Well, in my opinion this song is about being a young & maybe a little naive &/or introverted girl and finding yourself loving a man who is at first very charming, carefree & outgoing, and seems at first to be without limits, as in
"There was a time
you opened up every doorway
you didn't mind if everything
wasn't your way"
then that man starts to gradually become more introverted & shows their more possessive/obsessive side to you as the relationship progresses, even while they keep up the appearance of being carefree & outgoing to everyone else,
"Don't pull away
that goes against what you told me
I look in your eyes
I realize what you've sold me
is love in a vacuum"
so you confront them about the way they're acting and of course they deny it,
"I think you've changed
but you insist that
that's not true"
quite possibly they are an addict of some sort, my guess would be cocaine, &/or showing very obsessive behavior towards you (early on in the video for this song we see the man hanging a picture up, it is a very large portrait of Aimee & it is prominently displayed in his/their apartment for the duration of the song), thus their "love in a vacuum",
"You look so strange, so distant
that you're hardly you
Now I can see
how you have been acting different
You say it's me
but I know
that it isn't
it's love in a vacuum"
but still you are in love with them and don't want to leave them and you know that they are truly in love with you and they don't want you to leave them either, maybe they are convinced you can save them from themself, maybe they are so broken that the possibility of an overdose &/or suicide attempt is very real and you want to get through to them that their behavior not only dangerous but it is also just pissing you off and if they don't wise up they run the risk of loosing you, as in the lines
"You will be lonely
if you leave me alone", so you want to save them but can't get through to them due to the addiction &/or emotional problems they have,
"Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
love in a vacuum
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
You will be lonely
if you leave me alone
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough"
you want them to understand that the love they are giving you is not enough when it is filtered through the vacuum of their drug addiction &/or emotional impairment,
"You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough
and just wait
you will be lonely
Love in a vacuum
Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
Love in a vacuum".
'Love In A Vacuum' for me is a hauntingly truthful acute argument on the loneliness of obsession and almost inevitable loss of love that follows people who are broken in some way or another; the obsessives, the coke heads, the drunks, addicts or the just-plain-old emotionally broken; a razor sharp, lyrically driven, deceptively poppy, yet ultimately-depressing-in-the-best-way song.
Quintessential Aimee Mann.
Light a roman candle with me
Just a roman candle, you can wear your sandals
And I'll pour you just one cup of tea.
Then you can go and rest
You haven't seen my best, so
Just spend an evening with me
Just a lazy evening, then you could be leaving
Or we could stay and talk until three.
I will think it's magic and I'll hope you'll agree, so
Light a roman candle with me.
Just a roman candle.
Just a perfect apple.
If we were honest and both wrote a sonnet together
A sandwich with everything on it,
At least we would know that the sparks didn't glow
But we owe it to ourselves to try,
So we aim and ignite!
So often I call and I plead with you:
"Give me a chance!"
It's not often that I understand
The ins and the outs of what's wrong and what's right
So don't think of tomorrow tonight.
Oh, I know, it goes on, it gets old
But for now we're young, we smell good, we're alone
You look for a legend,
I'm looking for common ground.
Your heart isn't breaking,
And mine isn't making a sound.
Oh I know, it goes on, it gets old
Oh I know, it goes on, it gets old
Light a roman candle with me.
Just a roman candle.
Just a perfect apple.
Just a roman candle, you can wear your sandals
And I'll pour you just one cup of tea.
Then you can go and rest
You haven't seen my best, so
Just spend an evening with me
Just a lazy evening, then you could be leaving
Or we could stay and talk until three.
I will think it's magic and I'll hope you'll agree, so
Light a roman candle with me.
Just a roman candle.
Just a perfect apple.
If we were honest and both wrote a sonnet together
A sandwich with everything on it,
At least we would know that the sparks didn't glow
But we owe it to ourselves to try,
So we aim and ignite!
So often I call and I plead with you:
"Give me a chance!"
