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,
Loved ones tell stories about me to me,
But I already know what it's like to die,
And to pluck at my ghost's sad eternal.
I wrote an apology on the mirror,
And one forget-me-not to yours truly.
Another ideal sculpted frame
To Love
To Want
To Fear
To Blame
We all hate to look,
We all love to picture.
Alone we seek shadows to hide in,
As statues mark these days.
I know nothing of delicacy blossoming beneath flesh
Tickle my fancy with visions of "Perfection,"
On infinite wings I fly from affection.
Syllables, images, deny self-worth;
The pain of convention.
There's a desire to validate this body.
There's a need to eradicate this paradigm.
But I already know what it's like to die,
And to pluck at my ghost's sad eternal.
I wrote an apology on the mirror,
And one forget-me-not to yours truly.
Another ideal sculpted frame
To Love
To Want
To Fear
To Blame
We all hate to look,
We all love to picture.
Alone we seek shadows to hide in,
As statues mark these days.
I know nothing of delicacy blossoming beneath flesh
Tickle my fancy with visions of "Perfection,"
On infinite wings I fly from affection.
Syllables, images, deny self-worth;
The pain of convention.
There's a desire to validate this body.
There's a need to eradicate this paradigm.
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Ed Sheeran
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“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.
i can't believe no one has said anything about this one. it's such an awesome song about body image and social pressure, etc. the imagery is awesome. who doesn't want to scream along "alone we seek shadows to hide in, as statues mark these days" ?
i love this song. i interpret it as being about not being able to accept yourself as you are. (as you look) most wish they could change themselves into what society would call "perfection". that's so sad.
The speaker is angry at the fact that he's been overshadowed by a model, a theme, a "sculpture." Something that only exists in our mind's eye has, seemingly, to his perception, defeated him finally in the struggle we all face, our perceptions versus ourselves. We all want to destroy what we actually cherish. Our visions of "beauty" lead us while also leaving us to our own dismay.
"I know nothing of delicacy blossoming beneath flesh"
It isn't whats inside that counts in a place like this.
wonderful song. it has all the elements to a great song. it's also got nice guitar breakdowns and great lyrics.
i always thought it was, 'undone forget-me-nots (knots) to yours truely.' i guess that's just me though.
Greatest song ever written on guitar.