Velvet

I think this is about seeing your ex again after totally being over them. He's moved on and he's actually fine with not being with anyone at the moment- He doesn't necessarily want to be with someone right now because he's totally content with himself. Then they broke up and once he's FINALLY over her, he sees her again. I think she's a little bit interested in him again or somehow shows that she's still into him, and he recognizes the fact that they used to be intense lovers and remembers what they had. But he's gone this whole time without her and he doesn't feel like there's a gap that needs to be filled. He totally has the opportunity to be with her again but he doesn't think he should do it because he wants to enjoy being perfectly fine on his own. Maybe it's the first time he's actually felt like he's happy that he's not with anyone and wants to savor the feeling because it's a nice, new, independent, and free feeling that is so new to him.

I think the song has a somewhat sad tone to it, however, because because of his decision and feelings, he's walking away from something that he knows could potentially be amazing but he simply doesn't want it. He probably thinks it's horrible because he knows some people would kill to have their exes back and the old him would have in a heartbeat, but he's changed so much in such a way that he doesn't make impulsive decisions like that anymore and just wants to be on his own.

This song describes exactly how I feel at this point in my life. I have an incredible connection with this song.

he sees his ex again. the one he never got over, even with other relationships. hes looking for that kind of love he had with her. and then he sees her again, for real. but he knows it ended for a reason. perfectly captures the confusion with exes. and also has a fantastic sound. my favorite off the album.

yumm this song is just so trippy but in a good way. i think that The lyrics are open to interpretation about it being about seeing an ex again that you haven’t quite got over or been a cheater. I like to think its about the latter, or a mixture of both so here’s my interpretation:

I’ve seen it in my hands, Burn in my heart. I’ve seen it in my past, back in my home but does it make sense, to see her again I don’t know.

He has control over a relationship and he knows it, and is aware that they both will get hurt as it has happened many times before. He knows he shouldn’t agree to meet up with someone else to cheat on his girlfriend, but he can’t resist.

I’ve felt it for some time, now. And not at all Poison in my head, God love hurts I’m not looking for love, but its hard to resist I don’t recall being this dead

He thinks he’s falling in love with his girlfriend and that he has been doing so for a while. His cheating ways coming from his head always hurt his heart. Although he doesn’t intend on falling in love he can’t help but do so.

She’s the only one , Lost the best I had I found her in a dream Looking for me This heart’s on fire I’ll bring myself Up to fall, And down again

His current/ex girlfriend is perfect for him and he is convinced that she is “the one”. He can’t help but fall in love with her no matter how hard he tries to prevent it.

These arms of mine Don’t mind who they hold So should I maybe, just leave love alone You call out my name for the love you need But you won’t find it in me

He’s saying that really, he’s not bothered about who he sleeps with as long as it’s with someone. He’s come to grips with his attitude so realizes that maybe he shouldn’t embark on any relationships. His “perfect girl” is trying to engage in a relationship with him but he’s trying to insist that he’s not good enough for her and can’t give her what she deserves.

These arms of mine don’t mind who they hold You were made for me, now I’ll leave love alone

He realizes that he has met his perfect girl and will never find anyone else like her but still doesn’t know whether to let go of being in love or having casual sex.

I can see the end of what I begun, A tale of love, Come and gone Now my love No promises I won’t go Falling in love.

He knows that the relationship will never work and that it will end at some point and has vowed that from now on he will prevent falling in love or been involved in a relationship.

jella: nothing better than discovering an amazing song at the right time, right? thanks for the interpretation, totally makes sense :)

Jesus, I'm no fan of Urban Outiftters, but thank god for them; they were playing The Big Pink last week and now I've found my current obsession. I agree with jesusrice, this song IS amazing.

This song is amazing. The video is pretty good too. I really like this band with it's early 90's shoegaze influences...

However, I believe there may be a couple of errors in the lyrics here:

"...Up to the force, down again" should be "Up to the fall, down again"

"These arms are mine. Don't matter who they hold" should be "...don't mind who they hold"

Lyrics from the official Big Pink website:

I’ve seen it in my hands Burn in my heart 
 I’ve seen it in my past Back in my home 
 But does it make sense, to see her again 
 I don’t know

I’ve felt it for some time, now 
 And not at all 
 Poison in my head 
 God love hurts 
 I’m not looking for love, but its hard to resist I don’t recall being this dead

She’s the only one 
 Lost the best I had 
 I found her in a dream 
 Looking for me 
 This heart’s on fire 
I’ll bring myself 
 Up to fall 
 And down again

These arms of mine 
 Don’t mind who they hold 
 So should I maybe, just leave love alone 
 You call out my name for the love you need 
 But you won’t find it in me

These arms of mine Don’t mind who they hold 
 You were made for me, now I’ll leave love alone 
You call out my name for the love you need 
 But you won’t find it in me

I’ve seen it in my hands 
 And burn in my heart 
 I found her in a dream 
 Looking for me 
 But does it make sense, to see her again 
 I don’t know I can see the end of what I begun 
 A tale of love 
 Come and gone 
 Now my love 
 No promises 
 I won’t go 
Falling in love.

This song is amazing.

I don't think this song is necessarily about seeing an ex, actually I think the narrator is expressing his reluctance to fall in love. This interpretation would also fit in with the theme of the song "Dominos" in which the narrator describes how he'd prefer to not get serious with any girls since he's not looking for love, therefore he keeps breaking their hearts.

These verses, "I'm not looking for love, but it's hard to resist/I don't recall, me and mistakes/She's the only one, that's the best I've had/I found her in a dream, looking for me/This heart's on fire, I'll bring myself/Up to the force, down again" describe how the narrator found a girl that is virtually perfect for him, and he can't help but fall in love with her.

Then the next verses, "These arms are mine/Don't matter who they hold/So should I maybe, Just leave love alone"are the narrator expressing that he feels it doesn't really matter who he's with and he should just leave love alone, while "You call out my name, for the love you need/Which you won't find in me" is him sort of denying his love for this girl, and rejecting her.

I really love this song, not only because its beautiful musically but because I have such a connection with it. My ex-boyfriend put it on his birthday mix CD for me and I agree with him that it really applies to our relationship. I'm almost as in love with this song as I am with him, even though he's reluctant to love me as much as he does and thats why we broke up.

My interpretation is this: I think the guy in this song is reluctant to love, presumably because he doesn't think he's a very good person, or that he isn't worthy of this particular girl's love. Maybe he's afraid of hurting her, and/or possibly already has in the past, perhaps without her knowledge, things he feels guilty for.

Honestly though I think this song's meaning is fairly flexible, capable of fitting a broad spectrum of interpretations. For instance the ones people have submitted thus far. Or not, who knows?. :P Either way it's a great song. Love it.