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.
You make me lose my buttons oh yeah you make me spit
I don't like my clothes anymore
We're spending time and money yeah you're colder than yourself
Now we're moving now we?re taking control
You make me lose my buttons oh yeah you make me spit
I don't like my clothes anymore
You take me to New Orleans where you put me to the test
I know what my heart is for
You reach out for blanket I say girl you've got something
I love how you wear it
Now we're spending time and money yeah you're colder than yourself
Now we're moving now we're taking control
Love will get you down
My love's a laboratory
I set all my pets free
So baby you should sleep with me
I make trips to the bathroom
Yeah my friends all have true grit
I am speckled like a leopard
Put a lid on Shirley Temple
Yeah you make sleek kills
Yeah you travel you travel
You park me in your buick
You sing songs into my lips
Well I am speckled like a leopard
Just like a leopard
Trust will get you down
I love the way
You put me in the big house
I love the way
You put me in the big house
If I get there early will it be the right time
Our heaven is just waiting so put your hand into mine
If I get too surly will you take that in stride
Our boat is just there waiting so put your little hand in mine
And speak when you're spoken of
Catch up on your sleep girl
When you wear that body glove
You're acting on initiative
And you're spelling out your love
You shouldn't be alone in there
You could be above ground
All I want is to be the very best for you
All I want is to be the very best for you
Oh this time
There'll be no life of crime
Don't rain on me tonight
Circle around me now baby it'll be ok
Cause we all go downtown sometimes
Somehow baby we'll beat this mess
It's the time fuck the surface to meet the specialist
Time away from me
Will get you down
I love the way you put me in the big house
I love the way you put me in the big house
If I get there early will it be the right time
Our heaven is just waiting is just waiting
So put your hand into mine
If I get too surly will you take that in stride
Our boat is just there waiting
So put your little hand in mine
And speak when you're spoken of
Catch up on your sleep
When you wear that body clock
You're acting on initiative
And you're spelling out your love
You shouldn't be alone in there
You could be above ground
If you're frustrated then go
If you're frustrated then go
Honey bee, we should be through with this,
Your packaged eyes, your vicious lips
You could be young, but you're out of touch
If this loves been done, then what's your rush?
I'm a specialist in hope and I'm registered to vote
Why don't you come into my barrio
We'll see if you can float
I'm a specialist in hope and I'm registered to vote
Why don't you come into my barrio
We'll see if you can float
I don't like my clothes anymore
We're spending time and money yeah you're colder than yourself
Now we're moving now we?re taking control
You make me lose my buttons oh yeah you make me spit
I don't like my clothes anymore
You take me to New Orleans where you put me to the test
I know what my heart is for
You reach out for blanket I say girl you've got something
I love how you wear it
Now we're spending time and money yeah you're colder than yourself
Now we're moving now we're taking control
Love will get you down
My love's a laboratory
I set all my pets free
So baby you should sleep with me
I make trips to the bathroom
Yeah my friends all have true grit
I am speckled like a leopard
Put a lid on Shirley Temple
Yeah you make sleek kills
Yeah you travel you travel
You park me in your buick
You sing songs into my lips
Well I am speckled like a leopard
Just like a leopard
Trust will get you down
I love the way
You put me in the big house
I love the way
You put me in the big house
If I get there early will it be the right time
Our heaven is just waiting so put your hand into mine
If I get too surly will you take that in stride
Our boat is just there waiting so put your little hand in mine
And speak when you're spoken of
Catch up on your sleep girl
When you wear that body glove
You're acting on initiative
And you're spelling out your love
You shouldn't be alone in there
You could be above ground
All I want is to be the very best for you
All I want is to be the very best for you
Oh this time
There'll be no life of crime
Don't rain on me tonight
Circle around me now baby it'll be ok
Cause we all go downtown sometimes
Somehow baby we'll beat this mess
It's the time fuck the surface to meet the specialist
Time away from me
Will get you down
I love the way you put me in the big house
I love the way you put me in the big house
If I get there early will it be the right time
Our heaven is just waiting is just waiting
So put your hand into mine
If I get too surly will you take that in stride
Our boat is just there waiting
So put your little hand in mine
And speak when you're spoken of
Catch up on your sleep
When you wear that body clock
You're acting on initiative
And you're spelling out your love
You shouldn't be alone in there
You could be above ground
If you're frustrated then go
If you're frustrated then go
Honey bee, we should be through with this,
Your packaged eyes, your vicious lips
You could be young, but you're out of touch
If this loves been done, then what's your rush?
I'm a specialist in hope and I'm registered to vote
Why don't you come into my barrio
We'll see if you can float
I'm a specialist in hope and I'm registered to vote
Why don't you come into my barrio
We'll see if you can float
Lyrics submitted by Nimo, edited by Mellow_Harsher, alrightsogood
Specialist Lyrics as written by Ali Williams Albert Johnson
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
![Album art](../../../images/art-default.png)
Love in a Vacuum
'Til Tuesday
'Til Tuesday
![Album art](../../../images/art-default.png)
Siberian Kiss
Glassjaw
Glassjaw
its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
![Album art](../../../images/art-default.png)
Show Me a Little Shame
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
He certainly did earn that reputation.
![Album art](../../../images/art-default.png)
when rules change
Life in Your Way
Life in Your Way
High life
![Album art](../../../images/art-default.png)
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
what album is this song from?