His head was a city
Of paper buildings
And the echoes that remained
Of old friends and lovers
Their features bleeding
Together in his brain

And once it started was harder to
Tell them apart

He was always distracted
By the very mention
Of an open door
'Cause he had sworn not to be what he'd been before

To be a remain remain remain remainder

The television was snowing softly
As she hunted for her keys
She said she never envisioned him the type of person capable of such deceit

And they carried on like long division
And it was clear with every page
That they were further away from a solution that would play

Without a remain remain remain remainder

He had sworn not to be what he'd been before

To be the remain remain remain remainder


Lyrics submitted by TDDx8

Long Division Lyrics as written by Christopher Walla Benjamin Gibbard

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Long Division song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    “And they carried on like long division.. for a solution that would play without a remain”

    I think collectively, the couple attempts long division, a prolongation of the relationship because both don’t want it to end. They want to find a solution where there isn’t a remainder, where both can walk away from the relationship whole, neither incomplete and broken. And till they find that solution they keep struggling along with the relationship.

    Through this struggle, the partner is distracted by “open doors”, other possibilities, perhaps with other women. However, he had sworn he’d be faithful this time, because he didn’t want to end up being a remainder, incomplete and broken like before. And sadly, he goes along with the temptation in the end, and she leaves.

    I think the whole song is about two lovers trying to salvage something which once worked, but now isn’t, because neither wants to be hurt.

    krispychic69on August 17, 2008   Link

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