Plainclothes Man

I think this is about someone who was abusive to him. When he says "They say that I'll recover my love of her once in a while but I don't know, I don't think so" for some reason I think this is about his mom. Like he is angry at her for not protecting him or something.

I definitely do not get "breakup" vibe from this song

That song is awesome... I like playing it on the guitar a lot.. the video fits perfectly to the lyrics

To me it sounds nothing like "he's so unhappy inside"- I know those are the lyrics on sweetadeline (followed with a question mark) but if you listen it definitely includes the words 'european son' y'know like the velvet underground song? It also rhymes with the next line that way. I also hear 'furious' rather than 'serious' which fits with the 'angry kiss' part. different versions of the song perhaps? I love the three I have.

this is my fave heatmiser song

Favorite line: "I remember, I remember why I dream in black and white."

It's about a breakup with heroin, guys. Isn't that obvious?

You're everybody's second home Always trying to get me alone An easy way to lose it all Always there when all else fails Over by the west side rails

Pretty clear.

But I don't really need that now I never really did anyhow I only really needed alcohol Something that'd treat me okay And wouldn't say the things you'd say

There are a bunch of songs by Elliott that talk about this theme. One of them is even called "Talking to Mary." Mary isn't a real person. Mary is heroin.

Please turn out the light I get a sick confusion headache Trying to figure out who's right

Hangover.

Dreaming on the silver strand Waking up to plainclothes man You little bastard, little boy in blue Someone's gonna get to you And fuck up everything you do

Little boy in blue is another term for heroin. He mentions it in 'Pretty Mary K' (Mary K is heroin)

He's so unhappy inside He's serious with everyone And he thinks he'll win you with his angry kiss Acting like he has no needs Wanting you to watch him bleed

Wanting you to watch him bleed: shooting up.

Made for each other bet you pay me any mind Just goes to show my continual decline They say that I'll recover my love of her once in a while But I don't know I don't think so

Everyone says he's going to relapse, but he's angry now and says no (all the more tragic because we know Elliott's will doesn't win)

There's something that I'll tell you now Now that no one else is around The sort of lesson that I learned from you Not quite the way you planned But I know you'll understand Someone takes a photograph A picture while their sweetheart laughs A perfect moment in a flash of light Counting back from three till one That's exactly what you've done

When he takes a hit, there's a very brief moment of perfection. Once it's over it's back to business as usual, and everything else seems subdued:

And I'm so Unsurprised I remember, I remember why I dream in black and white Goes to show my continual decline They say that I'll recover My love of her Once in a while But I don't know I don't think so I don't think so

I would venture to guess that its about not heeding advice from a friend, but realizing in the end that that friend may be right.

I would venture to guess that its about not heeding advice from a friend, but realizing in the end that that friend may be right.

to me this sounds like the love for an ex-girlfriend that Elliott now despises. And since or has always had other difficulties to go aliong with her. She's always there 'over by the westside rails' but he doesnt really need her and relies more on the alcohol.

He wishes to be an ordinary persion i.e. the 'plainclothes man' and is envious of such a position. Thats why he calls him 'you little bastard, little boy in blue'. and the perfect moment in a flash of light shows how it was great for those brief moments of time, like when you look at a picture and only see how happy everyone is without the true background to what is really happening.

Plus he has lost the love, hence he says that people think that he'll ' recover my love of her once in a while'. showing again that the picture doesnt portray everything that is really happening and he basically saying that he doesnt think so and that its over.

my 2 pennies anyway.

well i named my username after this song, so obviously it's one of my favorites. i can really relate to this song in a lot of ways, at times i feel as if it was written for me specifically.