I’LL NOT CONTAIN YOU

I won’t look for you in my room,
and then just passing by you will bring the feeling of sensationally hugging the hill.
Through lengthy talks I’ll not contain you.
Through climbing arms I’ll reach my loft.
Through rotting skin I’ll leave my coffin.
Through calloused work I will grow soft.
I’ll not contain you.
My eyes narrow towards a light,
a blurry place where we hotly radiate,
coals stoked, tall flames licking at our throats,
I’m full of warm fluid,
2 dangling bunches of grapes, one for each.


Lyrics submitted by fridgebuzz, edited by itsmecaitlind

I'll Not Contain You Lyrics as written by Phillip Whitman Elverum

Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

I'll Not Contain You song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

9 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    i see the "blurry place" as the blissful state of being deeply in love where life seems purposeful and complete, and the speaker seems to want desperately to "get there" "my eyes narrow on a light" it seems is a beautiful way of describing the inward focus on the prospect of a perfect love. The light already exists in nature and it catches the speakers eye.

    the speaker would like to reach out and embrace it, but since women are such whores, the speaker knows his love prospect won't love him back unless he makes sure she knows he won't "contain" her. ya just kidding, but there does seem to be a mismatch between "I'll not contain you" and the rest of the verses. the lines toward the beginning that start with "through" all describe the completion of a transformation, or a cause and effect relationship. "i'll not contain you", rather, is the opposite of a transformation, or the lack of one. its understood that the person who the song is addressed to does not want to be contained, through lengthy talks or otherwise, and the speaker doesn't want to contain her either because it risks ruining their opportunity to have a vast love glide u know?

    nature imagery is linked with the perfectness of being compelled by love to make self sacrifice for the ultimate feeling of being connected to someone with full and equal love.

    biscuitwomanon April 26, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    whaaaaaaa???????????? How can one explain..

    slinkstersarson August 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    what the fuck this song is so beautiful and gentle and meaningful and HOW CAN YOU PEOPLE LIVE WITH YOURSELF ONE COMMENT?!

    oh right i'm the delusional one who thinks phil elverum is speaking directly to him i forgot

    HyperGlitteron September 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The guitars sound like they are flying around me :)

    brickoon December 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    really really great

    brucepontowon September 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    musically and lyrically, great song

    BigBlackCloudon October 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    Not to use the tired old "it's about a past relationship" bit, but I think Phil Elvrum is talking about a person that he had been with that he didn't want to tie down or "contain." It seems like he didn't want to bolt someone down into a serious relationship, and through "lengthy talks" have decided to be apart.

    Yet, each night when he goes to bed ("through climbing arms i'll reach my loft"). sadly shuffles out of his house("through rotting skin i'll leave my coffin"). or goes to work ("through calloused work"), he loses a part of himself without that person in his life (i will grow soft).

    Despite his decision, he still dreams about being with that person (my eyes narrow towards a light/a place where we hotly radiate), even if it's an unrealistic fantasy ("things aren't concrete there"). i'll not contain you

    deapokidon January 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the song and lyrics blend together perfectly, forming an idea in my head... gentle smiles and happiness choose

    krollisasexyhoeon January 30, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this whole album flows. think about it.

    jhr129on June 26, 2011   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.