All of the Ways

I don't think this song refers to cheating; I think that "Interpol" is a concept album that explores the death of a relationship and how the male speaker reacts. This song focuses on his inability to deal with his partner's moving on. I get the feeling that the couple tried to have a loose friendship after they broke up ("Safe Without") but it doesn't work. In turn, "Try It On" is thematically the last straw for the partner; it's a plea by the speaker for him or her to come back. The partner refuses, finds someone new in "All of the Ways," and the speaker's reaction is a mix of depression, denial, and anger... though he still a refuses to let go, "Does he know that I'll wait for all time?"

I think the overall gist of the song is jealousy and the speaker's desires, however, the subtext of this piece is overwhelmingly self-depreciating. The lyric isn't it, "Make it up TO me," it's "Make it up FOR me," like the partner is having to pay penance to society and his/her self for ever dating the speaker in the first place, as if they needed to atone for some such a sin. This reveals a dark layer of the speaker, a self-hatred and insecurity, which rolls over into "The Undoing" gorgeously.

It's guttural and sad. Beautiful.

Of course you're better than that other guy...

amazing song

one thing, i hear "who is this guy, this twee neophyte"

Instead of "Does he know that I prayed for our time" is it "Does he know that I'll wait for all time"? Probably my favourite line on the album.

I don't think that it's just about jealousy. Sure, he sees his girl with someone else after they've broken up, but he's certain that this woman will come back. He's pissed that she's run off with someone he considers less interesting than he is. Maybe their relationship was really intense and tumultuous, but he knows that the other guy won't be able to satisfy her intellectually or sexually:

This twee neophyte Does he know that I'll wait for all time Does he leave you to the flames That you like

When he says "who is this guy?" it sounds like he means, "Why would you settle for someone less than me?" He even sounds like he's mocking the guy:

Tell me you're fine Tell me it's hard to fake it time after time Who is this guy Does he say that he'd like to know you Does he say that he wants to know Does he say that he wants to know

The way he talks about how she will "make it up" to him is really sexy and arrogant. Almost like he's saying, "Yeah, you won't get off easily when you come back to me. You'll have to make it up to me."

I think it works really well with the last song "The Undoing" in that he's been stripped of his confidence. She's not coming back. It wasn't really about the "twee neophyte" at all. She's moved on and he's only just begun to realize that they truly are done.

To me, this is a song about jealousy. About someone that's been replaced, and the feelings towards the replacement and how he sucks up to the girl that you're supposed to be with.

"Tell me you're fine, Tell me it's hard to fake it time after time" (I know you're not really fine, you're just saying it just so you don't get caught being vunerable)

"Who is this guy Does he say that he'd like to know you Does he say that he wants to know Does he say that he wants to know" (There is someone else, and he uses the classical phrases "I want to know you", "Tell me what you're thinkin of", "Whats your favourite color" etc. in order to get closer to her.)

I dunno if its just me, but i feel a beautiful bitterness in these lyrics.

this has to be my favorite song from the new album.

I agree with @LeoHmr it is totally about jealousy. Seems like He is an ex boyfriend and his ex has moved on to another guy "Does he make you smile Does he fully embrace the way Does he leave you to the flames That you like Who is this guy"

but he just knows she is going to come back to him.

"Does he know that I'll wait, for all time" "I know the way you will make it up make it up for me"

My favorite lines from this song are "This twee neophyte Does he know that I'll wait, for all time Does he make you right Does he say that he'd like to know you Does he say that he wants to know" "

I think it's a bit more complex than simple jealousy. I feel like it's darker than that....just by the tone of the music and the last verses (e.g. - "You will make it up for me [...] and I know the way you will make it up for me").

I too think this song is about jealousy. Now this is a little abstract, but I feel that this song is about Paul finding out that his girlfriend has been cheating on him. Maybe he was suspicious of her for a while, and finally caught her coming home late one night from being with her other lover, receiving confirmation that his suspicions are true. I feel this song is about their confrontation with one another, and these lyrics are Paul basically saying 'tell me who he is, does he really want to be with you and does he really want to get know you, or is he just using you for sex?'

'Tell me you're mine, tell me you're mine, to break the ice' -Tell me my suspicions aren't true. Just tell me you love me and want to be with me still, anything to just get rid of this awkward silence.

'Does he make you smile, Does he fully embrace the way ,Does he lead you to the fight, That you like, Who is this guy' -Does he make you happy? Love you for who you are? (like I do) Do you guys have good sex? Just tell me who he is. Give me a name.

'This twee neophyte ,Does he know that I'll wait, for all time, Does he make you right' -I'll wait for this to pass. I will wait for you. Does he complete you?

'Does he say that he'd like to know you, Does he say that he wants to know, All of the ways, You will make it up, Make it up for me' -Does he tell you that he wants to get to know you better? Does he tell you he wants to know everything you'll do to me when you get home (sexually) to make this up to me? (this meaning her and her lover sleeping together)

'Tell me you're fine, Tell me it's hard to fake it time after time, Who is this guy' -Are you okay? Was it hard faking this relationship with me, time after time, when you are sleeping with another man behind my back? Why won't you tell me who he is?

'Does he say that he'd like to know you, Does he say that he wants to know, All of the ways, You will make it up, Make it up for me' -Doe he really want to get to know you? Does he want to you show/tell him how you are going to make this up to me?

'I know the way you will make it up, make it up for me' -I know how you can make this up to me'

End scene.

And posted above you have, "Does he leave you in flames, that you like" and I am pretty sure the correct lyrics are "Does he lead you to the fight, that you like"

Definitely about an affair she's had/having. I also agree that there's more to it than that based on the "dark, ominous tones" to quote Jason Segel in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". It sounds like he's obsessed w her, judging by his interrogation. The music sounds like he may be threatening physical harm "...all of the ways you will make it up for me"

Leave it to Interpol to make a song beautiful, sexy and entirely creepy at the same time:]