Strings

When he says, "we move in knots," it is not only a reference to speed by sea travel because of the previous line's lyric, "vision by the seaside," but it serves as a double meaning to the song's title!

Strings... we move in knots... As beautiful as this girl's company is to him, things are complicated between these two (move in knots).

judging by the title, Strings, i think it's about how these two people are tied to one another. in the beginning it seems that she's reluctant and "shook up" because he's revealed to her ("it's how i lie, what no one told you?)that he has a reputation of either being a fake [a liar] or that he's been with [lied with/ slept around with] alot of women . with this knowledge, however, she still feels like there's stings attached between them, which is why he knows ahe'll stay with him. the choruses suggest that he's trying to show her how bad he is for her, to prevent her from getting hurt by him, but he still wants her to stay with him. they're a big mess, they "move in knots" but they stay together. in using a name, Sherry, it implies familiarity; they've grown more accustomed to one another. in the last verse ("now i can walk... oh you won't hide") it's apparent that she now trusts him completely. in the last chorus, he realises this and wants to show her that he'll be good to her ("i will show you/ BUT i won't lie"); either he won't lie to her, or in knowing that she trusts him, he won't "lie" with her and then leave her like he has in the past with others.

just wanted to point out that "sherry" could be the french "cherie", which is the same as saying "honey" like "honey, I love you"

I think you may be off a bit. From what I can hear it's:

Oh what did I say? She's all shook up Lost in the summer, man We're burning up The time don't show When the sun gets carried The tide curves off your body Oh you'll stay with me

I, now I will show you It's how I lie When no one told you

Oh what did I say? She's all shook up Vision by the seaside We move (?) But I don't know When the fire gets hazy The flames roll down and off her body Oh you'll stay with me

I, now I will show you It's how I lie When no one told you

So ride, Sherry, ride, Sherry, ride I will show you We'll go in the night Wondering why no one told you

Now I can walk the stones of the shoreline And taste the ocean salt when the cold shines My words are rolling soft down your south side

I, now I will show you It's how I lie When no one told you

So ride, Sherry, ride, Sherry, ride I will show you We'll go in the night Wondering why no one told you

Why, you know it goes, you know it goes Why, you know it goes, you know it goes Why it goes

Second verse:

"Vision by the seaside, We move in our hearts."

It's definitely "we move in knots." It's nautical speak for speed!

Oh, what did I say She’s all shook up

it seems like hes talking about a little girl whos lost and doesnt know what to do in life

Lost in the summer, man We’re burning up

A girl is going to any guy she can just to have a warm body next to her and feel loved and giving herself up

The time don’t show when the sun gets carried The tide curls off your body Oh, you’ll stay with me

He wants her to stay with him becauses hes the only one who treats her like a person not a fuck bag

I, now I will show you It’s how I Lie, what no one told ya?

Hes gonna show her like what real love feels like and make her feel good even if he has to lie

Oh, what did I say She’s all shook up Vision by the seaside We move in knots

shes meeting his family for the first time and his mom doesnt like her and hes trying to explain that its not her fault shes that way and shes begining to trust him not like the other guys

But I don’t know when the fire gets hazy The flames roll down and off her body Stay, you’ll stay with me

shes begining to think she can give herself to him like trust him with anything be in a full relationship

I, now I will show you It’s how I Lie, no one told ya? So rise sherry, rise sherry, rise “I will show ya!” We’ll go in the night wondering why “No one told ya!”

Im guess her name is sherry and shes coming out of her shell and full out showing her colours

haha my comment was beast anyway

A lover used to lying his way in and out of relationships gets discovered. Unfortunately for him, this time HE is in love. A summer spent together now comes to an end but he tries to continue the relationship by making more promises but his lover no longer believes in him "stones on the shoreline" and the "words fall on the south side" as she walks away. The "sherry" probably refers to sherry wine as he now drowns his sorrows in alcohol - "rise sherry rise".

Young the giants always have a pretty good and complex lyrics. I always have to use a dictionary to find few meanings.

Has anyone heard the reprise version of this song? Both versions are amazing, but the reprise is just a bit slower and low key. I recommend that you head on over to Youtube and give it a listen.

I love the ocean imagery. So much can be connected with the ocean.The lyrics are very vague though, and it's hard to pick out anything concrete. The title, "Strings" makes me he is connected. "She", so he is connecting with a woman. Though, I think he has a problem with being truthful. She is "all shook up" because of the way he lies. But it's actually these lies themselves that make their relationship fiery and passionate. Wondering why no one every told her, he is going to show her, they will go out in the night. Freud would have a heyday with all the sexual undertones in this song.

Oh, Young the Giant. I missed a chance to see them live. So bummed out. One of my favorite bands.

Happy listening,

Eric