The Way Things Are

this is another incredible song from Fiona Apple

i don't think there ever was a real relationship- she ran right from the beginning- the embrace of a real romance she knows is too heavy for her- wouldn't know what to say to a gentle voice- she has adjusted to life without love and when someone tries to love her she is stuck not knowing what to say back- love itself is akward- she's got dependency issues- she will "fall in love" as long as she doesn't need the person- as long as she would still be ok if it ended- "I better be able to move on" if i couldn't move on from you- then i don't want to start this~ but maybe i am just applying to my life..

this IS incredible so catchy and it seems so familiar...the whole song is pretty much self-explanitory...sort of like accepting things as the way they are..

I can completely relate to this song! Isn't it so amazing how she captures her emotions [perfectly] in her lyrics? Gah-- I love her.

She sees that she's better off not being with him, and that a second time would only fuck things up more. She knows on her own is what it is supossed to be, and she can take everything thats thrown at her. Thats just my opinion...

Virrrrgo hit the nail right on the head. That's exactly what the song is about.

Best Fiona Apple song, imo.

Oh yeah, about being "better off": She is talking about the way she feels inside regardless of a relationship, the comfort of her usual unaffectedness. She knows its as good as over because her walls are back up and she's glad. She says, "Much much better off by far; So keep on calling names, keep on, keep on" She means he is digging his own grave (so to speak) by calling her names and he's just feeding into her own self-destructiveness and what she wants. . .to move on.

Once again, I feel this is an example of Fiona merely pretending to be indifferent about the situation. She says she's better off but deep down she'd rather be with the guy. I think this song is also about Fiona being a stubborn girl. "You could get me to settle and as soon as I settle, I bet I'll be able to move on." Even IF this guy could manage to "tame" Fiona, she doesn't want to be tamed and would therefore leave him.

I love this song, very positive. Even if it is her trying to convince herself she's better off without him, happier, haven't we all done that? She obviously is better off, even if she doesn't feel it know, she'll know it one day. "I wouldn't kow what to do with another chance if you gave it to me", indeed.

i have to agree with sarabear316..

with my take, i think it's a about a girl who's had many bad experiences with men. she's become used to the pain from all those jerks that it's become normal for her. it's become the familiar. the girl is in this transitional period where she wants to not only runaway from all the bad men, but the good guys too. since being treated like crap by guys has become normalized for her, her mind, body and heart rejects a good guy who treats her well. (from the first verse)

she feels that at this stage, she needs to be alone until she kicks her bad habit (of dating toxic men), not by dating a good guy, but learning to love herself and believe that she's worthy of being loved. to her, things are better off this way. her friends and maybe past exes make fun of her and don't support this idea of hers. she reacts back by saying, you can tell me that i'm crazy for cutting myself off from love for awhile, but that's how it's going to be.