This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
She'd do anything to sparkle in his eye
She would suffer, she would fight, and compromise
She's been wishin' on the stars that shine so bright
For answers to the questions that will haunt her tonight
She must rinse this all away
She can't hold him this way
She must rinse this all away
She can't love him this way
How she'd be soothed, how she'd be saved if he could see
She needs to be held in his arms to be free
But everything happens for reasons that she will never understand
'til she knows the heart of a woman will never be found in the arms of a man
[Chorus]
And if she runs away she fears she won't be followed
What could be the worse than leaving something behind
And as the depth of oceans slowly become shallow
It's loneliness she finds
If only he was mine
She'd do anything to sparkle in his eye
She would suffer, she would fight, and compromise
She's been wishin' on the stars that shine so bright
For answers to the questions that will haunt her tonight
She must rinse him
She must rinse him
She can't rinse him
She can't rinse him
She can't, she won't, she must rinse him
She can't, she won't, she must rinse him
She must rinse this all away
She can't hold him this way
She must rinse this all away
She can't love him this way
She would suffer, she would fight, and compromise
She's been wishin' on the stars that shine so bright
For answers to the questions that will haunt her tonight
She must rinse this all away
She can't hold him this way
She must rinse this all away
She can't love him this way
How she'd be soothed, how she'd be saved if he could see
She needs to be held in his arms to be free
But everything happens for reasons that she will never understand
'til she knows the heart of a woman will never be found in the arms of a man
[Chorus]
And if she runs away she fears she won't be followed
What could be the worse than leaving something behind
And as the depth of oceans slowly become shallow
It's loneliness she finds
If only he was mine
She'd do anything to sparkle in his eye
She would suffer, she would fight, and compromise
She's been wishin' on the stars that shine so bright
For answers to the questions that will haunt her tonight
She must rinse him
She must rinse him
She can't rinse him
She can't rinse him
She can't, she won't, she must rinse him
She can't, she won't, she must rinse him
She must rinse this all away
She can't hold him this way
She must rinse this all away
She can't love him this way
Lyrics submitted by carboncentric
Rinse Lyrics as written by Vanessa Carlton
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The Night We Met
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Dreamwalker
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Silent Planet
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
Personally, I think this song is about wanting something you know you can't have. She's not in a relationship, but she desperately wants to be. But in the back of her mind, she knows nothing can never happen. Sadly, it's hard to let go. Everytime she holds him and loves him, she knows it's not real... even though she has such strong feelings for him
"She'd do anything to sparkle in his eye." Love it, Love it, Love it! She has great lyrics.
The song's meaning is so clear. It's about obsessive love. The girl is obsessed with this guy. You can catch that clearly in the first verse, particularly with the lines: "She'd do anything to sparkle in his eye. She would suffer; she would fight and compromise". She's desparate to have him. But, in the same token, she know's it's wrong. She knows what she feels isn't really love. So she tries to make herself stop, but she can't.
The bridge is one of my favorite parts because it's the turning point in the song. She's choosing to do the right thing and give him up. But she almost regrets it, because she knows that he's not going to chase her. And so she ends up all alone, still feeling the exact same way as she did before. She's still obsessed with him and it's tearing her apart.
Those are my thoughts. Take 'em or leave 'em.
Well... sorry guys, but Vanessa wrote this song about me and my freakish tendency to obsess over this guy - five years before I even met him! She's good like that.
But seriously, fairyinblacknwhite has got the song down. It's about obsession and coming to terms with the fact that a guy is not going to make you who you are, or happy with yourself. It's an unhealthy thing and getting over it is a cleansing process - rinse.
My favorite part is that "if she runs away, she fears she won't be followed," because for me that's the worst part of getting over this. There's a void that's gotta be filled there.
When she says "she can't hold anybody this way" instead of just "hold him this way", i think the girl the song's about feels like nobody would ever want her so she has to forget about the feelings she has. Another way i heard the song was, the girl is in a "friends with benefits" kind of thing,and shes in love with him but she knows he'll never feel the same way so she has to stop her feelings.
this song is so awesome. God the truth is just everywhere in this song. I can't pick out one truthful line, cause they ALL are.
This song is definitly my favorite on her album. Every line in this song is so powerful..im surprised that only one other person commented on this song. I love that part- "But everything happens for reasons that she will never understand. 'Til she knows that the heart of a woman will never be found in the arms of a man." ..GO VANESSA!!!
Maybe the most personal song on the album? (still thinking about this one)
This definitely sums up my life. Even more so with the line of ~'Til she knows that the heart of a woman will never be found in the arms of a/this man~. It depicts every emotion I have right now, to the guy that I've come to love even though I know I shouldn't, because he's gay.
the lyrics of this song are great, i agree with sierra my favorite part is one other person commented on this song. I love that part.. "But everything happens for reasons that she will never understand. 'Til she knows that the heart of a woman will never be found in the arms of a man." even thoughh the lyrics are good i think the piano in the background at times, like the beginning is just beautiful, she's an amazing performer!