Vinegar & Salt

I'm surprised no one has commented this song already, it is one of my personal favourites. To me this song is about someone who is in love with someone who doesn't share the same feelings. The love interest is honest, to the point of brutality, but the lover is desperate for his affections, even if they are false. (S)he would rather live in a lie than to be without him, even if they are so completely different, like vinegar and oil. I can really relate to this on a very personal level, having fallen for someone so completely different from me in almost every aspect, and completely out of my usual taste. And I still think it would be better if he were lying to me, if only for a little while, than to never experience him at all.

This talks about how being too honest in love affairs sometimes hurts a possible magnificent relationship.

I just cut things off with someone I went on a few dates and really liked because he said one thing that I can't get over. He said it too early... he didn't have to discuss this kind of thing yet as we were not in time to commit to each other yet.

It hurt like hell, and I wish he had (white) lied for a little longer. I didn't need to know that information just yet. Now I am left here - the vinegar and the salt. And no oil to dissolve my frustrations.

I'm surprised no one has commented this song already, it is one of my personal favourites. To me this song is about someone who is in love with someone who doesn't share the same feelings. The love interest is honest, to the point of brutality, but the lover is desperate for his affections, even if they are false. (S)he would rather live in a lie than to be without him, even if they are so completely different, like vinegar and oil. I can really relate to this on a very personal level, having fallen for someone so completely different from me in almost every aspect, and completely out of my usual taste. And I still think it would be better if he were lying to me, if only for a little while, than to never experience him at all.

Yeah I agree for the most of it .. anyway .. "honesty's your church" but she's living a lie? So she's kinda uncomfortable for living HIS way. Her "frustration" is her "honestys limitation", in other words she'd rather not live like this but she's so hopeless that everything goes (hehee). She doesn't even "dare to ask why" she continues it though! This song also exemplifies the cryptic way that women talk about the problems in a relationshit hehee (woman: im vinegar and salt and youre the oil - man: ... ??)

In summary: This is a song about a lover whose honesty is a wedge between him and the singer.

Thematic elements: When something is a "church," it is an unassailable dogma, a sanctuary into which one retreats.

"Vinegar" is a black liquid, often used to evoke bitterness. (Because she refers to vinegar and oil, the vinegar here is balsamic vinegar).

"Salt" is a crystallized solid, often used as an evocation of reality.

"Oil" is a clear and slick liquid, often used in reference to something that doesn't mix well.

"I don't dare to ask why" is in direct contrast to her earlier statement that "sometimes it's better to lie."

Analysis: On one hand, she respects that his honesty removes or "dissolves" much of her inherent bitterness and crystalized views.

On the other hand, hearing the truth also hurts. It especially hurts when her lover points out, honestly, that their interests are different. Even though they may be touching, they aren't mixing.

She thinks it's okay to lie at times in order to connect, or mix, well with others. The fact that he doesn't lie scares her. But she doesn't dare to ask him why he doesn't lie, because the -honest- answer may be that he doesn't really want to mix with her.