Well, in my opinion this song is about being a young & maybe a little naive &/or introverted girl and finding yourself loving a man who is at first very charming, carefree & outgoing, and seems at first to be without limits, as in
"There was a time
you opened up every doorway
you didn't mind if everything
wasn't your way"
then that man starts to gradually become more introverted & shows their more possessive/obsessive side to you as the relationship progresses, even while they keep up the appearance of being carefree & outgoing to everyone else,
"Don't pull away
that goes against what you told me
I look in your eyes
I realize what you've sold me
is love in a vacuum"
so you confront them about the way they're acting and of course they deny it,
"I think you've changed
but you insist that
that's not true"
quite possibly they are an addict of some sort, my guess would be cocaine, &/or showing very obsessive behavior towards you (early on in the video for this song we see the man hanging a picture up, it is a very large portrait of Aimee & it is prominently displayed in his/their apartment for the duration of the song), thus their "love in a vacuum",
"You look so strange, so distant
that you're hardly you
Now I can see
how you have been acting different
You say it's me
but I know
that it isn't
it's love in a vacuum"
but still you are in love with them and don't want to leave them and you know that they are truly in love with you and they don't want you to leave them either, maybe they are convinced you can save them from themself, maybe they are so broken that the possibility of an overdose &/or suicide attempt is very real and you want to get through to them that their behavior not only dangerous but it is also just pissing you off and if they don't wise up they run the risk of loosing you, as in the lines
"You will be lonely
if you leave me alone", so you want to save them but can't get through to them due to the addiction &/or emotional problems they have,
"Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
love in a vacuum
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
You will be lonely
if you leave me alone
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough"
you want them to understand that the love they are giving you is not enough when it is filtered through the vacuum of their drug addiction &/or emotional impairment,
"You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough
and just wait
you will be lonely
Love in a vacuum
Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
Love in a vacuum".
'Love In A Vacuum' for me is a hauntingly truthful acute argument on the loneliness of obsession and almost inevitable loss of love that follows people who are broken in some way or another; the obsessives, the coke heads, the drunks, addicts or the just-plain-old emotionally broken; a razor sharp, lyrically driven, deceptively poppy, yet ultimately-depressing-in-the-best-way song.
Quintessential Aimee Mann.
Well, it's always been my nature
To take chances
My right hand drawing back
While my left hand advances
Where the current is strong
And the monkey dances
To the tune
Of a concertina
Blood dryin' in my yellow hair
As I go from shore to shore
I know what it is
That has drawn me to your door
But whatever could it be
Makes you think
You've seen me before
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
His eyes were two slits
Makin' a snake proud
With a face that any painter would paint
As he walked through the crowd
Worshiping a God
With the body of a woman
Well endowed
And the head of a hyena
Do I need your permission
To turn the other cheek?
If you can read my mind
Why must I speak?
No, I have heard nothing
About the man
That you seek
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
In the valley of the giants
Where the stars and stripes explode
The peaches they were sweet
And the milk and honey flowed
I was only following instructions
When the judge
Sent me down the road
With your subpoena
When you cease to exist
Then who will you blame?
I've tried my best to love you
But I cannot play this game
Your best friend
And my worst enemy
Is one and the same
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
There's a black Mercedes
Rollin' through the combat zone
Your servants are half dead
You're down to the bone
Tell me, tall man
Where would you like
To be overthrown
In Jerusalem or Argentina?
She was stolen from her mother
When she was three days old
Now her vengeance has been satisfied
And her possessions have been sold
He's surrounded by God's angels
And she's wearin' a blindfold
But so are you
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
I see pieces of men marching
Trying to take Heaven by force
I can see the unknown rider
I can see the pale white horse
In God's truth name
Tell me what you want
And you'll have it of course
Just step into the arena
Beat a path of retreat
Up them spiral staircases
Pass the tree of smoke
Pass the angel with four faces
Begging God for mercy
And weepin'
In unholy places
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, oh, Angelina
Oh, oh, Angelina
To take chances
My right hand drawing back
While my left hand advances
Where the current is strong
And the monkey dances
To the tune
Of a concertina
Blood dryin' in my yellow hair
As I go from shore to shore
I know what it is
That has drawn me to your door
But whatever could it be
Makes you think
You've seen me before
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
His eyes were two slits
Makin' a snake proud
With a face that any painter would paint
As he walked through the crowd
Worshiping a God
With the body of a woman
Well endowed
And the head of a hyena
Do I need your permission
To turn the other cheek?
If you can read my mind
Why must I speak?
No, I have heard nothing
About the man
That you seek
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
In the valley of the giants
Where the stars and stripes explode
The peaches they were sweet
And the milk and honey flowed
I was only following instructions
When the judge
Sent me down the road
With your subpoena
When you cease to exist
Then who will you blame?
I've tried my best to love you
But I cannot play this game
Your best friend
And my worst enemy
Is one and the same
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
There's a black Mercedes
Rollin' through the combat zone
Your servants are half dead
You're down to the bone
Tell me, tall man
Where would you like
To be overthrown
In Jerusalem or Argentina?
She was stolen from her mother
When she was three days old
Now her vengeance has been satisfied
And her possessions have been sold
He's surrounded by God's angels
And she's wearin' a blindfold
But so are you
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
I see pieces of men marching
Trying to take Heaven by force
I can see the unknown rider
I can see the pale white horse
In God's truth name
Tell me what you want
And you'll have it of course
Just step into the arena
Beat a path of retreat
Up them spiral staircases
Pass the tree of smoke
Pass the angel with four faces
Begging God for mercy
And weepin'
In unholy places
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, oh, Angelina
Oh, oh, Angelina
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The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
once again, about the bob-sara relationship, i think, and about d-i-v-o-r-c-e......with "the names changed to protect the innocent" ......tumultuous relationship and torrid love affair......had one like that, but couldn't write about it like this though such a gift.. amazing lyrics as per usual from mr.dylan, (then add in the perfect/heavenly/tremendous music..omg,) the emotions and feelings this songs brings out are veeerrrrrrry "familiar"..... and bring rise to deep thought and introspection both into self and this "trip" called life...