Well, in my opinion this song is about being a young & maybe a little naive &/or introverted girl and finding yourself loving a man who is at first very charming, carefree & outgoing, and seems at first to be without limits, as in
"There was a time
you opened up every doorway
you didn't mind if everything
wasn't your way"
then that man starts to gradually become more introverted & shows their more possessive/obsessive side to you as the relationship progresses, even while they keep up the appearance of being carefree & outgoing to everyone else,
"Don't pull away
that goes against what you told me
I look in your eyes
I realize what you've sold me
is love in a vacuum"
so you confront them about the way they're acting and of course they deny it,
"I think you've changed
but you insist that
that's not true"
quite possibly they are an addict of some sort, my guess would be cocaine, &/or showing very obsessive behavior towards you (early on in the video for this song we see the man hanging a picture up, it is a very large portrait of Aimee & it is prominently displayed in his/their apartment for the duration of the song), thus their "love in a vacuum",
"You look so strange, so distant
that you're hardly you
Now I can see
how you have been acting different
You say it's me
but I know
that it isn't
it's love in a vacuum"
but still you are in love with them and don't want to leave them and you know that they are truly in love with you and they don't want you to leave them either, maybe they are convinced you can save them from themself, maybe they are so broken that the possibility of an overdose &/or suicide attempt is very real and you want to get through to them that their behavior not only dangerous but it is also just pissing you off and if they don't wise up they run the risk of loosing you, as in the lines
"You will be lonely
if you leave me alone", so you want to save them but can't get through to them due to the addiction &/or emotional problems they have,
"Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
love in a vacuum
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
You will be lonely
if you leave me alone
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough"
you want them to understand that the love they are giving you is not enough when it is filtered through the vacuum of their drug addiction &/or emotional impairment,
"You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough
and just wait
you will be lonely
Love in a vacuum
Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
Love in a vacuum".
'Love In A Vacuum' for me is a hauntingly truthful acute argument on the loneliness of obsession and almost inevitable loss of love that follows people who are broken in some way or another; the obsessives, the coke heads, the drunks, addicts or the just-plain-old emotionally broken; a razor sharp, lyrically driven, deceptively poppy, yet ultimately-depressing-in-the-best-way song.
Quintessential Aimee Mann.
We're a death-marching band
Peter Pan off the wagon
Entertain but never trust anyone sober
We're tasteless but taste good
My (S)top Hat's top hat(ed)
Unsafe cheerleaders with
Porn poms and pipe bombs
I won't do it with you
I'll do it to you
I hope this hook gets caught in your mouth
I won't do it with you
I'll do it to you
Don't Say No
Just Say Now
I like a big car, cause
I'm a big star
I make a big rock and roll hits
I'd like to love you
but my heart is a sore
I am, I am, I am so yours
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
I'd like to la la la la love you
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
I'd like to la la la la love you
I'm the leader of the club
And I've shrugged off my mouse ears
We fly No-Class Dumbo jets
And drive harcore-vettes
We fight war with drugs
And our sex always formal
We wear lawsuits when
We get high high high
I won't do it with you
I'll do it to you
I hope this hook gets caught in your mouth
I won't do it with you
I'll do it to you
Don't Say No
Just Say Now
I like a big car, cause
I'm a big star
I make a big rock and roll hits
I'd like to love you
but my heart is a sore
I am, I am, I am so yours
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
I'd like to la la la la love you
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
I'd like to la la la la love you
"Inhale, exhale, let's all hail"
It's a depraved new world
"Inhale, exhale, let's all hail"
It's a depraved new world
After all
I like a big car, cause
I'm a big star
I make a big rock and roll hits
I'd like to love you
but my heart is a sore
I am, I am, I am so yours
I am a big car and
I'm a strip bar
You call it fake,
I call it, "good as it gets."
