Always Like This

I think it's about a relationship that isn't really going anywhere.

When he says "She can wait for what I can give" its like he's saying that he's sure she will, and she should, wait for him to commit, no matter what. Then he says "she knows what I am but she won't believe me", I kind of think of this as him trying to tell her that he's no good for her, but she doesn't want to accept it.

"Is that all okay? Will I come off the lightest?" - he's asking if she will accept him or move on; will she find someone 'lighter' or just be 'okay' with him? Then "I can't believe it, it's always like this"; she's picked him again, and he can't believe she has.

He then goes on to say they kept the topic "at bay", so they aren't addressing any of their problems, and "it's there on your mouth... but that's not what I heard" could be him knowing she's thinking about moving on or talking, but that's not what she ever says in the end.

"I'm not whole, you waste it all" - he isn't satisfied. Staying in the relationship is a 'waste'.

"You know what I am... you try to look proud but you're not in the slightest" - she tries to love him for what he is, or at least she pretends to, but he knows she doesn't really.

"It's happening now and it's always been like this", I think this could either be just for the whole of this relationship, or maybe for other ones as well. Kind of like there have always been people who stay in relationships because they don't want to not be in a relationship, not because they love the other person. Because they are scared of being alone. I think that's the whole point of the song, staying in a dead end relationship even though you aren't happy.

So, yeah, that's my long winded explanation for this. It's a good song, not my personal favourite but good all the same.

I have to say, I always saw this song as being about someone coming out and dealing with prejudice. "I'm not whole" seems to me to be about, as 05music said, unrequitted feelings, but in my opinion it's suppressed homosexuality.

"You know what I am So you know how I live Try to look proud But you�re not in the slightest Its happening now And it's always been like this"

Once I had the idea, hearing that verse made me more sure.

"She knows what I am but, She won't believe me, Is it all ok?"

It's always been like this; despite superficial changes, the homophobic rejection attitude has not disappeared.

(In my amateur opinion)

I feel like it's about homosexuality. In my mind I kind of see it as a guy who has been suppressing his sexuality finally coming out to his mother or something and she's not totally willing to accept that it. She's willing to wait for him to become the son she wants him to be and is unable to believe that he's "always been like this." While she might not admit this, he can tell she is disappointed with this.

I feel like the part about following the light that he deems the brightest is his way of saying that he has chosen to accept his sexuality and live as a gay man, but he is still somewhat confused and is having trouble knowing if he really has "always been like this." This also makes sense with the "I'm not whole" part. He isn't whole because of his lack of comfort in his own skin and the rift this has caused with his family and loved ones. The "you waste it all" might be his loved ones wasting their hopes of his 'return' to heterosexuality.

The final "you can wait for what I can give" might be him telling his disapproving mother that she can wait and see that even though he is a homosexual, he is still her son and can still live the life she had dreamed for him.

"You know what I am so you know how I live" is pretty self explanatory, she now knows he is gay and knows that he will be with men. The same goes for the next two lines; she tries to be proud of her son for who he is, but she can't hide her disappointment. "It's happening now and it's always been like this" to me is a sign of his acceptance of himself. He realizes that this is the life he was always meant to live.

That's what I got out of it anyway.

I like to think it's about lack of change, or maybe it's about the fact that there is no desire for change :/ Or maybe its just that the person has tried and nothing did and now it feels like a waste

It's a sweet song though but I wish I could understand it more :)

:) amazing.

possibly about a relationship

i'm not whole without you but you always waste it perhaps unrequited feelings? or the other person doesn't realise how much you love them

I was listening to the recording carefully and i think that maybe on the last line of the chorus he says "i'm not grown", just thought i'd throw that in there

Oh she can wait, For what I can give, She knows what I am but, She won’t believe me, Is it all ok? Will I come off the lightest? I can’t believe it, It’s always like this,

--He's been physical with the girl but she won't commit because of another man. She won't commit because he did something to drive her away in the past. Now he's changed and he's trying to make her see that.

Kept it at bay Yes you kept your words There on your mouth But it’s not what I heard

--She lies to him to avoid conflict but her actions betray her feelings.

If I follow the light That I deem the brightest I won’t believe that It’s always like this

--He wants to believe in love, and not that she's just using him.

I’m not whole You waste it all

--He feels like he needs someone, and when he tries to make it her she runs away only to come back again.

Try to look proud But you’re not in the slightest Its happening now And it’s always been like this

--She tries to act like she isn't guilty of anything and it's getting in the way of them being together.

I can say this pretty confidently because this is how needy men react to confused cockteases most of the time.

:) amazing.

I love this