Accidental Babies

This song is one of the best on his new album.

It's about two people having an affair, both cheating on their respective partners. The song has many references to the sinful nature of their affair and the sexuality within it- "And we use cushions to cover Happy glands In mild issue of our disgrace", "Our bodies pressed and hardened Turning our desire in With no room for a pardon". But it's more than just a cheap fling. As the song progresses, and with the chorus full of rhetorical questions it becomes clear that he really loves her, asking her if her man does all the things for her that he does. He feels that she belongs with him, yet she's still staying with her partner. He urges her to be "free" and leave him if she'd be happier with him instead.

I take this song differently. I dont think its an actual cheating song. I see it as being about two people who were together, then broke up and moved on to other relationships. The guy is questioning his ex if her new man is everything that he had been to her.

And speaking from experience, when there are two people in that situation - there is always a risk of "accidental babies". Because a baby ties you to your new partner, where before if the two former lovers wanted to be back together there wasnt anything to stop them.

Iagree with last goodbye. I feel like the meaning of this song is pretty obvious. An emotional state that most of us have been in at one time or another.

"I held you like a lover..." They loved each other, perhaps it wasn't right... but they gave it all they had. Stolen moments, maybe. I relate to this song in that I understand the parts of the song where he's questioning her-- Did you loveme, do you think of me, still? Do you remember all the little things.. And then to anger, or rather bitterness, Do you even cum together, does he make you feel half of what i did... One phrase sticks out in my mind " Does he drive you wild, or just moderately free?" Obviously, she drove him wild. I feel like the majojrity of this song is him asking her why it wasn't enough. Why their love, their sex, their intensity wasn't enough to bind him to her.

sigh I love songs written for grown-ups. We don't always end up with the one we truly love. Period. This song is a plea to not let that happen.

This is such an incredible song. It's one of those songs where you just close your eyes and take it in...and even if you're not the type of person to ever be in a similar situation...you understand and you feel it. You breathe his desperation and can feel how crazy this is driving him. Asking all these questions about their other lover and if they make them feel the same as he does. He doesn't want to settle for anything less than the love he feels for them, but they're not sure they feel the same. I love how the song ends with him almost whispering "For we are in love"...because in that alone you can hear his plea and need to be this person. I also love this song because never once does it cross my mind that it's terrible that they're both cheating on their others. But instead I focus on what a beautiful thing they could have.

I think it's pretty clear that this song is about two people who are having an affair. While I can see how it could easily be interpreted as something different, I think the message is quite clear. The first verse pretty much gives away the notion that this is about two people who shouldn't or aren't allowed to be together.

Aside from the sexual innuendos he sings:

"and we ignored our others' happy plans for that delicate look upon your face"

In the first line he's referencing how they're both ignoring their spouses with their "happy plans" probably meaning the times they sneak off to be alone.

And again:

"in a place where no one knows what we have done"

This line just further confirms that what's going on is private, between the two involved and no one knows what they're doing or what is going on.

I can imagine the entire second verse probably being what was running through Damien's head constantly when he wrote this. He's basically comparing himself to the person the girl is really with. He's basically saying can he make you feel how I do?

"is he bold enough to take you on? do you feel like you belong? does he drive you wild? or just mildly free? what about me?"

The part where he asks her "does he drive you wild? or just mildly free?" to me suggests that the girl he's having this affair with has some problems within her own relationship. That she's either not happy or the relationship has lost it's spark. Which would explain the desire to have an affair in the first place.

"you held me like a lover sweaty hands and my foot in the appropriate place we used cushions to cover happy glands and the mild issue of our disgrace our minds pressed and guarded while our flesh disregarded the lack of space for the light-hearted in the boom that beats our drum"

I'm not 100% on this part. For some reason with this part I always get the feeling that they're (Damien and the girl) sometimes being "naughty" in front of other people, maybe even the people they're actually with.

"we used cushions to cover happy glands and the mild issue of our disgrace our minds pressed and guarded while our flesh disregarded the lack of space for the light-hearted in the boom that beats our drum"

I just feel like it's very literal. "we used cushions to cover happy glands" meaning maybe they are in the same room with other people and are on the couch hiding under a blanket while they touch one another so no one will see. But it's not just hiding his boner, it's hiding "the mild issue of our disgrace".

"and i know i make you cry i know sometimes you wanna die but do you really feel alive without me? if so be free if not leave him for me before one of us has accidental babies for we are ..."

It sounds like he probably drives her mad, for whatever reason. He's Damien Rice and all his songs suggest he's probably a wee bit complicated in the relationship department. But does he make her feel alive the way Damien does? Is he does, then go he's saying. Be free.

"if not leave him for me"

Before someone has accidental babies!

This song saved my relationship. You find yourself in a situation you have no control of. You are in danger of losing your life (lover) and she hears this song and it changes your life. It is the song that made me whole. I too can't ever listen to it without crying

I can't believe people are arguing about this. Anyway, I've been balling my eyes out. I'm separating from my husband, I've been in love with someone else for a long time, I was in denial of it being an 'affair' because I couldn't face the reality that I could love someone else. I love my husband for what we were years and years ago, but he hasn't so much as looked in my direction until I finally did what I'd threatened 10 times before, and left him. It's over and I'm morning that, but also I can't have a real relationship with my past 'lover' because of the destruction that it would cause my husband and therefore my children. I guess I got what I deserved.

Cheers Darlin'

"Is he dark enough, enough to see your light" and "does he drive you wild, or just mildly free" are beautiful questions... if I were to end up somehow not married to my husband, or if I were seeking an additional relationship (relax, our marriage isn't closed), those questions would come to mind, because really, what's the point if the person doesn't "drive you wild" and doesn't have that darkness in them that illuminates you?

These lyrics break me down to tears just reading them, without even playing the song. It describes my situation, the awkward fumbling of the physical encounter, the reminiscing of the good memories, the aspects of the relationship that one side felt were so special that they couldn't imagine another appreciating, questioning if the current partner has any idea of how special that person is, acknowledging the possible reasons for the initial breakdown but reasoning that they made it so significant, but ultimately leaving it up to the other to decide if they are to continue down separate paths or forsake others and give the relationship another chance. I saw Damien Rice with my ex and it was the most emotionally charged night of my life, and I cannot now listen to the album without thinking of him.