Nothing in this world is for real
Except you are for me and
I am so yours
Ka-boom ka-boom
Peter Pan off the wagon
Entertain but never trust anyone sober
We're tasteless but taste good
My (S)top Hat's top hat(ed)
Unsafe cheerleaders with
Porn poms and pipe bombs
I won't do it with you
I'll do it to you
I hope this hook gets caught in your mouth
I won't do it with you
I'll do it to you
Don't Say No
Just Say Now
I like a big car, cause
I'm a big star
I make a big rock and roll hits
I'd like to love you
but my heart is a sore
I am, I am, I am so yours
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
I'd like to la la la la love you
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
I'd like to la la la la love you
I'm the leader of the club
And I've shrugged off my mouse ears
We fly No-Class Dumbo jets
And drive harcore-vettes
We fight war with drugs
And our sex always formal
We wear lawsuits when
We get high high high
I won't do it with you
I'll do it to you
I hope this hook gets caught in your mouth
I won't do it with you
I'll do it to you
Don't Say No
Just Say Now
I like a big car, cause
I'm a big star
I make a big rock and roll hits
I'd like to love you
but my heart is a sore
I am, I am, I am so yours
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
I'd like to la la la la love you
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
Ka-boom, ka-boom
I'd like to la la la la love you
"Inhale, exhale, let's all hail"
It's a depraved new world
"Inhale, exhale, let's all hail"
It's a depraved new world
After all
I like a big car, cause
I'm a big star
I make a big rock and roll hits
I'd like to love you
but my heart is a sore
I am, I am, I am so yours
I am a big car and
I'm a strip bar
You call it fake,
I call it, "good as it gets."
Nothing in this world is for real
Except you are for me and
I am so yours
Ka-boom ka-boom
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Love in a Vacuum
'Til Tuesday
'Til Tuesday
Jesse with the long hair....
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Classic love story true to his western tx roots. One of my favorites as a story, but I think there are alot of songs that are amazing not even listed on this site. I guess I should figure out how to add them, because I have about 8 REK cd's.
when rules change
Life in Your Way
Life in Your Way
High life
Grand Theft Auto
Insane Ian
Insane Ian
The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
"We're tasteless but taste good"
Despite whatever that above line may mean, it helped me through a lot of tough times (Like when I was balancing on the edge of Anorexia) and it still helps me today. I sort of repeat it in my head, and it helps me eat...I'm fucked I know.
Amazing song, and although nowhere near as good as Antichrist Superstar or Mechanical Animals, sitll an absolutely amazing album.
I just joined to respond to you... even though you'll likely never see this. <br /> <br /> In 2007 I was in the same situation. For as bad as my memory is "bella_muerte" could have been my handle for all I know. But anyway, I was obsessively rocking out to Manson back then, finding comforting in him too, whilst also battling an eating disorder. I know what you're going through. So, I joined because I wanted my words immortalised:<br /> <br /> You are most certainly NOT fucked. <br /> <br /> You are awesome. I thought it was super cool of you to share this unique, private, personal truth with the Internet world.
I think this song is basically Mocking fame itelf... either way it's one of my favorite songs off the CD next to "The Bright Young Things"
This song was played at a club as was at in Philly when I met my ex girl friend, it will always stick with me...anyway.
Seems to be about fame and such again, as well as alot of "you sold out" type feelings people have towards bands. Alot of the times artists like Manson, Bowe, and even The Beatles seem to me only make music for themselves and no one else. This is what I enjoy about them, but far to often when they say something that a fan might not like they always throw up "you sold out" to justify their opinions. Over all, I think he is saying "I don't give a fuck" about what people think, his music, his life.
i always thought manson was best at heart broken songs. he is really the king of a broken heart... id like to love you but my heart is a sore. i am i am i am so yours, ka-boom ka-boom... its the beating of the hideous heart!
Lank cool. Tim Skold does Manson good.
Whores, the lot of 'em.
pretty much a shallow representaion of human indulgence... and a dang fine one I might add
Before Golden Age was released one critic wrote up an article saying the "album had no ka-boom" this song was then written by Manson and put on when released. I bet that shut him up!!!!!!
Definately my fav song on the CD and one of my Favorite Manson songs in General. Song is about the crooked side of fame, the media, popularity, social and economical status.
More references in the song then just the ones about beings a "Big Star" and making hits. Plus there is the love refence in the hook "I am so yours" could be about a arrogant celeb and his spouse or could be about an arrogant Celeb giving themselves to their fans.
Ha this is my favorite "love" song. One of the best off the album.
One thing I noticed while listening to my headphones in the hallways at school, with all the noise in the background, the undertrack of this song sounds a lot like Antichrist Superstar's.