Well, in my opinion this song is about being a young & maybe a little naive &/or introverted girl and finding yourself loving a man who is at first very charming, carefree & outgoing, and seems at first to be without limits, as in
"There was a time
you opened up every doorway
you didn't mind if everything
wasn't your way"
then that man starts to gradually become more introverted & shows their more possessive/obsessive side to you as the relationship progresses, even while they keep up the appearance of being carefree & outgoing to everyone else,
"Don't pull away
that goes against what you told me
I look in your eyes
I realize what you've sold me
is love in a vacuum"
so you confront them about the way they're acting and of course they deny it,
"I think you've changed
but you insist that
that's not true"
quite possibly they are an addict of some sort, my guess would be cocaine, &/or showing very obsessive behavior towards you (early on in the video for this song we see the man hanging a picture up, it is a very large portrait of Aimee & it is prominently displayed in his/their apartment for the duration of the song), thus their "love in a vacuum",
"You look so strange, so distant
that you're hardly you
Now I can see
how you have been acting different
You say it's me
but I know
that it isn't
it's love in a vacuum"
but still you are in love with them and don't want to leave them and you know that they are truly in love with you and they don't want you to leave them either, maybe they are convinced you can save them from themself, maybe they are so broken that the possibility of an overdose &/or suicide attempt is very real and you want to get through to them that their behavior not only dangerous but it is also just pissing you off and if they don't wise up they run the risk of loosing you, as in the lines
"You will be lonely
if you leave me alone", so you want to save them but can't get through to them due to the addiction &/or emotional problems they have,
"Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
love in a vacuum
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
You will be lonely
if you leave me alone
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough"
you want them to understand that the love they are giving you is not enough when it is filtered through the vacuum of their drug addiction &/or emotional impairment,
"You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough
and just wait
you will be lonely
Love in a vacuum
Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
Love in a vacuum".
'Love In A Vacuum' for me is a hauntingly truthful acute argument on the loneliness of obsession and almost inevitable loss of love that follows people who are broken in some way or another; the obsessives, the coke heads, the drunks, addicts or the just-plain-old emotionally broken; a razor sharp, lyrically driven, deceptively poppy, yet ultimately-depressing-in-the-best-way song.
Quintessential Aimee Mann.
sit back, i’ll take you for a ride
to anyplace where you decide
keep holding on and don’t let go
too quickly
knocked down, i’m lying on the floor
ooh shit, he’s coming back for more
what can i do, where can i hide
for safety
*pre-chorus*
strive to kiss again, she blinds
i’ve been here once before
you keep me running in circles
can’t stand it, i’m running empty handed
it’s not a waste of time
i know you do it for pleasure
*chorus*
were you sent to destroy me
look i’m still breathing
i warned you the white one is evil
she will kill
you
downtown, i’m going by the store
oh look, she’s coming back for more
i need to run, don’t wanna catch me
today’s she’s serious
i’m trapped, caught and now i’m going under
strike her down with bolt of thunder
play your game but when i dare ya
keep on trying
*pre-chorus*
*chorus*X2
standing stalling, always falling
story of my life
dying, kissingcome embrace me
always giving up
standing stalling, always falling
story of my life
sit back, i’ll take you for a ride
to anyplace where you decide
keep holding on and don’t let go
too quickly
knocked down, i’m lying on the floor
ooh shit, he’s coming back for more
what can i do, where can i hide
for safety
*pre-chorus*
*chorus*X2
to anyplace where you decide
keep holding on and don’t let go
too quickly
knocked down, i’m lying on the floor
ooh shit, he’s coming back for more
what can i do, where can i hide
for safety
*pre-chorus*
strive to kiss again, she blinds
i’ve been here once before
you keep me running in circles
can’t stand it, i’m running empty handed
it’s not a waste of time
i know you do it for pleasure
*chorus*
were you sent to destroy me
look i’m still breathing
i warned you the white one is evil
she will kill
you
downtown, i’m going by the store
oh look, she’s coming back for more
i need to run, don’t wanna catch me
today’s she’s serious
i’m trapped, caught and now i’m going under
strike her down with bolt of thunder
play your game but when i dare ya
keep on trying
*pre-chorus*
*chorus*X2
standing stalling, always falling
story of my life
dying, kissingcome embrace me
always giving up
standing stalling, always falling
story of my life
sit back, i’ll take you for a ride
to anyplace where you decide
keep holding on and don’t let go
too quickly
knocked down, i’m lying on the floor
ooh shit, he’s coming back for more
what can i do, where can i hide
for safety
*pre-chorus*
*chorus*X2
Lyrics submitted by livesX4Xmusic
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Love in a Vacuum
'Til Tuesday
'Til Tuesday
Jesse with the long hair....
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Classic love story true to his western tx roots. One of my favorites as a story, but I think there are alot of songs that are amazing not even listed on this site. I guess I should figure out how to add them, because I have about 8 REK cd's.
Battle Royale
Word Alive, The
Word Alive, The
This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone).
And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.
Fortnight
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
The song 'Fortnight' by Taylor Swift and Post Malone tells a story about strong feelings, complicated relationships, and secret wishes. It talks about love, betrayal, and wanting someone who doesn't feel the same. The word 'fortnight' shows short-lived happiness and guilty pleasures, leading to sadness. It shows how messy relationships can be and the results of hiding emotions. “I was supposed to be sent away / But they forgot to come and get me,” she kickstarts the song in the first verse with lines suggesting an admission to a hospital for people with mental illnesses. She goes in the verse admitting her lover is the reason why she is like this. In the chorus, she sings about their time in love and reflects on how he has now settled with someone else. “I took the miracle move-on drug, the effects were temporary / And I love you, it’s ruining my life,” on the second verse she details her struggles to forget about him and the negative effects of her failure. “Thought of callin’ ya, but you won’t pick up / ‘Nother fortnight lost in America,” Post Malone sings in the outro.
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
Another Lyric Correction:
"Dying, Chasing, Who will face me?" not "dying, kissingcome embrace me"