London Halflife

I am absolutely captivated by this song, and the lyrics really got me thinking on the meaning...

Most obviously, this is about a middle aged person, living their life in a dreary manner, sad about their underachievement, and stuck in a state of depression.

Middle-aged, do the low rise on the waist --> wearing the low rise on the waist shows that the person is not trying to keep up with the trends London half-life Middle-aged, you're the low riser --> achieving less than others, a low riser among others (high-risers) Getting over myself today --> like the saying, "Get over yourself." The person is depressed and is trying to get over his/her own issues.

So the song advises the person to get away, do some thinking, and calm down the noises that they hear inside them, the anxiety, the depression, etc. and wash them away (rain).

And if you're compromised, Drive your car through the rain And if you've been beaten, Drive your car through the rain Until you wash off the buzz

And to not go back from their vacation or break until they are sure of themselves... At this point, the song goes on to describe what the person used to be before they entered into the depression

Don't pull over 'till you're sure one that wanted the floor One that won't know the street, one that wanted to land On the heart with his feet up

//one that wanted the floor --> a person who wanted to be important, like the figure of speech, "give the floor" meaning let the person talk

//One that won't know the street --> one who was foolish "not streetsmart"

//one that wanted to land On the heart with his feet up --> one who is whimsical like the type who falls head over heels

Oh watch out, you're only better off with half your life Otherwise wasted

//oh watch out --> advice to take care and be more mature and wise because this is a hard time for the person who is feeling vulnerable and depressed

//you're only better off with half your life Otherwise wasted --> advice that says you are only better off with half your life spent in a different way (otherwise wasted). In a sense, the song acknowledges that the halflife is not going to be better off than the youthful years, so we while and waste this away. (In comparison to the youthful years.) But, it also advises the person to try to live the halflife better.

House of cards, you fall hard --> basically the person is very vulnerable, the half life is just always a bit sad, lost youth and all

This song is so beautiful.

Definitely beautiful. It's just the melody of a solo piano, and along with is the accompaniment Emily's peerless tonal. This is song is completely different from most of Metric's usual sound. I

Yeah, it's beautifully composed. Love listening to it during rainy days.

i want this to be the first song i listen to while i'm driving.

"one that wanted to land on the heart with his feet up" is often written with "earth" instead of "heart", which made me think of suicide of course (which fit perfectly with how she sung "oh watch out..") but with "heart" it seems to be more about finding love without losing control of yourself, standing with your feet in the air and your head on the ground, flipped around... yeah. one of the first uncommon metric songs i heard and definitely a favourite.

this song is so depressing, i love how strummy the guitar is, although i usually hate that, it sounds good in this.

I somehow completely missed this song whenever listening to Grow Up & Blow Away! I have the CD on now and that song just played and I couldn't remember it whatsover which is weird because now I absolutely love it! Very pretty.

The line "How of cards you fall hard." is perfect, powerful and understated.

i take back my comment, i don't think its very depressing, it makes me happy well moreso chilled :) love.

and feaad, its "house of cards" :)