No I in Threesome

i think that all of these interpretations are very sweet, but the first few posters were right. every line in this song is about suggesting a threesome. there are very few, if any, nonsexual connotations to the word "threesome," and considering this is paul banks... this is how i imagine the conversation going:

"through the storms and the light baby you stood by my side and life is wine"

baby, i just want you to know that i LOVE you.

"but there are days in this life when you see the teeth marks of time two lovers divide"

however, i feel there is a distance. aka the sex is no longer satisfying.

"sound meets sound babe her echoes, they surround and all that we need is one thing now what is there to allow"

let me think of the best way to say this...

"babe it's time we gave something new a try oh alone we may fight so just let us be free"

the two of us alone isn't enough, let's have a THREESOME!

"and baby tonight i see your lips are on fire and life is wine"

i can see that your sex drive is very high right now.

"now the windows are open the moon is so bright no one can tell us what love brings for you and i"

and even though some people would think this is a terrible idea, i really think that a THREESOME would benefit our love!

"sound meets sound babe the echoes, they surround and all that we need is one thing now what is there to allow

babe it's time we give something new a try oh alone we may fight so just let us be free tonight"

did i mention that we should have a threesome?

"through the storms and the light baby you stood by my side and life is wine

you feel the sweet breath of time it's whispering it's truth, not mine there's no "i" in threesome"

just in case you didn't get it the first time, i think we should have a threesome, but i can't do it alone! (how convenient that paul banks actually says threesome, and oh hey, it's also the title of the song!)

"and i am all for it"

i am ALL FOR IT.

"babe its time we give something new a try oh alone we may fight so just let us be three tonight"

THREESOME.

Yeah it's meant to say "let us be three tonight" but isn't it amazing how many people are suckered by the title? Do we really think that Interpol reknowned for their kookiness and deepness would be that obvious? haha! No! I LOVE this song even the music and chord progressions tell you clearly this is not about sexual experimentation.

A threesome is not a permanent arrangement. The song gives a sense of permanence about the "threesome" because he talks about things they've been through so there's not a sense that the song is about a one off arrangement and if it was about a threesome why talk about the fact that "you've stood by my side" as in loyalty? No this song is not about sex guys.

He is talking about having a baby and bringing a baby into their relationship, he's saying that yes when we are alone together we may have our issues but if we have another person to focus on we won't. Many couples think about having a baby to bring them closer together (it usually doesn't work) but in this case, he's pointing out that they've been together through so much so what more is there to do? Also he's saying that time is whispering its truth that it's time they did that.

I love this song because it's so touching and being a in place where I am really ready to have a baby with my husband I totally understand what he's saying. There really is no "I" in threesome. xx

I personally dont believe this song is about a threesome. I felt that the lyrics had no meaning to an actual threesome. For example:

1.

""through the storms and the lie baby you stood by my side and life is wine"""

This part is fairly simple throughout the good and the bad you were beside me and life gets better over time

2. ""but there are days in this life when you see the teeth marks of time two lovers divide""

In the path of our time together there are parts that these "teeth" will break us apart and we will break up.

3. ""sound meets sound babe her echoes, they surround and all that we need is one thing now what is there to allow""

This one is a bit tricky but here is an observation, I think this verse means that the singer is absolutely in love and obsessed with her. And the things that they need is love, but what is there to allow for them for each other.

4. ""babe it's time we gave something new a try oh alone we may fight so just let us be free""

This i feel is not about a threesome, its about leaving each other and trying something new without each other in their lives. And alone they will fight their pain but they the singer is wishing for them to just be free.

5. ""and baby tonight i see your lips are on fire and life is wine now the windows are open the moon is so bright no one can tell us what love brings for you and i""

I feel this verse is very desperate almost like they still want each other physically, but there not together like they once were. But since the "windows" are open there is no way to know what is going to happen any more as there love is not exclusive anymore.

