The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Tell me what you saw in me
And I'll try to replicate it with a scene
Mm-mmm
If it troubles you to breathe
Wait a moment; I could change the scenery
Don't carry on carrying efforts, oh no, oh oh oh oh
Somewhere there's a room for each of us to grow
And if it pleases you to leave me, just go, oh oh oh oh
Stopping you would stifle your enchanting ghost
Mm-mmm
It's only that I meant to bring
Love and liveliness to your breast on the scene
Mm-mmm
Did you cut your hands on me?
Are my edges sharp? Am I a pest to feed?
Don't carry on carrying regrets, oh no, oh oh oh
Somewhere there's a room for us to speak alone
And if it grieves you to stay here, just go, oh oh oh oh
For I have no spell on you, it's all a ghost
Mm-mmm
I still have the things you gave me
Four anointing oils, the paper weight you made
Mm-mmm
For sure I haven't carried them
Or buried them in the name of your ghost, my friend
Don't carry on carrying efforts
Don't go! No oh oh oh
Stay with me until I sleep within your host
Or if it pleases you to leave me, just go, oh oh oh oh
Stopping you would stifle your enchanting ghost
Mm-mmm
And I'll try to replicate it with a scene
Mm-mmm
If it troubles you to breathe
Wait a moment; I could change the scenery
Don't carry on carrying efforts, oh no, oh oh oh oh
Somewhere there's a room for each of us to grow
And if it pleases you to leave me, just go, oh oh oh oh
Stopping you would stifle your enchanting ghost
Mm-mmm
It's only that I meant to bring
Love and liveliness to your breast on the scene
Mm-mmm
Did you cut your hands on me?
Are my edges sharp? Am I a pest to feed?
Don't carry on carrying regrets, oh no, oh oh oh
Somewhere there's a room for us to speak alone
And if it grieves you to stay here, just go, oh oh oh oh
For I have no spell on you, it's all a ghost
Mm-mmm
I still have the things you gave me
Four anointing oils, the paper weight you made
Mm-mmm
For sure I haven't carried them
Or buried them in the name of your ghost, my friend
Don't carry on carrying efforts
Don't go! No oh oh oh
Stay with me until I sleep within your host
Or if it pleases you to leave me, just go, oh oh oh oh
Stopping you would stifle your enchanting ghost
Mm-mmm
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Light Up The Sky
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Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
When We Were Young
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
It appears, on first and subsequent listens that this narrator tries to rekindle what was once there. Perhaps trying to be again what he once was. However, the object of his affections wants to progress, move forward. And Sufjan's use of "scenery" like a play, seems to indicate that he is staging things. Showing her a false image of himself. Therefore if it suffocates her, he tells her he'll recast it. Change things but not reveal the truth of things.
However, the refrain seems to indicate that he's aware that she is going to leave and he in fact encourages it. Perhaps seeing in her a ghost, a remembrance of things that once were. Also, it goes into the dichotomy of him trying to build something and her wishing for momentum.
In the second verse we find him again as the carpenter, the carrier. Him wanting to bring love and liveliness. However, his edges (the rough aspects of his personality) are too sharp for her. He in himself brings is the poison to the cure he wishes to provide. A pest who wishes to be something else.
In the second refrain we have him once again dueling with his desires. At once wishing to bring her happiness, love but also realizing that he has no power over her own desires. And that's what was so enchanting, her breeziness. Once again, we have a room for them to speak alone, akin to the scene of the past he'd rebuild but they both grieve/suffocate her. It's like the saying "If it's meant to be, release it and it will come back to you".
He then goes on to talk of the keepsakes, the four anointing oils and interestingly a paper weight. First, the anointing oils goes back to Christianity, also her enchanting ghost has a vague parallel to the Holy Ghost, God's agent of grace. Perhaps he views her as his grace? Also, the paperweight is meant to keep things in place. To make sure papers stay secure. And, oils once exposed evaporate and disappear. Again with two dueling impulses. One that keeps things in place. One, a fragrance that is wonderful but vanishes.
We also have him telling her that he hasn't carried them. But his bringing them up signifies importance. He hasn't buried/discarded them in the name of love lost. I think this ties in nicely with the last refrain.
In the last refrain we have him for the first time telling her not to go. Don't leave. He wants to feel again that spirit he adores. Wants to get as close as he can by laying down to rest next to the host. This also goes to Sufjan's previous song "Vito's Ordination Song" with the lines, "Rest in my arms, sleep in my bed." That being a more spiritual song than this but an allusion or call-back to that same desire of wanderers. The desire to find home, closeness. But then we have him coming back to his senses and telling her to go if she wishes. Because, at heart, he understands that she is like the oils, the relationship anointed and lovely but ultimately vanishing.
We all bring our own subconscious out in our interpretation of songs. When I listen to this song I hear someone so obsessively in love (borderline idolization) that they see themselves as completely inadequate, paling in comparison to their love. The feeling of inadequacy is so strong they're convinced that their lover is better off without them.
...is it not about the Holy Spirit rather than a lover?
pouffle: I dunno...does the Holy Ghost make paperweights?
This song is so deeply in touch with me right now I can't explain it...
My favorite track off the new EP, it's just incredibly beautiful, really reminds me of Seven Swans era Sufjan. It seems to be a love song, with a very interesting ghost metaphor.
Actually now that I read the lyrics again it seems more like an aftermath of a relationship kind of song.
I would agree with Frontman17, seems to be a "love" song, which Sufjan doesn't tend to write about so directly. I like the feeling of the song especially the subtle sense of resentment towards the lover in the lyrics.
I've also noticed the use of breast in several of his latest songs, I wonder....
I love finding songs that fit my current situations perfectly. This song seems to represent a relationship in which one has grown tired of the other.
I missed this style of sufjan!
I like the line "Stay with me until I sleep within your host". We bring past relationships into current ones.
loveeee this. but i think it's stay with me until I sleep within your HOUSE
darkteapot: Nice analysis, I totally agree. I like what you said about the keepsakes.
I think he also expresses how they're at different stages of maturity, both mentally and spiritually. Because of this he feels rather dependent on her, but he realizes he can't hold her back any longer so he gives her the choice. This is the most painful part of relationships for both parties involved.
This entire EP just rattles my bones to my core. (As Sufjan tends to do, always.) This song -- along with The Owl & The Tanager -- speak to me in multitudes. I feel they were written to live in both my heart and my soul. His melancholy themes, honest lyrics, and soft vocal tones with a haunting falsetto have always appealed to me greatly. This is the kind of music I would make if I could make it. (I am instead left to admire music from both afar and down to the tiny details; I'm a music journalist.) Instead, I will just sing with this EP and continue to love every second of it.
While I love this entire song, from every word to its acoustic guitar and gentle piano, my favorite lyric is this one: "If it troubles you to breathe, wait a moment; I could change the scenery."