The Undoing Lyrics
I don't want to knock anyone's interpretations, but as the final track of an album with extreme overtones about a failing relationship... wouldn't it seem more plausible that this song is the speaker's concession to the end? Especially coming on the heels of "All of the Ways," which is a song about the speaker's lover moving on?
The album is a concept piece. In that regards, the position of each song is terribly important for the story and can't be taken on its own. The latter half of the album, especially in "Try It On" and "All of the Ways," seems to suggest the couple was trying to maintain some sort of friendly relationship after the fall of their own romantic interlude. "The Undoing" is the speaker's sad admission that he can't pretend to be okay anymore, that he has come "undone" as a person because of this relationship. He was "chasing his damage," (damage being the partner) with the hopes he or she would change their mind. This song makes it clear that they aren't.
Being "chased, thrilled and altered," is more a testament to growing process we go through in love, although in this case, it seems for the worse. The Spanish lines are unbelievably poignant, like a detachment -- he can't bring himself to say he's lost everything in his own Native tongue -- as if this will lessen the blow of the actuality. Earlier in the album, the speaker asks his partner to release him, and at 3:04 in this song, you can clearly hear him say, "Please, please, release me." A beautiful song and album. I can only imagine it had to be written from personal experience, which is all the more heartbreaking.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
The lines: "I always thought you had great style/And style was worthwhile/Because I was 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.
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! :)
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! :)
My favorite so far.
Interpol always end their albums so beautifully. A Time to be so Small, Wrecking Ball/The Lighthouse, Leif Erikson and now this... Such beautiful pieces of music.
lucifer was on his was to tell god that his love for us was not good and he was chased thrilled and altered for it. he caused damaged. he was used to loosing. lost to 'the undoing'. to the pure one, god, to loose - to win does not compare. lucifer thought god had great style, he admired him but will survive anyway. please please the place we're in now - he's in hell
just like with certain other interpol songs this song is beautiful and very very dark. hence the brilliant and amazing song structure....at least that is was this song means to me. what else can be as beautiful and dark as a song about god/satan? M
i have to add that it bring tears to my eyes. a song that sways the heart. M
i have to add that it bring tears to my eyes. a song that sways the heart. M
@ cmlegnax 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...
@ cmlegnax 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 !
that's exactly what came to mind !
I really think some of the comments here, I'll let you decide which ones, have definitely been written by people who are likely to be legally insane.
not legally insame. ; )
not legally insame. ; )
I'd take that as a compliment. Happy Friday to you. M
I'd take that as a compliment. Happy Friday to you. M
It sounds to my ears more like "On my own" as opposed to "All night long"
I hear it as "all alone".
I hear it as "all alone".
I'm thinking "All my own", but not positive.
I'm thinking "All my own", but not positive.
i feel i progress through life at the rate magnificence is created.
The guy moves to Spain after his lover refuses to try on the dress he got her. Alrightee then.
I'm not fluent in Spanish, but the general meaning I'm getting from the chorus (btw, google translate sucks) is this:
I've lost, I've lost I've come undone Always losing, and never winning
to ALWAYS LOSE, winning does not compare
to ALWAYS LOSE, winning does not compare
(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?)
(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: Suele tener- me suelto Me suelto en el deshacer Al puro perder el ganar no compara
I think he does sort of a wordplay, it would be something like: Suele tener- me suelto Me suelto en el deshacer Al puro perder el ganar no compara
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:
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:
It keeps me loose I get lost in the undoing To always lose, winning does not compare
It keeps me loose I get lost in the undoing To always lose, winning does not compare
I think he means that he finds freedom in the undoing and thus...
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.
blackmantis' translation is indeed far off ('tener' is 'to have', 'to possess' not 'to lose'!) Here is my attempt at the Spanish part:
I generally have... I let go I let go in the undoing winning does not compare to plain losing
Beautiful song. I just still don't see the reason for the Spanish... any ideas?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
I see the spanish as:
usually... I lose I lose myself in the undoing Winning cannot compare with the purest loss
usually... I lose I lose myself in the undoing Winning cannot compare with the purest loss
Not too different, just wanted to voice my two cents ;)
Not too different, just wanted to voice my two cents ;)
Great song
Great song