6. ""you feel the sweet breath of time it's whispering it's truth, not mine there's no "i" in threesome""

""and i am all for it""

Here we go the meat of the song. The first line means that the sweet breath is there separation that is about to unfold, and its truth is something that the singer does not want to believe. Therefore there is no I in threesome, which I THINK means that the girl was cheating on him, and now he is hurt and the I means that we cannot be together because there is no more I or me.

and he is all for breaking up

7. ""babe it's time we give something new a try oh alone we may fight and feathers bend like trees in the moonlight""

Again like earlier they will fight the pain alone but the part that got me here was the "feathers bend like trees in the moonlight", which if you think back to Led Zeppelin's "All of my love" there is a line that goes "should I chase a feather in the wind" meaning should he leave his former lover for a new one. And the tie to this song is that this "feather" bends for the girl cheating on him at night like a secret, doing whatever she wants.

Well that is my observation in short

He was with a girl, she cheated on him and now hes out of it. So the "threesome" they had, he will not deal with so he is out.

Tell me what ya think or if I lost my mind lol peace out!

I believe tophat (9.22.07) has found the meaning. An actual threesome (sexual) is just too blatant for this song. It would nullify the song's intensity.

i wish you could edit lyrics because i think that it might be "so just let us be three tonight" lol it would make sense!

life is wine = life gets better with age?

"There is no I in threesome" but there is "me" and no "you" or "us".

Not to pileon here, but I have a couple observations I didn't see anyone post:

1) The "sweet breath of time" affecting her, not him would be her biological clock.

2) One of the biggest metaphors here is implied (not sure I'm referencing the right literary tool here, so please correct as appropriate). TEAM! There's no "I" in Team, is the phrase they are playing with. So that reference is meant to resound. And while a menage a trois may function as a sort of team, a family does even more so.

Pair the two of these observations together and it does look like their talkin' bout baby.

Through the storms and the light Baby, you stood by my side And life is wine

But there are days in this life When you see the teeth marks of time Two lovers divide

Sound meets sound, babe Her echoes, they surround And all that we need is one thing Now what is there to allow

Babe, it's time we gave Something new a try Oh, alone we may fight So just let us be three

And baby, tonight I see your lips are on fire And life is wine Now the windows are open The moon is so bright 'Cause no one can tell us What love brings for you and I

Sound meets sound, babe The echoes, they surround And all that we need is one thing Now what is there to allow

Babe, it's time we give Something new a try Oh, alone we may fight So just let us be three Tonight

Through the storms and the light Baby, you stood by my side And life is wine

You feel the sweet breath of time It's whispering its truth, not mine There's no "I" In threesome

And I am all for it

Babe, it's time we give Something new a try Oh, alone we may fight And feathers bend like trees In the moonlight

Babe, its time we give Something new a try Oh, alone we may fight So just let us be three Tonight

Ok, first of all... the lyrics posted are wrong, fnava21 finally nailed. There are so many interpretations, literally, poetic devices, some peolpe say that is all about sex and some others think that is about have a threesome to save a worn relationship, is just my opinion but, there's something more about this song, well...

Through the storms and the light/Baby, you stood by my side/And life is wine But there are days in this life/When you see the teeth marks of time/Two lovers divide...

here, the guy is describing a relationship who grows with time and of course has ups and downs but still in love of eachother no matter what.

Sound meets sound, babe/Her echoes, they surround/And all that we need is one thing/Now what is there to allow. Babe, it's time we gave something new a try/Oh, alone we may fight/So just let us be three

He's sure about the feelings for her, but maybe something else could make them more happy, something new, something fresh.

And baby, tonight/I see your lips are on fire/And life is wine/Now the windows are open/The moon is so bright/'Cause no one can tell us what love brings for you and I

The metaphors about the open windows and the bright moon refer that they have a good life together and realize that it's time, the path is clear and they can clearly see their future. When he says 'I see your lips are on fire' maybe refer that things are getting hot and they'll make love.

Babe, it's time we give something new a try/Oh, alone we may fight/So just let us be three/ 'Tonight'

It's a fact, tonight will occur. He's saying that they cease to be a couple to become parents and be three.

Through the storms and the light/Baby, you stood by my side/And life is wine You feel the sweet breath of time/It's whispering its truth, not mine/There's no "I"/In threesome And I am all for it

Again it's a love declaration, they have been through a lot of things together and as the wine cliche says: wine tastes better with time, so as life. Here, he's trying to say that they are getting old and reached the stage when don't want to be alone anymore, and he's completely sure and wants to start a family because they need to leave selfishness behind, because when you are a parent, nothing matters more than the family and that's why there's no I in threesome.

At least, is the best interpretation that can be given.