The Undoing

I'd also like to add, the line, "I was chasing my damage/because I was chased, thrilled and altered," could also be the courting process the speaker endured with his partner, and lend credence (for him) as to why he pursued something that was so obviously over. He was altered fundamentally as a person by his partner's love, "it raised me" suggesting that their love forced him to mature and become the better person.

Now I'm just harping, but I can't help it, because I'm an English grad student. What else I am gonna do? Plus, every time I listen to it, I get a new perspective.<br /> <br /> In this song, the speaker is going to tell his partner they can't speak anymore, that he can't operate in this fabricated world of friendship, while the partner moves on. He is going to tell him/her that their "relationship," in all facets of the word, is "undoing" him as a person. But he doesn't. Sometime stops him. His co-dependency I think. That's why he begs his partner to release him, that's why the song and album ends with him begging, "Please, please... the place we're in now..." He is equating it to Hell. There is no end for him, until his partner finally leaves. <br /> <br /> The lines: "I always thought you had great style/And style was worthwhile/Because I was<br /> I was on my way..." suggests a superficiality when it all started (i.e. the song "Success") that the speaker was headed for "stardom" (if we operate under the notion he is an up-and-coming musician) and how their relationship has derailed him. He can no longer differentiate himself from the relationship. He is clinically co-dependent, despite his desperate attempts to stop. It's heart-breaking.<br /> <br /> Did anybody else hear "Alone. All alone," layered underneath at 2:49. Sweet God. How depressing. Paul is a genius. I really disliked this album at first, but the more I explore the themes, the more I adore it.

I think you summed up the whole album pretty well.. nice job :) I love how Paul can sound so twisted and dark.. but at the same time very emotional. Genius! :)

@beccathelion this is the saddest interpretation

i have to add that it bring tears to my eyes. a song that sways the heart. M

@ cmlegnax<br /> That is the most amazing definition of a song I have ever heard here on song meanings.net or ever in fact, and I created an account on here just to tell you this. You gave a very deep take on what you feel the song means and it makes perfect sense. I had no idea what the song meant, but after reading your take on it, it actually seems to make sense. If the song really is about that, then this is an even greater song then it already is. It's a very raw, dark, powerful song. The lyrics are dynamic. What I love is how much you were willing to open your mind and expore it's meaning. You are right when you said, what is a more beautiful song then being about God and Satan. Amazing. This is so true. I take my hat off to you. Your definition of what a song means is the best I have ever read.

that's exactly what came to mind !

not legally insame. ; )

I'd take that as a compliment. Happy Friday to you. M

I hear it as "all alone".

I'm thinking "All my own", but not positive.

to ALWAYS LOSE, winning does not compare<br /> <br /> (in this case PURO doesn't mean PURE as in CLEAN, it's a bit of slang, and it's a variation of ALWAYS... as if PURE and ALWAYS had a baby. ANd something is PURE because it's NOTHING BUT THAT usually. Makes kind of sense, no?)

I think he does sort of a wordplay, it would be something like:<br /> Suele tener-<br /> me suelto<br /> Me suelto en el deshacer<br /> Al puro perder el ganar no compara<br /> <br /> I think he elongates the pronunciation of 'Suele tenerme suelto' which means 'It keeps me loose (or lost)'. Otherwise the first line means nothing. If we asume my idea to be right, it would go in English somewhat like this:<br /> <br /> It keeps me loose<br /> I get lost in the undoing<br /> To always lose, winning does not compare<br /> <br /> I think he means that he finds freedom in the undoing and thus to have the security that he will always loose beats any probable single win.<br /> <br />

I wasn't going for a literal translation, google translate can give me that. I'm going for the meaning behind the chorus. And from the look of it, yours is pretty close to what I wrote as well.<br /> <br /> As for the Spanish, Paul is fluent in the language, much like he is with English and French (Though French maybe not so much as the other two). I thought the Spanish chorus ruined the song the first time I heard it, but I prefer it to anything he could have sung in English now.

Paul lived in Mexico City for about 6-8 years, he is fluent in spanish and they say when he speaks it it's with a mexican accent. I think some words and verses that have to be sung in such a way can only be done sometimes not in english...am I making sense? lol probabaly not...but anyways!!! yeah he lived in Mexico City for a very long time...tha's where the spanish comes in, it's part of him.

I see the spanish as:<br /> <br /> usually...<br /> I lose<br /> I lose myself in the undoing<br /> Winning cannot compare with the purest loss<br /> <br /> Not too different, just wanted to voice my two cents ;)<br /> <br /> Great song

You got it right on the money as did frnzferevolution. As to your question why the Spanish ? If you listen to lighthouse he has a bit of Spanish in it as well. As to your question why is it in Spanish ? Paul Banks says the Spanish language has more Rythim than English and deeper sense of meanings.Paul did live in mexico city and Spain for most of his childhood so Spanish is an extension of him. So the question to you is WHY NOT SPANISH ? something that's a part of him and crisp and new that should welcome all listeners,You should listen to leif erikson !!! "IT'S LIKE LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE." I came on this to see what people had to say about the song and it didn't dissapoint but that little question you had blew up like a bomb. I don't look up lyrics that often but I had to for this one just to see what people had to say.