Well, in my opinion this song is about being a young & maybe a little naive &/or introverted girl and finding yourself loving a man who is at first very charming, carefree & outgoing, and seems at first to be without limits, as in
"There was a time
you opened up every doorway
you didn't mind if everything
wasn't your way"
then that man starts to gradually become more introverted & shows their more possessive/obsessive side to you as the relationship progresses, even while they keep up the appearance of being carefree & outgoing to everyone else,
"Don't pull away
that goes against what you told me
I look in your eyes
I realize what you've sold me
is love in a vacuum"
so you confront them about the way they're acting and of course they deny it,
"I think you've changed
but you insist that
that's not true"
quite possibly they are an addict of some sort, my guess would be cocaine, &/or showing very obsessive behavior towards you (early on in the video for this song we see the man hanging a picture up, it is a very large portrait of Aimee & it is prominently displayed in his/their apartment for the duration of the song), thus their "love in a vacuum",
"You look so strange, so distant
that you're hardly you
Now I can see
how you have been acting different
You say it's me
but I know
that it isn't
it's love in a vacuum"
but still you are in love with them and don't want to leave them and you know that they are truly in love with you and they don't want you to leave them either, maybe they are convinced you can save them from themself, maybe they are so broken that the possibility of an overdose &/or suicide attempt is very real and you want to get through to them that their behavior not only dangerous but it is also just pissing you off and if they don't wise up they run the risk of loosing you, as in the lines
"You will be lonely
if you leave me alone", so you want to save them but can't get through to them due to the addiction &/or emotional problems they have,
"Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
love in a vacuum
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
You will be lonely
if you leave me alone
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough"
you want them to understand that the love they are giving you is not enough when it is filtered through the vacuum of their drug addiction &/or emotional impairment,
"You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough
and just wait
you will be lonely
Love in a vacuum
Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
Love in a vacuum".
'Love In A Vacuum' for me is a hauntingly truthful acute argument on the loneliness of obsession and almost inevitable loss of love that follows people who are broken in some way or another; the obsessives, the coke heads, the drunks, addicts or the just-plain-old emotionally broken; a razor sharp, lyrically driven, deceptively poppy, yet ultimately-depressing-in-the-best-way song.
Quintessential Aimee Mann.
From the east to the south
I tongue the roof of my mouth
To new days of doubt without you
First gear
I face the trouble ahead
Final word has been said
Long distance spread between us
I tell myself to
Hold on
It won't be long
Till I grow through this struggle
Time to wake up
Find my soul
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Not called for weeks now
Six days without sleep means
I am a slave to my early grave
If I do not be brave, behave
Seize myself out of this mess
I have created of myself, yet again
Yet again I say
Hold on
It won't be long
till I grow through this struggle
Time to wake up
Find my soul
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
We go on
Heart beats strong
Still whole
Unbroken
As we divide
Our love, goodbye
Thanks for the time
Time of my life
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Time
Time
Of my life
Time
Time
Of my life (So happy without you)
Time
Time
Of my life
Thanks for the time of my life (Happy without you)
Happy without you
Happy without you
I tongue the roof of my mouth
To new days of doubt without you
First gear
I face the trouble ahead
Final word has been said
Long distance spread between us
I tell myself to
Hold on
It won't be long
Till I grow through this struggle
Time to wake up
Find my soul
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Not called for weeks now
Six days without sleep means
I am a slave to my early grave
If I do not be brave, behave
Seize myself out of this mess
I have created of myself, yet again
Yet again I say
Hold on
It won't be long
till I grow through this struggle
Time to wake up
Find my soul
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
We go on
Heart beats strong
Still whole
Unbroken
As we divide
Our love, goodbye
Thanks for the time
Time of my life
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Happy without you
Time
Time
Of my life
Time
Time
Of my life (So happy without you)
Time
Time
Of my life
Thanks for the time of my life (Happy without you)
Happy without you
Happy without you
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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.
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I'm so freakin' happy! Finally some new songs from Mister Wolf hisself!
I could go into my interpretation of this song now but I think it would just ruin the sheer purity and beauty of the song. I have to wait until I've listened it to pieces. XD
And in any case, I think it's pretty self-explanatory.