This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
I wake up, my shoulders cold
I've got to leave here, before I go
I pull my shirt on, walk out the door
Drag my feet along the floor
I pull my shirt on, walk out the door
Drag my feet along the floor
Then I see you, you're walking 'cross the campus
Cruel professor studying romances
How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again
How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again
Walked to class, in front of ya
Spilled kefir on your keffiyeh
You look inside and turn to the door
Drag your feet along the floor
Then I see you, you're walking 'cross the campus
Cruel professor studying romances
How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again
How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again
In the afternoon, you're out on the stone and grass
And I'm sleeping on the balcony after class
In the afternoon, you're out on the stone and grass
And I'm sleeping on the balcony after class
In the afternoon, you're out on the stone and grass
And I'm sleeping on the balcony after class
I've got to leave here, before I go
I pull my shirt on, walk out the door
Drag my feet along the floor
I pull my shirt on, walk out the door
Drag my feet along the floor
Then I see you, you're walking 'cross the campus
Cruel professor studying romances
How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again
How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again
Walked to class, in front of ya
Spilled kefir on your keffiyeh
You look inside and turn to the door
Drag your feet along the floor
Then I see you, you're walking 'cross the campus
Cruel professor studying romances
How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again
How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again
In the afternoon, you're out on the stone and grass
And I'm sleeping on the balcony after class
In the afternoon, you're out on the stone and grass
And I'm sleeping on the balcony after class
In the afternoon, you're out on the stone and grass
And I'm sleeping on the balcony after class
Lyrics submitted by carlitalolitax
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The Night We Met
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Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
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Page
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I actually think this song is about a one night stand and the following morning wanting to leave before they get up cos of the awkwardness. Draging his feet along the floor possibly in regret of what he's done.
Then he sees her walking 'cross the campus, the "cruel professor studying romances", i think, is the girl overthinking the situation and wondering if there was more to it than a one night stand etc...
The chrorus isnt "how am i supposed to pretend i never want to see you again [as he likes her]" its "How am i supposed to pretend [theres more to it than just a one night stand when really], I never want to see you again" The comma makes it a whole different thing he's saying/thinking.
Ending with shes on the stone and grass (i.e. campus) maybe waiting to bump into him again whereas he's "sleeping on the balcony after class" simply catching up from a lack of sleep last night - another indication of the one night stand - not thinking about her anymore.
i think all their songs can be taken many ways, but this interpretation is coherent with all the different sections. i love it.
Excellent interpretation MikeF,<br /> You ideas are clear and well supported.<br /> I share the same idea of the song being about a one night stand.<br /> However, you may need to reanalyze the chrorus. The original lyrics do not contain a comma: <br /> <br /> How am I supposed to pretend<br /> I never want to see you again<br /> How am I supposed to pretend<br /> I never want to see you again<br /> <br /> Hence, and just maybe, the writer is having a hard time coping with fact that he had a one night stand and he wanted it to be more. Ergo he's having a hard time pretending that he never wants to see her again. I know it's especially hard not to fall in love with your first one night stand. heeehee<br /> The unspoken rule: "Never fall in love with a one night stand"<br /> <br /> Walked to class, in front of ya<br /> <br /> Walking to class in front of her to get her attention maybe? Trying to get noticed?<br /> <br /> <br /> In the afternoon, you're out on the stone and grass<br /> And I'm sleeping on the balcony after class<br /> <br /> Mybe he's doing a little spying on the balcony?<br />
An Oxford Comma would really help clarify the chorus, no?<br /> <br /> <br /> How am I supposed to pretend<br /> I never want to see you again<br /> How am I supposed to pretend<br /> I never want to see you again<br /> <br /> 'Jeeze you know, I just can't hide these feelings for you. When can we get back together?'<br /> Think: Top Gun<br /> <br /> OR<br /> <br /> How am I supposed to pretend[,]<br /> I never want to see you again<br /> How am I supposed to pretend[,]<br /> I never want to see you again<br /> <br /> 'Shit, that actually happened? And now its going to influence our social/professional relationship? I really, really, never want to see you again.'<br /> Think: Don't Stand So Close to Me (Police)
That's not what an Oxford Comma is.
Mm I think he didn't have a one night stand, because I don't think he would regret it. A young guy and the older woman he is in love with? If they slept together I think he would be congratulating himself not dragging his feet. It sounds like he just has a really big crush.
