Split Screen Sadness

One of my favorite Mayer songs. Once again he demonstrates his great ability to express heartbreak and despair perfectly to music. To me, this song is definitely about some sort of sudden breaking up, or drifting apart of two people for no real reason. He feels hurt, knows shes probably gone due to the fact she hasn't called him up or anything, yet there's that bit of hope he has that she feels the same way, the same sadness.

"One hand on the trigger of the telephone Wonderin when the call comes, when you say it's all right You got your heart right"

I love this part. She still hasn't called him, and he's still dreaming that she's thinking about him and will call one day to tell him she realizes this has all been a mistake and misses him. He's getting desperate, so he's tempted to make the first move, but doesn't want to. The phone is like a trigger of a gun; if he calls and he doesn't get the answer he wants, that call pretty much kills any hope he had left, so its better not to call.

"And it stings when it nobody's fault Cause there's nothing to blame At the drop of your name, it's only the air you took And the breath you left"

There's no real reason to their split, and that's the worst part. How can you mend something that's been split by no apparent reason? What else is there to say? Distance could play a factor, and it could just be because they've drifted apart.

"So maybe I'll sleep inside my coat and Wait on the porch til you come back home, alright"

Who hasn't felt so desperate to see the one you miss that you'd sleep outside in front of their porch? Just knowing that action alone could bring them back or atleast give you the chance to see that person would be worthwhile.

"So I'll check the weather wherever you are Cause I wanna know if you can see the stars tonight Might be my only right"

In a sense, when you're not communicating with the one you miss, the weather can give you some sort of glimpse into some aspect of their life. You still want them to see the stars, to have a bit of magic in their life. They may be far away but atleast you'll know how it is over there where they are.

"We share the sadness (two wrongs make it all alright tonight) Split screen sadness"

Having the feeling that the other person feels similarly gives you some sort of hope. It reassures that longing feeling is happening for a reason if the other person is feeling the same way.

"I called... because... I just... need to feel you on the line Don't hang up this time"

Who hasn't been tempted to call the one who got away? Even if you call and not say a word, just knowing that they're on the other end gives you some sort of satisfaction, just having their presence there makes it worthwhile.

"And I know well it's me who called it over but I still wish you fought me 'til my dying day Don't let me get away"

Heartbreaking. How could you give up so easily? Did I really not mean that much to you? I know I haven't called, but why haven't you? Both are stubborn. He just wishes she would've fought harder for him so he could confirm this split screen sadness. Maybe he's actually alone in the sadness after all. He might move on one day but he still wishes she hadn't let him get away. He still wants her in his life.

Beast song, Mayer.