Half Life

YOU KNOW WHAT?!

I knew I'd get like this again. That's why I try to keep at bay, be a hundred percent when I'm with you, and then a perfect heart's length away.

The stickler is you've played not one beat wrong, you never promised me anything, even sat me down, warned me just how they fall; I knew the odds were I'd never win, yet here I am...

chorus It's a half life with you as my quarterback, a daft life.

My self-worth measured in text back tempo, it's been two days and eight minutes too slow. Well, there may be others, but I still like to pretend, that I'm the one you really want to grow old with.

I've got a schedule to stick to, got a world to keep sweet. You're so much to everyone all the time. Will it ever slow down? Will I ever come first? The universe contracts to sigh...

chorus

Hold me, darling, hold me, darling, please.

You know you'll never be lonely, no, you'll always be loved, and maybe you'll never need more than that. But for the surplus that loves, what's to become of us? Does it even register on your conscience?

Long for one last showdown from a box in a crowd, air compressed tight to explode. I'm clenching my ticket to the only way out as you disappear in a puff of smoke.

chorus

THOSE ARE THE LYRICS. THERE.

I just listened to this song for the first time and my heart just understood every word she said. I've felt (and am feeling) the exact same way for someone right now, and I just don't know why I am.

there are only a few artists that can really get under my skin like that - Immi is one of them. and I absolutely love how she can do it too.

I think the song is about going into a relationship with someone who is very open about the fact that they aren't looking for something serious and that they aren't planning to settle down any time soon. Although she accepts this at the beginning and know that they both have busy lives, she can't help but get emotionally attached and fall in love...longing for more than what was agreed. The last few lines make me think she is talking about someone who is also a performer.

Imogen obviously loves the Half Life games, and wrote this song about Alyx and Gordon.

Nah, I'm just kidding. But I have a feeling that "half life" is also referring to the rate at which radioactive elements decay. In this case, an unstable relationship is falling apart. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the meaning of a "half life" yet.

This song has the feeling of an office romance. Missing that first train for one more glance. Coming to the game to congratulate him on victory. I admit I don't like the sports-related language in this song, but I love how it reminds me of falling snow/dust particles on a winter's night.

I love this song. It's so sweet. I was confused on those two parts with ??? too. I just have two corrections for you.

I don't think it's "I knew the odds were right never when, and here i am..." but actually "I knew the odds were I'd never win, yet here i am..."

I think it's "well there may well be others but i still like to pretend "
not "Well there may well be a best, but I still like to pretend"

I think it's about a relationship in which she is more invested than the guy. She knows he sees other women too and she knows that he doesn't value the relationship the same way she does yet she can't bring herself to end it for her own good. I love the line "my self worth's measured in text back tempo." It's so true about relationships today. Waiting for a text back from someone you like can be agonizing to wait for. Another good one by Imogen.

It's a half life, With you as my quarterback.

the quarterback is the one who gives, while the receiver, well, receives. in that sense she doesn't feel him giving her any love, the love she's feeling is a one way street, a half life.

??? = But for the surplus who loves, what's to become of us?

I love this song so much. I think it gets all the emotions right about unrequited love, or love that's just not quite equal between two people.

I agree with others, it's about a relationship in which the guy isn't as serious as she is about the relationship.

I think 'it's a half life, with you as my quarter back' is such great word play. I also sense a bit of a football analogy, but not really. Sort of like abstract, especially at this point: Long for one last show down, From a box in a crowd. Air compressed tight to explode. I'm clentching my ticket to the only way out, As you dissappear in a puff of smoke.

This part always makes me think of a football game.

This is also one of the only songs I can plan out an entire music video for in my head. I dunno, I can just visualize it really well.

I saw Imogen last night, and I filled up just watching her sing it. It was genuinely moving and beautiful. I really relate to this song. it came to me at the right time in my life... and if I was ever fortunate enough to meet her, I don't think I could ever thank her enough for writing this. <3

Oh my, this song is so beautiful and amazing. It is about loving someone so much you can't let them go, even though they don't treat you the way you should be treated or respect you like you respect them. It's about giving and giving and getting nothing back.

She knows it's never going to work out between them but she loves him so much she can't let him go, or help waiting for him, holding out for something real, even though she knows it's never gonna be what she wants it to be. He's even told her it's not: "The stickler is you've played not one beat wrong / you never promised me anything / even sat me down, warned me just how they fall / I knew the odds were I'd never win, yet here I am..."

She tries to hold back but can't resist him, because he makes her feel like no other: "I knew that I'd get like this again / That's why I try to keep at bay / Near 100% when I'm with you and then, a perfect hearts length away."

He has his choice of lovers, yet she can't look at anyone but him: "You know you'll never be lonely / No, you'll always be loved / And maybe, you never need more than that / But for the surplus that loves, what's to become of us? Does it even register on your conscience?" He has no second thought for all the girls he's affecting with his ways.

I also really love the lyrics "My self worth's measured in text back tempo / It's been 2 days and 8 minutes too slow / Well there may well be others, but I still like to pretend / That I'm the one you really want to grow old with." Great stuff.