It's funny how you can miss someone,
even when they're sitting next to you.
So I profess that loneliness is not always by company cured.
The cats are in the windows,
dogs are at the doors,
the lamps are lit and the curtains being drawn,
but you're wanting his heart,
when I'm wanting yours.

But oh no, around you I forget behaviour,
but if I begged your pardon,
might I once again be in your favour?
And i know that I'm not the one of whom,
you think at night,
but I know I,
presume to think I made you think of me right now.

And every day the drudgery that lingers when the day is done for me.
I long to feel the quickening,
that anything from you to me can bring.
Actors never stop their acting,and a singer never has a thing to say,
but you're drawn to him,
so I get drawn away.
Again.


Lyrics submitted by enigmatic_jess

Beg Your Pardon song meanings
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    General Comment

    I think this is one of Josh's most beautiful songs, althought probably not my favourite. The lyrics of this song are really well crafted, as you really have to think to figure out what they're about, in this way they remind me of a lot of Elliott Smith lyrics.

    To me the song is fairly upsetting and I believe it is about a relationship that has slipped out of Josh's hands. "its funny how you can miss someone even when they're sitting next to you" - I think this is about missing something that he had with the same person, that he no longer has: a connection, requited love etc.. In the following line he says that even though he is still physically with this person/friend, he isn't with her emotionally/socially/relationship-wise, like he used to be, and hence he feels lonely. Its beautiful how Josh then paints a fairytale-esque picture of cozy home, and then he confesses that he knows that his partner has another man on her mind: "the one [she] thinks at night".

    I think the closing stanza echoes a certain innocence within Josh as he is in a position where he can't really do anything about something he is so certain about: "a singer never has a thing to say". But I got the impression that until "actors...stop their acting" (His friend stops acting like she still loves him) he wont be able to do anything about it, or have a thing to say, because he still has the same love for her that he's always had. ---This reminds me of one of my favourite Elliott Smith songs 'Oh Well, Okay', which although so simple, is so empowered with emotion and passion: even if this is not what the song is about, elliott says "if you get a feeling next time you see me, do me a favour and let me know, cause its hard to tell, its hard to say, oh well okay" - The idea of just wanting to have a reason to let go, just say 'oh well, okay' is a feeling that I felt Josh referred to in the last verse.

    Thats just my interpretation of the song, and chances are its wrong. but thats what makes so many good lyrics/poems great. thanks josh.

    gold211on May 15, 2006   Link

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