One Red Thread

I think that this song is a message from the singer to the person he is singing to about how important it is to have your own opinions in a relationship, primarily if disagree with having relationships at all and that relationships are capable of being hurtful while rejecting monogamy can guarantee ease. Lyrics (+corrections?)

(stanza 1) oh from the first that the line got drawn it was poison in the land it was on one red thread through the middle of a song my only one, my only one

(stanza 2) I can remember the age that i was but not that story that pumped in my blood when you were the savior and I was the taker of oh where i was

(chorus) oh but man oh man you can do what you want oh man oh man you can do what you want the only line that is true is the line you're from

(stanza 3) I have to say there was a mile or two I had the itch to fly and i flew now at best we would make our dreams with something used with something used

(stanza 4) and from the minute that the line got drawn I couldn't see straight to you for nothing now me, I'm the poisonin' one yah I'm the one I am the...

(chorus) oh but man oh man you can do what you want oh man oh man you can do what you want the only line that is true is the line that you're...

(chorus) oh man oh man you can do what you want oh man oh man you can do what you want the only line that is true is the line you're from the only line that is true is the line you're from

From the first stanza, I think that the 'line' that was 'first drawn' is the constraint of a normal relationship (having relations with just one person, having to prioritize one person, etc). It's 'poison' to the 'land' (people) it's on because it's may not be what people believe, thus turning them away from how they actually feel for the sake of society/propriety. I think the next two lines are about how music (and society) push this 'red thread' (ie commitment/fidelity) on people by romanticizing it, and the singer is showing how easy it is to say 'my only one' without really grasping its meaning. I think the singer gives this as evidence to the 'You' he is singing to as reasons for why he/she might be brainwashed by society. This idea of the lyrics as a conversation between the singer and You is supported with later stanzas.

The next stanza is about the first exposures to this sort of 'brainwashing', where the singer says he can (i believe this is a incorrect lyric) remember how old he was, but not what convinced him that people have to monogamous. This doesn't really make sense, as conventionally people can remember stories, but not when they heard them, especially children's stories. The lines ' where you were the savior and I was the taker of, oh where I was' stand for most children's stories where love saves the protagonists and the ending is 'happily ever after'. This makes it seem like the singer was unconvinced by this need for relationships from an early age, such that he can't even remember the stories but only remembers the message. He may be trying to convince You that their relationship is following a set pattern from storybooks and that they shouldn't have to be this way. This is implied by his belief that he is the 'taker of, of where i was', meaning that he gave up his belief that he doesn't need relationships for the sake of being with You. I'm not to sure about how to interpret the line '...I was the taker of, oh where i was'. please assist?

I also think this could signify the start of a relationship between the singer and the 'you' that he is singing to. The first two lines could refer to the time he remembers how old he was (when he started dating), but not what 'story' motivated him to be in relationships, where 'you' is the 'savior' (saving him with his/her love) and the singer is the 'taker' of his old beliefs. (once again, not quite sure of the last line. please correct me.)

I think that the chorus refers to how non-committed, but attached the singer is to his 'you'. Though he doesn't believe in relationships, he is genuinely concerned about 'you''s feelings, and tells her that 'you can do what you want', because 'the only line that is true is the line you're from' (you can do what you think is right, because the only thing that matters is what you believe in (Not what people tell you to believe this inner parentheses is what i think is implied)). This is, I believe, genuine concern for another person. While pushing your beliefs on other people in a relationship may seem like caring, if you don't care what they believe then it's all superficial. The singer wants You to understand him, what he thinks their relationship is, and that he cares for her in his way, and this line pretty damn near makes me cry every time.

In the third stanza, the 'itch to fly' could be the singer's need to be free from the constraints of a relationship, and since he 'flew', he probably had an affair (or tried to). This results in the fact that 'now at best we (singer+you) would make our dreams with something used, with something used' (the singer returned to You regretful and contrite, but the fact that he 'flew'/left in the first place has forever affected the dynamic of their relationship, and if they were going to continue a relationship, it'd have to be with their feelings before the singer 'flew' (making their 'dreams with something used'), which doesn't seem as nice as having new feelings for each other. The tone of the song implies that the singer is regretful, and that shows concern for You.

The fourth stanza is the singer showing regret for his leaving. If the 'line' that 'got drawn' is different from the original 'line' referenced in the first stanza (the 'Red Thread of Fate'), then I think it is a line between the singer and You. The line was drawn when the singer 'flew' from the relationship, and ever since then, he hasn't been able to see You clearly. This could be because he enjoyed freedom, or regrets leaving her in the first place (I like the second option, but the first one makes more sense :[ i think it's more likely because if you can't see straight, you're probably looking sideways, and in the sideways are more girls/boys). Now, he's the 'poisonin' one' (i think this is the correct lyric) and can't be in the relationship (contrasting from the original poison, the pressures of monogamy, this new poison pressures You to join the world without relationships with the singer). However, he asks You to 'do what you want' and to be true to 'the line that you're from', while knowing the risks that You might not want to be with the singer and may choose to stay monogamous.

I really like this song because of this. The singer, while not being a conventional hero, is an honest person who genuinely cares about You, and wants him/her to make his/her own decisions. Compared with the average monogamous boyfriend/girlfriend, this is a lot more considerate to the differences of opinion that might exist between partners. I am of the opinion that honesty is something that bonds people closer together, though it is significantly more difficult, but if you know about your other half's (or other eighth or fourth or whatever for the non-monogams) opinions and can disagree, but accept them, then I think you're as close to true love as you can get.