This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Bitter tea
I've got a special category business
Down by the multifunctional Dr. Sun yat-sen memorial rollerblade rink
Down by the home of bitter tea
Bitter, bitter, bitter tea
Bitter, bitter, bitter tea
I've seen you slinking off of snake alley
Why not come up through the hall of butterflies
And past lane 170
Into our dragon protector layout
And try some bitter tea
Bitter, bitter, bitter tea
Bitter, bitter, bitter tea
On the 13th day of the 5th lunar month
Outside a hot spring bath
The old banyan tree looked down on me
Aren't you curious
Aren't you curious
A little curious
About what the osmanthus blossoms taste like
I think you're curious
Yes, you're curious
A little curious
About what the osmanthus blossums taste like
With a cup of bitter tea
Bitter, bitter, bitter tea
Bitter, bitter, bitter tea
On the 13th day of the 5th lunar month
Outside a hot spring bath
The old banyan tree looked down on me
I am a crazy crane
I lost my true love in the rain
I am a crazy crane
I lost my true love in the rain
I've got a special category business
Down by the multifunctional Dr. Sun yat-sen memorial rollerblade rink
Down by the home of bitter tea
Bitter, bitter, bitter tea
Bitter, bitter, bitter tea
I've seen you slinking off of snake alley
Why not come up through the hall of butterflies
And past lane 170
Into our dragon protector layout
And try some bitter tea
Bitter, bitter, bitter tea
Bitter, bitter, bitter tea
On the 13th day of the 5th lunar month
Outside a hot spring bath
The old banyan tree looked down on me
Aren't you curious
Aren't you curious
A little curious
About what the osmanthus blossoms taste like
I think you're curious
Yes, you're curious
A little curious
About what the osmanthus blossums taste like
With a cup of bitter tea
Bitter, bitter, bitter tea
Bitter, bitter, bitter tea
On the 13th day of the 5th lunar month
Outside a hot spring bath
The old banyan tree looked down on me
I am a crazy crane
I lost my true love in the rain
I am a crazy crane
I lost my true love in the rain
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
actually, in response to "Where does she get this stuff?!!!!!?" it should be noted that matthew (eleanor's brother and fiery furnaces bandmate) writes the majority of the lyrics, from what I've heard.
The lyrics are about hanging out in Taipei, Taiwan.
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall is a large park that locals use for rollerblading, small group dance practice, tai chi, yoga, jogging, whatever, hence the Multi-Functional. It is located in a bustling office district, hence the special category business.
Bitter tea is a special Taiwanese brew of tea that is good for people who stay up late drinking and smoking cigarettes too often. Snake Alley is a touristy spot where you can watch a live snake flaying and then drink the various vital fluids of snake for the betterment of your chi.
Traditional Taiwanese/Chinese culture uses a Lunar calendar. Hot springs bathing is a favorite pastime in Taiwan, and banyan trees fill the cities and parks. Osmanthus blossoms are a common ingredient in local cooking.
In response to Where does she get this stuff?!! the particular answer for this song here is Taiwan, the general answer for this LP seems to be travel.
@lazarussleptin Notice too that the instrumental/ electronic part of the song is using Chinese scales (pentatonic?).
The best song off of Bitter Tea and quite possibly my favorite Fiery Furnaces song. I don't believe that FF lyrics are meant to be interpreted critically. They are meaningful as they stand.
i absolutely LOVE this song the beginning gets me all happy and excited and its just so wonderful! rock rock on the fiery furnaces
This song is amazing. It makes me want to dance around! So insane, and wonderful.
so tea made from the stems of marijuana bitter... just for your information :)
The crazy crane line is the best
Where does she get this stuff?!!!!!?
The lyrics are about hanging out in Taipei, Taiwan.
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall is a large park that locals use for rollerblading, small group dance practice, tai chi, yoga, jogging, whatever, hence the Multi-Functional. It is located in a bustling office district, hence the special category business.
Bitter tea is a special Taiwanese brew of tea that is good for people who stay up late drinking and smoking cigarettes too often. Snake Alley is a touristy spot where you can watch a live snake flaying and then drink the various vital fluids of snake for the betterment of your chi.
Traditional Taiwanese/Chinese culture uses a Lunar calendar. Hot springs bathing is a favorite pastime in Taiwan, and banyan trees fill the cities and parks. Osmanthus blossoms are a common ingredient in local cooking.
In response to Where does she get this stuff?!! the particular answer for this song here is Taiwan, the general answer for this LP seems to be travel.