In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Daniella,
Don't say be tender first
And don't say teach me
Before you get tied up for your first time
I'm not like that
I'm not so good you will want to
Run away for us
your black hair is like black hair
Mine I promise is a jerk's hair
Your acne is like a pearl
Mine I swear is a brimstone
I'm not like that
How is it you thought I might be?
I'm not like that
I'm not like that
All I'll recall of you:
A sturdy tongue like a blistered toe
Don't say be tender first
And don't say teach me
Before you get tied up for your first time
I'm not like that
I'm not so good you will want to
Run away for us
your black hair is like black hair
Mine I promise is a jerk's hair
Your acne is like a pearl
Mine I swear is a brimstone
I'm not like that
How is it you thought I might be?
I'm not like that
I'm not like that
All I'll recall of you:
A sturdy tongue like a blistered toe
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this is a great song. especially the first 30 seconds. very similar to songs on la foret.
This song is relatively simple compared to the rest of the album. I think the theme of unrequited love follows Jamie though most of his work—especially in macabre or aberrant sexual behaviors. The key of the collection is that fetish goes hand-in-hand with simple heartbreak (or only simple compared to deep, damaged, and "wrong" behaviors and neuroses). This song is a good touchstone for the direction of emotion in the album, and the lyrics never mean anything—no matter what anyone says.
Dunno I think it could have something to do with virginity and how people think that losing is the end all be all.
I don't really see it as unrequited love, just a relationship that didn't work out. In fact I think Jamie's a little frustrated when he says "Daniella, don't say be tender first and don't say teach me before you get tied up for your first time
I'm not like that"
It's like they just don't understand or get him.
I haven't heard much of the album yet, but I think when Jamie says
"Don't say teach me before you get tied up for your first time
I'm not like that"
means Jamie relates the word Teach with fetish-plays, and he's reminded of them when Daniella says so, whether he likes it or not.. "I'm not like that" is what he keeps telling himself, for his own, and for Daniellas sake, but in reality, that's just what he wants..
The middle part, about hair, tells me he hates himself for being such a hard person inside.
I think it's about liking someone way out of your league so to speak, and feeling really stupid about it. Not necessarily unrequited love, just the perception thereof.
"Daniella" may or may not return his feelings, but he feels unworthy of her attention. He's too shy to approach her so he just convinces himself she doesn't love him and beats himself up over it, as seen in the second verse...
Your black hair is like black hair Mine I promise is a jerk's hair Your acne is like a pearl Mine I swear is a brimstone
They both have acne, but while her imperfections are beautiful to him, his are just more reasons for her to not like him.
She's engaging in BDSM sex with Jaime, but he's basically warning her that he is not a good person to try this for the first time with, because he will hurt her.
"I think your acne is like a pearl", is really "your ugly is like a pearl"