It's not often that I understand
The ins and the outs of what's wrong and what's right
So don't think of tomorrow tonight.
Oh, I know, it goes on, it gets old
But for now we're young, we smell good, we're alone
You look for a legend,
I'm looking for common ground.
Your heart isn't breaking,
And mine isn't making a sound.
Oh I know, it goes on, it gets old
Oh I know, it goes on, it gets old
Light a roman candle with me.
Just a roman candle.
Just a perfect apple.
Lyrics submitted by SomthinCorporat, edited by JesssieF3, vilnius, someguySoupboy
Light a Roman Candle with Me Lyrics as written by Jack Antonoff Andrew Dost
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
a roman candle is a type of firework. so when it talks about the sparks not glowing it's saying that he wants to take a chance with this girl. he wants the fireworks with her and even if it doesn't light, they tried. And he realizes that they may loose the spark too one day, but for now, they're young and have so much potential
Yep. Pretty much it. My favorite song on the record.
Also, adding on to what others have said already, the character in this song truly believes with all his/her heart that he/she is perfect for the person. He/she just knows that if this person gave him/her a chance that everything would work out perfectly. They've hung out before, but the speaker believes that if he/she shows the other who he/she truly is ("you haven't seen my best"), then the feelings would be mutual. And if things don't work out, which there is a very tiny chance of, then that's fine! He/she let him/her know what was going on and what the feelings were. But my point is...the character in this song knows he/she is perfect for the other, but the other isn't quite sure, or there's something holding him/her back.
This song is very much about the wish for there to be a relationship. He thinks that he is being underestimated, and that they should give it a try. "At least we would know if the sparks didn't glow, but we owe it to ourselves to try, so we aim and ignite!". At the end of the song he realizes that there isn't anything there, "your heart's not breaking, and mine isn't making a sound". Their cute friendship/not really relationship is getting old, but they'll keep trying, because... why not?
This cd is so good :)
Yup! This song was one of the last ones to get stuck in my head but it is now. Can't wait for the official release!
"If we were honest and both wrote a sonnet together a sandwich with everything on it, at least we would know that the sparks didn't glow but we owe it to ourselves to try, so we aim and ignite!"
Soooo good
i have been sort of lucky. for once in my life, i did stay up talking till three with my significant other. i do think it was magic, though i'm not sure if he thinks so, too. i HOPE he does.
but, you know. the lyrics so clearly state that things get old. no doubt i'll get old to him, and someday, eventually, and hopefully, i won't be too horribly upset about it.
i know i'm getting kinda picky here but it's "at least we would know IF the sparks didn't glow". it changes the meaning of the whole last part! he is ready for a relationship and she might not be, and he's just saying hey let's give it a shot and if it doesn't work, it doesn't work and at least we tried. but the way it's posted now is implying they already tried! best song ever by the way! every single line fits literally word for word for me and the girl i like! it's almost creepy how well it fits.......
No, it's definitely "at least we would know THAT the sparks didn't glow"...<br /> Listen to it again!<br /> Although I think it would have mad more sense if he said IF.<br /> In a way, I think he says 'that' but he still means 'if'. I don't really think it changes the meaning if you think of it my way, if any of that made any sense.
Dude...same...
This song is utterly adorable, but anyone have a reason for the "Perfect apple" line?
It probably has to do with temptation. The apple is something he wants, a perfect "something" with a perfect "someone", if that makes sense.
This song is about having sex with someone.
"Roman Candle" refers to an orgasm.
"Perfect apple" is a reference to adam and eve.
"Sandals" refers to birth control.
"Cup of tea" is ... (well go there people, think orgasm).
"You haven't seen my best" refers to prior attempts.
"I know it goes on and gest old" referes to the girls perspective.
So in summary this is a song about a relationship with someone who is being asked to come over and have sex one more time and see if sparks get rekindled or if not, just have some FUN!.