Weird Divide

modern day poets.they should get a good publisher.

This is a great song about nostalgia. A lot of people have been talking about the last four lines, which I agree do an amazing job of conveying the emotion of nostalgia. Even if something was fairly routine when it happened, the memory of it can sometimes grow in your mind and take on an even greater importance retrospectively. We expect time to make our memories weaker, so the last four lines reflect on the positive aspect of nostalgia.

But I also love the two lines before it, which people haven't mentioned as much. The leaves... "took flight as we passed so long ago / but a short time I know"

This is the sadder half of nostalgia. Sometimes the emotion of the memory can make it seem like it took place ages ago, even though intellectually you're aware that it wasn't that long ago. I love the line "but a short time, I know." Even while he's cherishing this pleasant memory, he's aware that it's part of a much larger life full of experiences that will continue for many years, and that in the long run this will only be small part of his life. But it still seems so big right now.

I get the feeling of two kids entering their teens and how their relationship changes from an innocent friendship to having deeper feelings towards each other. It starts with them taking strolls together and walking to each other’s houses to hang out and it ends with the narrator noticing how time did good things to his friend (she’s matured and he sees her differently). The weird divide could be that point in adolescence when the differences between boys and girls often become more apparent and it’s not as easy to just play/enjoy each other’s company anymore. Beautiful song and it has been one of favorites for years.

Something about Mercer's ability to take the music and paint so vividly simple experiences

i agree, these lyrics are amazing.

and the harmonies in the background are amazing. i reckon they are one of the best bands in the world

this song seems to be about the singer reflecting on a brief and kind of awkward romance between him and someone he may not really have been into but it's a fond memory he has nonetheless.

This song is really neat, I think (and so everyone else that's posted here).

"even time can do/good things to you."

This seems a strange line to me, but I like it. Sloop's interpretation with this line: Maybe the narrator knows that he's forgotten why the relationship didn't last, but he can't help going back to liking the adressed.

Maybe. Maybe I'm full of crap. (Shins = fantastic) Peace.

I like that he thought so much of such a simple thing and how as time went by it became even more important to him. "it pleases me this memory / has swollen up with age." This song is really thoughtful and peaceful.

This song kinda reminds me a bit of a Dave Matthews Band song called the best of what's around. In it he says "turns out not where but who you're with that really matters." That's one of my favorite quotes ever.

what a fantastic song. lovely imagery, the shins have a real knack for that.

anyhow, it seems to me like he's seeing someone that, for whatever reason, it might be taboo or wrong for him to meet. that's kinda vague, but it's what "the weird divide between our kinds" seems to imply.

my favorite line is "even time can do good things to you." not sure what those things are... wisdom I suppose? learning from your mistakes? improving with practice?