About-Face

Really no idea what this means. I love this intro though.

I don't get it either. I dig it though. The lyrics are so intriguing.

The song seems to be about him dealing with the shame that comes from certain things you do growing up. Let's break it down a little more.

"When I was a boy Chasing a note Straining to bring up The Chords in my throat, Battling age clinging the coat Humming the old songs in stereo."

This is him going through puberty and dealing with the things that come with those changes.

"I had not a thought Of parking lots And me in the car With the doors all locked, I'm staring ahead Everyone's dead I'm under the pain in between my ribs."

He's feeling different things; Things he isn't sure he should be engaging in at this point, but he does. Afterwards he feels regret, feeling shamed, and self absorbed with his problems.

"It's just like the movies It comes about-face All at once when I'm breathing, The careless air of the night."

About-Face as dictionary.com describes it is " a complete, sudden change in position, direction, principle, attitude, etc.: They've done an about-face in their foreign policy." which I believe is what he's referring to. Whether he's referring to him changing in that moment, or referring to the change he's been in the process of going into.

Beautifully sad song.

Actually, the first verse is really interesting. It could also be embaressment, "Straining to bring up the chords in my throat.." but that doesn't fit as well with the rest of the song, in my opinion. ^^

I'm pretty sure "ribs" should be "lips" in the line "I'm under the pain in between my ribs."