Another Sunny Day

Hey, you guys, I've got the inside goss on this song! First of all, Eskimos do "remove obstructions with tongues", but they're not the only ones. This is one of the first 'erotic' acts in the book Lolita between Humbert Humbert and Lolita (she gets an eyelash in her eye, and he removes it with his tongue). It's a common practise in some parts of the world, and when you think about it, it might be kind of disguting, but... it would work.

ANYWAY, onto the more interesting part of my story! Last time I met Stuart (haha, I'm a bit of a serial stalker of the band), I told him that particular verse was one of my very favourites that I'd ever heard in my life because it was so beautiful, and he explained to me how he wrote it (he was very pleased I liked it so much, too).

He was on a date (his first date) with his now-girlfriend. They were walking through the park and he got something in his eye. He said to her, "well, now you're going to have to lick it out!" but she wasn't that big a fan of the idea. Well, I guess she must have given in, because they ended up kissing - and it was their very first kiss. It's exactly like the song says, you know? She was trying to lick it out with her tongue, but "missed" and got his mouth instead. Very gorgeous!

To me, there was never any doubt as to what that verse meant, and Stuart just confirmed this. He was really lovely and excited when he was telling me this story, too! Gah, I adore him. (For the record, he'd forgotten about the incident in Lolita, too.)

This is my favourite song from the new album. It tells the relationship so beautifully, even though it doesn't end well... here's hoping Stuart's relationship doesn't go that way!

The comments overcomplicate the midge thing -- at times absurdly so. The song, but for the final verse, is a set of images from a relationship that went bad. The narrator wishes it hadn't gone bad and doesn't understand why it went bad. As is typical with such reminiscences, they're jumbled chronologically: the first time he saw her, a scene of comfortable domesticity from well in to the relationship; a scene in which he sees her & wants to impress her (probably before there is a relationship); a romantic scene, probably from early in the relationship, and last the moment that crystalized the relationship. He's admired her since the minute he saw her. She probably knows this and she admires him but he doesn't know that. He has a midge in his eye, it is giving him difficulties, she makes to help but impishly kisses him. The kiss turns into something a bit extraordinary (and something that involves tongues) and was so unexpected he's left breathless and -- well, not quite baffled but something close to it. Not entirely bold enough to admit to himself what has become apparent -- that she likes him too. His joke -- she was removing the midge in the eskimo fashion -- with tongues -- but missed. Got the mouth instead of the eye. No metaphors or hidden meanings anywhere. To read things as metaphors weakens the song immeasurably. I can tell you as someone who's lived the song -- who is listening to the song because I've just surprisingly come across the girl in question again, one who meant more to me than anyone I've ever loved and is again living that last verse. Different images but exactly the same things, the admiring from afar, the surprising realization that she felt the same (triggered by her boldness where I'd never have dared to be); romance, domestic comfort, bafflement at the way it could all fall apart. No symbols,just a powerful mixture of nostalgia; remembered joy, sorrow and unesolvable confusion.

Once you get past the opening that sounds even a wee bit country you can tell this song is just pure B&S. They're back.

No, no. I think you've got it wrong. He's got a little midge in his eye and so he asks the girl to get it out using her tongue. Anyone ever tried this method? It's quite effective. not sure why he thinks the eskimos do this. Perhaps he's confused it with the eskimo kiss - rubbing noses. So instead of licking the midge out of his eye she slips and licks his face instead and they both giggle coyly. Aaahhh! So until the last verse I think it's just nostalgic recollections of the honeymoon period of their relationship to be taken at face value.

This song reminds me of my late father. He died before I discovered Belle and Sebastian and he would've loved this whole album. I imagine a parallel universe where he's singing along in his car on the way to work.

this is an incredible song. it starts off so pretty but ends so sadly.

awesome lyrics here.

Believe it or not, The Life Pursuit is the first I've heard of Belle and Sebastian. I never thought they were really my thing. Guess I was wrong. o_o I really dig this song.

A perfect song in that unique rythm of B&B about how a lie can destroy a lovely teenage love story.

I always imagine this song being set in Stockholm, with the peninsular ferry and the light evenings. Not knowing much Scottish geography I don't know if it could be anywhere there - any thoughts?

Such happy music. :]