I've Got Your Number

IMHO the sex is not a relevant part of the relationship described in this song. It is not even a subject.

"Don’t put this note by your face on the pillow Don’t put this letter in the pocket near your heart"

Quite simple. This is not a love letter. Don't treat it like that.

"Keep it in the bottom drawer where you hide the sex tools"

Hide this letter somewhere, where no one will find it. You should be ashamed of what's in it.

"I pray you always need them"

Brilliant!!! 'them' relates to the sex tools. He really hates the girl and is hoping that she will never find another lover. Probably he's not only hoping it because he doesn't like her to be happy, but he is also hoping she will not harm any other guy.

"I know what you have done" That's why he now hates her so much. It doesn't become clear whether it was really bad or whether it was only really bad in his perception. But that doesn't really matter. The song is about his feelings of hate. Not about the act leading to this hatred.

"Throwing advice like grenades at the table You’re spinning your wisdom in stories that change Your lies are fluorescent my babyfaced angel"

She did not only do something terrible. She also lies and is very good in hurting others by throwing in her (bad) opinions and ideas at the wrong moments. She's good looking, but that only leads to a bigger contrast with her character.

"Grow a fucking heart love"

She could have been more tactful and friendly.

"I know what you have done" must be really terrible

"I’ve got your number" He knows where to find her and will come to get (and punish) her when needed.

"You’ve got my number" This is the truely sad part of it. Despite all of the above, he's still hoping that she will call to make up. Probably, part of the hatred was inspired by the fact that he still loves her.

Some elbow tracks are so reassuring to listen to when in arelationship. 'I'v got your number' I'm convinced is illustrating the hatred towards an ex/current lover when he knows she's been sleeping with someone else. As per usual, this poem is sublime.

'Grow a fucking heart love' has to be my favourite line of all time. Well done Garvey.

this song has one of the best melodies i've ever heard. it made me cry a lot when i first heard it even though the lyrics are about a relationship based on sex. it's just great.... i love elbow!!!!!

I believe this song is about the relationship, where the main connection between people is sex. The first time I heard it was watching "9 Songs", so I can't divide them anymore - this song and the movie.

Excellent song. Really. Deep.

i'm not entirely convinced this is about a relationship based on sex. can't see where that might be suggested. to me, it's just a song about someone knowing that someone else has done something awful. i love this song's dark and almost spiteful nature. The instruments (guitar?) used on the track before "i've got your number" are played harshly, and it really suits the theme.

i heard an interview with Guy Garvey saying even how he wrote such a dark song, he couldn't help but put in the final line. Even though this person has done something bad, the protagonist is still completely taken by them.

excellent song!

i think it goes this way:

"I know what you have done

Throwing advice like grenades at the table You’re spinning your wisdom in stories that change Your lies are fluorescent my babyfaced angel Grow a fucking heart love"

talks about a first meeting with a possibly disturbed girl...who needed to tell someone about this terrible thing she did...

he fell in love with her or at least liked her a lot... they exchanged phone numbers..

"Don’t put this note by your face on the pillow Don’t put this letter in the pocket near your heart Keep it in the bottom drawer where you hide the sex tools I pray you always need them"

he hopes she will want to talk to him everytime she sees this note... reason why he wants her to put in in a frequently used drawer (sex tools) = )

I'm with Guybrush on this one. I always took this song to be somewhat of a break-up, breaking ties or attempt at type song. The note not-so-much being anything beautiful or even a phone number, but bad sentiments about the girl. I kind of thought the girl had some alter-ego, double life, something seedy and dark, based on the sex tools. Prostitute, habitual cheater, something along those lines. The "I've got your number" I believe is used in the sense of knowing something over a person and being able to hold it against them. And what's even more great is the "You've got my number." Despite the harsh realities of what the girl is/has done, she still has a control over him. Awesome pipe organ in this song as well. Love the harshness and darkness of it.

This one is about Edith. Everything fits....

A relationship initiated sexually but fell in love. She lied/betrayed whilst acting the 'Angel'. He'd still have her back if either would only call the other. FML

Sex toys might be a red herring - no more than something kept hidden. Remember, "I've got your number" is a saying meaning "I know what you are up to/hiding/don't want people to know" - I'm aware of something underhand. You could apply it to an insurance scam, cheating at a board game or office politics. Add that to the other interpretations here :)