In the Sun

I think the meaning / interpretation of this song is much more simple and abstract.

This seems like some sort of "dead" relationship, and the lyrics are about how bad/boring it is, and how the singer is thinking of leaving. However, in the meanwhile, she's not going anywhere. She's "keeping it to herself". (for whatever unexplained reason, it's probably just not bad enough)

Also, to give someone the slip, in common slang, is to "escape" someone. Which probably means here that it's no big deal to get the slip, or get dumped in other words, as everybody gets it sometime in their lifetime. (well, I know some people who don't)

And again, it's very abstract. Would be interesting to learn the story behind these lyrics.

I think she's more of an admirer from a distance, and she's notices the days when he's down. or when he's ashamed. in her mind, she still likes him for who he is, cuz sometimes she even has days when she's down but she manages to hide it in public (in the sun).

Shame that no one has commented on this. I love the soaring background vocals and retro sound. The meaning isn't too hard to grasp, but it's about a girl who's troubled by the stagnation in her relationship (i.e. her lover is bored). She says she's thinking of leaving, but the rest of the song belies her intentions. She still calls him "my baby, my darling", signifying her attachment to him. She also plans to suppress the pain instead of telling him how she feels, and potentially jeopardizing the relationship.

this song is great. the previous comment is pretty spot on with my interpretation except i think "the slip" may allude to some sort of outside relationship. shesays "keep it to myself" because it's just something that happens but she chooses to ignore it "in the sun".

I agree with theDrunkPianist (which in itself is actually a fun thing to type lol).

I see this song from the perspective of the lead singer liking someone, but he (or she) doesn’t like them the same way, at the same level, or even knows the lead singer exists in the first place.

That’s how I relate to this song anyway. Especially with the “It’s hard to be ignored” and “I’ll just keep it to myself.” The lead singer’s “been taking a beating” because the person they like seems to have no clue. “I’ve been thinking of leaving” translates as “I’ve been thinking of giving up and moving on.”

I think “the slip” is the person she likes ignoring, or noninvolvement.

I’m curious as to what “the sun” represents though.

Well the way I relate to the song and what I think it means is that the girl likes someone and he likes her back, but he has a relationship with somebody else and that's why she can't be with him and she feels she is being 'ignored'. The part "when I look at you, you look so bored" I think means that he's bored with his current relationship, so that's why he likes another girl but he kind of feels guilty and ashamed because of that. And the girl knows that he likes her too but she can't do anything about it because he's with this other girl, that why she's been 'taking a beating' and 'thinking of leaving'... and when she says "I'll just keep it to myself" I think it means that since she can't do anything, she will keep her feelings and the fact that he likes her to herself.

She's so down with her man. Yes I'm boring right now and yet she understands.. I'll be back on youtube soon... :)

My interpretation is that its about this relationship that has been kind of rocky. Maybe they've been fighting a lot (It's hard to take the blame [for the fight maybe]) and she's been thinking of just giving up, but then she realizes that maybe the relationship is worth a lot more in the end and so she decides that it's ok that they've "slipped up" and fought a little bit and that she will just keep the fight to herself and continue the relationship.

The song is about unrequited love, and the subtle hints that slip out without thinking.

This song is about the downfall of Zooey's marriage with Ben. His response is Death Cab's "No Room in Frame": "How can I stay / In the sun / When the rain flows / All through my veins / It's true." Essentially, confirming that he had been trying to hide/run from the situation (re: "get the slip") and they failed. Interesting to listen to them side by side like a conversation.