| Rilo Kiley – Science vs. Romance Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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Although the song is called "Science vs Romance", I don't think it's about choosing one over the other. Instead I feel its about how both exist in life and coming to terms with that contradiction. Also I view romance and science in very broad terms, where romance = idealistic and science = realistic, and the struggle of the two. The first verse is very romantic in the idealistic sense, and the line "Used to believe/In a lot more/Now I just see straight ahead" signifies an abandonment of the idealistic/romantic ways of thinking in favour of a more realistic/scientific perspective. Jenny goes on to say "That's not to say/I don't have good times", suggesting that although everyone seems to think a more scientific/realistic way of life is colder, it has suited her just as fine as a romantic life could have. However, she spends her days "waiting", meaning science is not the only thing out there for her. The chorus, where she sings "Crash sites keep me up at night", also suggests that although she is more scientific/realistic now, she has not grown cold and inhuman - she is affected by pain. "As for those things/That act as markers in your life/But in between you can't remember" This line seems to elude to large milestones people often romanticize and build up, and how they obscure the little things that aren't planned. I viewed it as a struggle between the romanticized things people think you should have and the scientific/realistic view that life goes on and that the little everyday things measure your life as well, even if they are forgotten. "And so it seems/That you've grown up and over me/And these silly things I like to dwell on" - She used to view things romantically/ideally, but a relationship changed that for her, she realized the romanticized things in her life were not necessarily what she wanted, and rather the details were the finer things in life. "Facts versus romance/You go and call yourself the boss" - This is up for interpretation as to who the boss is, what the facts are, etc. To me, I see it as her looking at the person who got over her and comparing the facts of the relationship to the idealized version of romance in general. "Still we're not robots inside a grid" - Science imagery, but I think it also points to the events people romanticize in their lives - the big milestones and how great they're supposed to be. We're not all going to follow orders and live out exactly as we are programmed to like robots are, we choose our own paths and those milestones people think everyone should have - graduation/wedding/honeymoon etc. are not for everyone. "Zeroes and ones" - Binary. I think it's pointing to more of a social binary, where people see others as fitting in certain boxes, while identity is not that easy to sort out, and as a result neither is a choice between Science and Romance, in the sense of living your life realistically or ideally. It's not that simple. |
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| Stars – One More Night Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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It's not about rape, it's not about break-up sex; it's the continuation of Your Ex-Lover is Dead. Hence the title containing "Your Ex-Lover Remains Dead". Consider the meaning of "Your Ex-Lover is Dead". It's about two people who once dated a long time ago and now have re-met. These people both got into a taxi together, and the song ends with both agreeing they aren't sorry the relationship is over, however they don't part ways. Instead, as "One More Night" shows, they decide to spend one more night together, despite being broken up ages ago. The imagery towards the end of the song even makes it sound like revenge sex, as in "Your Ex-Lover is Dead", she was hurt more than him (who doesn't even remember her name) regarding the break up, and now she's "leaving him empty", and telling him she would "wish that he'd die". While he wants it as he "drops to his knees", begging for her. It's not rape because they both want it and they're both being hurt by it and it's not break-up sex because they're already broken up. It's the return to an old relationship for meaningless/casual sex, but it turns out to mean more than was intended. |
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| Stars – Your Ex-Lover Is Dead Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| I like this interpretation, except I would say that the line "This scar is a fleck on my porcelain skin" suggests that she was once affected and hurt by the relationship, as it was a scar. However, she grew up and moved past it, as it is now merely a fleck, which denotes that it is small and barely noticeable amongst the rest of her life experiences. So the relationship was once something that seriously impacted her, but I feel like they both moved on and can co-exist with a sense of nostalgia, rather than reflecting on the pain of the relationship. | |
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