I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
It's all a matter of soul and fire
Infatuation or true desire
The thrill of discovery, divine intervention
Cruel, cruel change; the pain of rejection
As you walk away, think of all the joy we shared
If you decide you need me, I'll be wondering if I care
Not there to soothe your soul, friend to tender friend
I think our love is coming to an end
King persuader, congratulations
Share her heart, you bought her soul
Princess confusion, come to me again
Saying goodbye was so much fun
When you walk away, feel the freedom in your heart
There's a joy in letting go, free to find a love apart
When I lose control, I need a kind, forgiving friend
But I think our love is coming to an end
I know our love is coming to an end
Infatuation or true desire
The thrill of discovery, divine intervention
Cruel, cruel change; the pain of rejection
As you walk away, think of all the joy we shared
If you decide you need me, I'll be wondering if I care
Not there to soothe your soul, friend to tender friend
I think our love is coming to an end
King persuader, congratulations
Share her heart, you bought her soul
Princess confusion, come to me again
Saying goodbye was so much fun
When you walk away, feel the freedom in your heart
There's a joy in letting go, free to find a love apart
When I lose control, I need a kind, forgiving friend
But I think our love is coming to an end
I know our love is coming to an end
Lyrics submitted by junkie
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Yo La Tengo
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
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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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Hah, I love this song. I read it as being extremely bitter. The first 4 lines being about the "situation" in general. I.e he's wondering if he was just infatuated or if it was true love and the pain of being rejected etc. Next 8 lines I feel are addressed to a girl saying he won't be there for her anymore and is giving her up. The last lines I think are addressed to the person listening to the song saying that giving up on someone is, unfortunately, sometimes the best thing you can do. I can relate to it if it's that. Recently had to ditch a fairly...mentally unstable friend / ex because she was being far, far too difficult and was, well, going completely mental.
It's about breaking up with someone you love. Whether you both think you should break up, or just one person does.
"Cruel, cruel change, pain of rejection" i.e. it's hard to move on as we are comfortable with someone, and the rejection is to see (or think) of the other person with someone else, as well as (possibly being afraid of) pain of being rejected by someone else.
"As you walk away, think of all the joy we shared If you decide you need me, I'll be wondering if I care Not there to soothe your soul, friend to tender friend"
"King persuader, congratulations You share her heart, you bought her soul Princess confusion, come to me again"
These lines suggest that girl breaks up, and the guy tries to get back together but the girl breaks up again cause she doesn't know what she wants
"There's a joy in letting go, free to find a love apart" Is possibly being sarcastic.
"When I lose control, I need a kind, forgiving friend But I think our love is coming to an end" i.e. The guy has gotten frustrated with her and lost his temper and wants to be comforted by the girl, but realizes he shouldn't be comforted because they should just be apart.
This song is a real heart string strummer.
Love the line " Princess confusion, come to me again"
Heard a cover bt Kris Roe which led me to get the original and it is great.
From Wikipedia: "The song was inspired by Lou Barlow's breakup with his then girlfriend, Catherine Billus. The song affected Billus so profoundly, that it brought the two back together."
It seems to me that this is a great explanation of a couple where the gal has emotional issues that are leading her away from their relationship.
It almost sounds like he was slowly watching her change and lose attachment, and the final goodbye hurt, but also felt good - I imagine there was an outpouring of emotion from her at the end after a long time of showing none.
It also sounds like an outside third party stole her away:
"King persuader, congratulations Share her heart, you bought her soul"
Someone from her past maybe that she had never let go persuaded her to leave for him again. The next line indicates that the singer believes the same possibility for her to sway back one more time and come back to him:
"Princess confusion, come to me again"
The rest of the lines indicate that he knows she is leaving, but the arrangement of the lyrics in the song make me think he knows she may still love him and come back again someday.