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Pen and Notebook Lyrics
You saved for a bass guitar
And you knew you'd made a mistake when you first saw Marr
With your pen and notebook you've blown me away
It's the smallest words we cannot say
Your favourite colour is that of red wine
Which brings me around to your favourite pastime
With your pen and notebook you've blown me away
And I won't be blamed for not feeling the same
Are the stars out tonight?
From the south-side, oh the prettiest side
Will you stumble or fall tonight?
Are you watching, wrapped up cosy and tight?
We're not the same
We're not the same
We're not the same
And you knew you'd made a mistake when you first saw Marr
With your pen and notebook you've blown me away
It's the smallest words we cannot say
Which brings me around to your favourite pastime
With your pen and notebook you've blown me away
And I won't be blamed for not feeling the same
From the south-side, oh the prettiest side
Will you stumble or fall tonight?
Are you watching, wrapped up cosy and tight?
We're not the same
We're not the same
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I agree that the pen and notebook blowing her away represent how she fell in love with him for his song writing. I think the relationship is failing though "Your favourite colour is that of red wine, which brings me around to your favourite past time" sounds like he drinks too much? And this may be going too far, but when the stars are on the south/prettiest side, could that be to do with what mood he's in tonight? Maybe if he drinks he can sometimes be this sweet songwriter she adores, but also has a darker side "Will you stumble or fall tonight?".
I'm hoping someday some pretty scottish girl will say this about my pen and notebook :)
ex that, actually. this song seems to be, on a second look, about his pen and notebook revealing differences and unspoken tension, and the distancing in their relationship. She doesnt seem to agree with his drinking, indicated in the red wine part. Then, when talking of the stars, she seems to lament that they are no longer together, and questioning whats hes doing... but things have changed, and "We're not the same" indicates a shift from the idealism earlier in a relationship to the fallout.
just my spin. prolly completely wrong.
maybe the guy is in love with her and tries to attract her with his beautiful writing. Even though she's blown away by it, she keeps her head and tells him no; she knows she really isn't in love with him and they wouldn't make a good couple.
Oh, and maybe "it's the smallest words we cannot say" means it's easier to make a big dramatic pronouncement of love, like he's doing, than to refuse someone for sensible reasons, like she's doing.
I really like the way it is implied he is an alcoholic by the lines, "Your favourite colour is that of red wine, Which brings me around to your favourite pastime" and "Will you stumble or fall tonight?"
Is Marr a person or place?
When I did a search on google this is what I found: Marr is one of six committee areas in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, bordering Atholl, Badenoch, Gowrie, The Mearns, Banff and Buchan. It has a population of 34,038 (2001 Census). Someone from Marr is called a MÃ rnach in Scottish Gaelic. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marr
Seeing as Camera Obscura is from Scotland, it kinda fits.
Could be Johnny Marr from the Smiths (also The Cribs and Modest Mouse)
Could be Johnny Marr from the Smiths (also The Cribs and Modest Mouse)
'Marr' refers to Johnny Marr of The Smiths, I believe.