Things

lyrics from cd book:

here is the evidence of human existence, a splitting binbag next to damp boxes, i cannot find a name for them, they hardly show that i have lived. and the dust it settles on these things, displays my age again, like a new skin made from old skin, that has barely been lived in.

i didn't need these things, i didn't need them, pointless artifact from a mediocre past, so i shed my clothes, i shed my flesh, down to the bone and burned the rest. i didn't need these things, i didn't need them, took them all to bits, turned them outside in, and i left them on the floor, and ran for dear life through the door

the useless objects, the gathered storm of shit, a dim and silent shedful of your life's supplies. when all you need's a coffin and your Sunday best, to smarten up the end. and at the front gate what reward awaits? one bit of loaf from a holy ghost, an eternity of suffering the company of all those Christian men.

i didn't need these things, i didn't need them, pointless artifact from a mediocre past, so i shed my clothes, i shed my flesh, down to the bone and burned the rest. i didn't need these things, i didn't need them, took them all ot bits, turned them outside in, and i left them on the floor, and ran for dear life through the door.

i'll never need these things, i'll never need them, it's just you i need, you my human heat, for the things are only things and nothin brings me like you bring me. i'll never need these things i'll never need them, never going back, so let's drop the past, and we'll leave it on the floor and run for dear life through the door.

i'd say spot on from comments above, this is one of the best first songs on an album ive heard in a long time. i think it might be about death too, he's a bit of a morbid lad that scott hutchison. i think he was listening to the waterboys - this is the sea, when he wrote this one. another huge strummy epic with a similar theme. another scottish band too, makes me all proud and gooey...

"The point was hard to pass A mediocre past"

I'm pretty sure it's:

"Pointless artefacts of a mediocre past"

And it's definitely "through the door", not "for the door".

As for the meaning, completely agree with jemkid. What a song to start the album. You could play it right after "Floating down the Forth", it's clear he is making the next step here.

@Da7id: Thanks for posting the official lyrics! Much appreciation!

This song (indeed the majority of the album) focuses so much on leaving youth behind, moving on from hardship (and heartbreak) and finding true happiness again.

I can definitely relate, as this album came at that exact time in my life!

i'll never need these things, i'll never need them, it's just you i need, you my human heat, for the things are only things and nothin brings me like you bring me. i'll never need these things i'll never need them, never going back, so let's drop the past, and we'll leave it on the floor and run for dear life through the door.

So powerful! Gets to me every time. I love you babe! You are my human heat, and all I need...

I also think it's about death or a metaphorical death. When we die all that is left of us is our physical things. And in life we collect things have attachments to them but in reality they are meaningless. What's really important is love and relationshipss "human heat."

My favorite part is " And the dust, it settles on these things Displays my age again Like a new skin made from old skin That'd barely been lived in"

That is so clever! I love how he thinks and the way he uses words.

Sundays best is the "smart" clothes that you wear to church on a sunday

I think part of the lyrics may be wrong below:

Never need these things I'll never need them, oh This is you and me, you are human heat

Should be:

Never need these things I'll never need them, oh It’s just you I need, you are human heat

That actually makes more sense with the rest of the song. This song is about separating all of your belongings (CD collections, t-shirts, whatever) with your former lover at the end of a relationship and realizing that none of the material thins matter; you have lost the only thing of value and the only thing you cared about, which was your lover. The rest is nothing but useless objects. You need your love back to be happy (warm from human heat), but she is gone. The “Never going back,” not getting back together, just underscores why the things can be left behind.

i agree, mert. great song. gets me every time.

What does it mean by sundays best? Anyone's comment would help :)