Another quote that supports your interpretation is:<br /> <br /> "I wake up, my shoulders cold" Clearly, he's not wearing a shirt, need I say more maybe she stole the blanket...
I really hope it isnt about a one night stand and the girl overthinking it, cuz that would be something that would happen to me. XP oh goodness.....I am such a romantic. I personally think its about an affair with the english teacher and when she teaches the romantic poetry he is always thinking about her. because of the line: <br /> <br /> "I pull my shirt on, walk out the door<br /> Drag my feet along the floor" <br /> and <br /> "Spilled kefir on your keffiyeh"<br /> <br /> it sounds like hes super spacey, i know that Im especially clumsy when im spacing out. And so he's probably tired from staying up all night thinking about her, or maybe his head is always in the clouds thinking about her. The lack of sleep would also explain him sleeping on the balcony after class. Maybe he was supposed to meet her again but is missing it, which is why she's out on the stone and grass, but he's somewhere else, sleeping.
haha wow, I have a totally different take on this song than ya'll. ;-) I think it's about being gay and living on a college campus. Let me explain my reasoning...
No one has pointed this out yet, but a keffiyeh is something traditionally worn by males.. not females. :) I believe Batmanglij wrote the lyrics to this song, and he has since come out as being gay (out.com/detail.asp).
To me this song tells a story of falling in love with a male (possibly professor) who turns out to not be gay, and hence is not interested in a relationship. The line, "You look inside and turn to the door," to me means that when the person realizes Batmanglij is gay, he walks away (i.e., not interested).
Thoughts? I could be wrong here.. have been wrong many times. ;-)
@SPB8 Wow I did realise it is usually worn by guys but I thought it was just a saying your idea is good
I think this song is definitely about someone having an affair with their professor! haha. He sings, "I see you...cruel professor studying romances", so I think the "you" is this professor. And I agree with Vampire Weekend=Love, I think he really does love her, but because of the stigma of dating a professor, he has to pretend he never wants to see her again. Anyway, I love the song and how upbeat it is.
I don't really think this is about boning a teacher. I think the 'cruel professor' thing is just meant to call her cruel ('professor of love', I don't think it means actual romances). It's about a guy who has recently broken up with a girl and is now avoiding her but keeps running into her and is really still in love with her. He sees her walking on campus, accidentally spills kefir on her keffiyeh and when he sees her sitting around on the grass, he avoids her and just sleeps (after class is meant to say that he could be doing better things because he's done with class for the day). Also, she's been giving him the cold shoulder (shoulder's cold).
That's my take on it.
I go to a prep school, and this song pretty much summarizes what it feels like to see someone that is your ex or someone that you are supposed to hate but secretly love. School campuses are sooo small, but ive been in situations where ive had to pretend ive never wanted to see a guy again. i love this song because it really captures getting up, walking across a quad, and then seeing the person your supposed to hate... but really love.
Sounds like somebody slept with their Post-colonial studies professor!
exactly.
i looked on VW's website and it has the lyrics like this:
Then I see you You're walking cross the campus Cruel professor Studying romances How am I supposed to pretend I never want to see you again? How am I supposed to pretend I never want to see you again?
Because there's no comma, i think this means that he really likes the girl, but for some reason he has to pretend to hate her. Maybe this is the morning after a break up with the girl. Both of them are dragging their feet, so maybe they both had rough nights after the break up (they both feel bad about it)? or maybe they both just had "late" nights.
i agree with muffy327 , but the "cruel professor studying romances" part makes it very ambiguous. i mean, all of the theories like muffy327's make complete sense to me, but then when it comes to the professor part, it just does not fit in at all. i definitely think it's what kelseymay said it was...just think about the professor line...maybe a professor and a student got together one night and the student is upset because the professor pretty much took advantage of the student...referring to the cruel professor studying romances. it meant more to the student than it did to the professor hence the "how am i supposed to pretend i never want to see you again"
i think you shouldn't take the professor part so literally. if you read japobere's comment first, and consider the girl giving him the cold shoulder after sleeping with him, and then 'studying the romance' you could see her as an expert in one night stands or something like that, a 'professor of love' indeed
i simply think it means the professors are giving the students romance novels to study and the student is upset because he doesn't want to hear any more about love, because his is unrequited.
xocouturecouture: kefir is that drink that's halfway between yogurt and milk. a keffiyah is that middle-eastern big checkered scarf that people fold in half and tie around their necks in a triangle.
incidentally, i agree this song is about boning your professor. it is still my favorite on the album
its "cruel professor studying romances"