I think the affair theory is part of it, but there's more. It sounds like it's more of a side-story to the general idea of the song. Plus, I think it's more of an unrequited love thing that an actual affair.
It seems to me like it's about how a band goes from being a shitty, inexperienced group to a good, cohesive band of skilled musicians. They want to "leave the basement life". At this point, they're still green: notice how the line is "I'll TRY to play the guitar," not "I'll play the quitar." The band isn't good yet, but they're working hard. The line: "You are everything you are/ nothing at all" seems to say that they aren't famous, therefore they are "nothing" in terms of what their goal is. They want to live the life of "furnished rooms" with a "bird's eye view." (i.e. a huge house with lots of stuff)
I think the relationship aspect is that the speaker (whom I don't think is directly Emily Haines, though it is certainly her lyrics) is in love with the landlord's wife, shown in the line:
"Giving for chances to
Leave the basement life
And not the landlord's wife."
The speaker wants the band to go places, but it would mean leaving the landlord's wife, whom he loves. It might not even be an affair; it sounds more to me that the speaker is simply hot for the landlord's wife, it doesn't say anything about the landlord's wife loving him back. In these lines:
"You leave your eyes there for me to memorize.
I can see you happy in the shadows I despise."
It sounds like the speaker is watching the landlord's wife from a distance ("in the shadows I despise"). He wants her, but he knows he can't have her.
I think the affair theory is part of it, but there's more. It sounds like it's more of a side-story to the general idea of the song. Plus, I think it's more of an unrequited love thing that an actual affair.
It seems to me like it's about how a band goes from being a shitty, inexperienced group to a good, cohesive band of skilled musicians. They want to "leave the basement life". At this point, they're still green: notice how the line is "I'll TRY to play the guitar," not "I'll play the quitar." The band isn't good yet, but they're working hard. The line: "You are everything you are/ nothing at all" seems to say that they aren't famous, therefore they are "nothing" in terms of what their goal is. They want to live the life of "furnished rooms" with a "bird's eye view." (i.e. a huge house with lots of stuff)
I think the relationship aspect is that the speaker (whom I don't think is directly Emily Haines, though it is certainly her lyrics) is in love with the landlord's wife, shown in the line:
"Giving for chances to Leave the basement life And not the landlord's wife."
The speaker wants the band to go places, but it would mean leaving the landlord's wife, whom he loves. It might not even be an affair; it sounds more to me that the speaker is simply hot for the landlord's wife, it doesn't say anything about the landlord's wife loving him back. In these lines:
"You leave your eyes there for me to memorize. I can see you happy in the shadows I despise."
It sounds like the speaker is watching the landlord's wife from a distance ("in the shadows I despise"). He wants her, but he knows he can't have her.
I love this song! :D