to recreate the sea, and the sky for me, I got you. Under untrue circumstances, I forget all of your vain pretenses. But if you want to recreate for me another sky and sea, I got you.

    (For you, sigh)

    Don't walk away, you know just what you've got. Don't hold me close, you'll hold. Don't hold me nice, to keep it all inside. Don't hold fire, you'll lie.

    Ernest Greene certainly captured the feeling of ambivalence when he wrote this - adding "don't" to every line in the chorus certainly changes the inherent meaning of the song. It fits the album cover well, and definitely conveys the thin line between love and hate in my opinion.

    I think the song is about a couple that is in a bittersweet romance - the girl carries with her hurts from the past and holds love to an unattainable idealization. She doesn't communicate this with her partner. As a result, she is controlling the guy and is openly critical of his faults, except when she seeks affection. The guy realizes that she is using him, and is telling her to stop. However in the end, he still holds too strong of feelings to end the relationship... "You and I" indeed. <3

    kehbinrooon July 13, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    spontaneous, overwhelmingly tempting, ambivalent and hopeful seduction.

    Seductive song, i love it. First impression without the lyrics- it goes with the album cover well..

    lisasonodaon July 05, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    turn the lights off and feel it all around.

    njtgkhnon December 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction

    I think these are the right lyrics:

    [Decide (repeated)] I know it's hard, to hold it back, to keep your thoughts in line. You want it all, you need the words to let it go, feelings for your love.

    Before you know, you keep yourself from rising towards, no future holds it all. It's all you've got, your never goin to find it out, you'll keep it all to hold.

    Don't walk away, you know just what you've got. Don't wanna call it off. Don't wanna lie, to keep it all inside. Don't Wanna find it out.

    Under untrue circumstances, I forget all of your vain pretenses. But if you want to recreate the sea, and the sky for me, I got you. Under untrue circumstances, I forget all of your vain pretenses. But if you want to recreate for me another sky and sea, I got you.

    Don't walk away, you know just what you've got. Don't wanna call it off. Don't wanna lie, to keep it all inside. Don't Wanna find it out.

    I know the lyrics aren't all that clear on the album, but if you listen to the live versions of this song its obvious that these are pretty accurate.

    lperron March 31, 2012   Link

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