Me And My Big Ideas

Hello everybody. I'm adding my comment only 12 years later than you, but my love for TfF is recent. I find it strange that nobody commented about Oleta singing with Roland this song in particular. Am I the only one who read about a presumed affair between them, during the StSoL era? Said that I gotta say I adore this album. I've just seen them live, in Milan and I wished they'd sing at least one song from this album.

I am a bit lost on the meaning of this song but was somewhat surprised that there weren't any comments. This song is (to me) a riddle in that I cannot determine what the theme or story is. I would be very interested to hear someone else's thoughts. Also, there is a reference to this song in "Sorry" from Roland's RATKOS album. I would close by saying that the line "So many strings to your bow, Why not let one go" is one of the most beautiful lines I have ever heard.

Imagodoc, your insight is very much appreciated. And I could not agree more that RATKOS is perhaps "the greatest album tha nobody knows about" The concept of an affair or forbiden love would certainly appear to be a theme that runs through Roland's songs, however sometimes I wonder if this is just too easy and that it might be of a deeper meaning.

The Song "Sorry" is another exceptional song that appears to follow this theme.

I don't think everything Roland writes has necessarily happened... I think he lives in that place, where only true poets live....and as every good poet knows, maybe one thought can take him down a path he's only 'dreamed' of going down... With that said, I know that Roland doesn't 'want' his lyrics to be so easily understood... as the test of true poetry is to make you 'travel down the path' with the author and really think...what he truly means... I think this song could be about 2 different things completely... It could be about a man....who is not 'that kind' ... the kind the woman wants him to be ... 'attentive, looking into her soul'.... 'drowning in her'.... so he releases her and says... go find another.....someone who can 'be' your kind... give you what you need... he tells her no one else (other women admirers) don't seem to mind how he is... but he can't give 'this' woman what she needs... his 'soul'.... so he sets her free... OR this could be about something totally different..... I can see it being about his breakup with Curt.... Roland has his own big ideas...and they disagree and he can't wash away the tears (tears for fears) but he tells him --go out and find someone new... it will 'cost you dearly' though..

Well they love you when you're weak Bet they hate you to see this winning streak It's that thing we call control

Those lines sound like a business arrangement to me... and so many strings to your bow..let one go... and in a way... the 'dream' is over... 4 leaf clover... for 'tears for fear's...

I think well written, beautiful songs, like every single one written by Roland, offer to 'you' , the listener, your 'choice' to make the song what you want it to be... to speak to you -- to make you feel -- what you as an individual take from it...

I prefer to think of it on the romantic level.... of the man who can't give this woman what she's looking for ....his 'soul'.... and he says 'no one else seems to mind' that he's 'not that kind'..... He just wants to be ....' himself '.........

The album "Raoul and the Kings of Spain" (RATKOS) is a very underrated album. IMHO, it contains some superb songs, including this one which is, I believe, a retort to "Head Over Heels" which also contains a reference to "my four leaf clover." My interpretation: This album is about an affair that almost destroyed Roland Orzabel's marriage. (Roland does indeed have a son named "Raoul" and his heritage is Spanish.) If you listen closely to the music and lyrics, there are several clues that suggest an affair; in addition, Roland himself has admitted that he wrote these songs during a "very difficult" time in his personal life. And so, "Me and My Big Ideas" is about his ending his extramarital affair. The line "in a way this dream is over" is, I believe, being spoken to his wife. Their perfect marriage is finished; the affair has "blown away this four leaf clover." (I have always believed Roland's earlier song "Head over Heels" was about meeting his wife, the beginning of that relationship which was to be his great fortune, his four leaf clover.")

If you listen to all of RATKOS, I think you might agree. I think "I Choose You" is about choosing his wife over the lover, "God's Mistake" is about the pain of this illegitimate love, etc., etc.

Grabs the #1 spot for most haunting melody I’ve ever heard. Roland cheated, that’s what this album is mainly about- him trying to convince his wife to stay. I assume she was quite depressed so he took her to a therapist or psychiatrist, to “see inside her mind.” And says they can do that because they are “kind,” unlike he describes himself. We all have moments where we have said in life, “...great, me and my big ideas...” it means he’s given/is giving a lot of effort to get her to stay but keeps failing. Also, “in a way, this dream is over, blown away, a 4 leaf clover.” Refers to “And this is my, 4 leaf clover...” in Head Over Heels which would almost be a juxtaposition to this song.

roland\'s affair. i am at a loss as to whether he cheated or whether the media portrayed a rumor as truth . (it is not the first celebrity charcters have been wrongfully attacked or band manager has lied to spike interest in the band\'.) i have scoured the internet for a couple of months (I am currently bed ridden) and have yet to find concrete evidence of an affair. all i can find is blog discussions or recent articles that offer conjecture not proof. however songs like I Choose You suggest he had to choose between his wife and his lover. inthe first stanza it say: Some things come out of nothing. what is nothing? it could mean that he has a plantonic relationship that peole have misconstrued to one night stand to a full blown affair. it later says he went down the kitchen to do his part and to figure out the workings of the heart. This could mean he has to figure who he loves more and who he wants to spend is life with or what is most important to him. Does he want aa divorce or to stay married for the sake of the kids.mDoes dhe want to stay because he realizes he loves Caroline the most? And then how do we interpret that phrase about someone taking his shoes (thunder). who told his wife? Does it mean he wanted to tell her first to ease the blow? to let her down easy but his lover grows impatient and blows the lid off so he is forced to make a choice between his wife and his lover. maybe he loves them both and doesn\'t want to choose. Maybe the reference about going down to the kitchen is figure out what he needs to do to repair damage, i could go on and on but until i find some credible evidence i am not going to decide what anwer is....suppose his wife was the cheater where does that take us???

Imagodoc, your insight is very much appreciated. And I could not agree more that RATKOS is perhaps "the greatest album tha nobody knows about" The concept of an affair or forbiden love would certainly appear to be a theme that runs through Roland's songs, however sometimes I wonder if this is just too easy and that it might be of a deeper meaning.

The Song "Sorry" is another exceptional song that appears to follow this theme.

It is a beautiful, yet cryptic song. I get a slightly different take on the meaning. Based on the following lines: "Go get a volunteer, We'll pay him well my dear, He will see inside your mind,Because he is that kind". My impression was that they had a 3 way affair ("Go Get a Volunteer"), because Roland and his wife weren't on "the same page" in bed ("He will see inside your mind, because he is that kind"). They'd pay him - probably trying to be discreet about it. But they weren't discreet enough, others found out about it - or as likely, they told one or more people about it. It caused discourse in the marriage, winding his wife up with resent or anger or shame. Telling his wife "So many strings to your bow, why not let one go", is saying "Hey, it's out there now. Don't be silent and stewing - fight back and shout the critics of the situation down... You'll feel better. Also, and implication that she has some dirt on the critics to fight back with." My take, for what's it's worth, but I have no idea if I'm right.