Long Time

I think this song is about a guy and a girl who have been in a relationship for a long time and the honeymoon period is pretty much over. You know, there no longer flirting constantly and kissing and smiling at each other, they're just so comfortable with each other, doing the same things over and over, and they're just there. Maybe the guy is even getting bored since their spark is fading, but he does still love her.

This song is an allegory for the decline and fall of the American empire as seen through analogy as a relationship between two people that has since turned cold. It has, quite literally, been a "Long Time" since America has been at the top of her power.

Evidence:

1. Pillbox hat - a reference to Jackie Kennedy's famous pillbox hats. The prototypical modern American woman, married to a young vibrant President of America at the height of her power.

2. Pontiac - obviously a reference to General Motors, which no longer makes Pontiacs.

3. "we tripped into this ditch" - a reference to the 2008 financial crisis, or is it? It hasn't been a "long time" since then. Perhaps CAKE is putting forth an idea that the "ditch" is in fact a problem we've had for a long time.

4. "drank the arsenic" - dual meanings here. First, "Arsenic and Old Lace" was a classic American movie, directed by Frank Capra (the quintessential American film director) and starring Cary Grant (the quintessential American film director). It also could refer to the arsenic of our own hubris and how it acts as a poison to economic and social progress.

5. "expensive French perfume" - refers to the anti-french sentiment running rampant since the bush administration's invasion of iraq.

6. "A long time since I've seen a sunny day" - Oh, I don't know, SMOG maybe?

This song is about a couple (from sometime in the early 20th century, I'm guessing) that go through on a suicide pact by poisoning themselves with arsenic. He's saying that he doesn't mind not being able to see his lover's smiling face or experience any of the other typical day-to-day relationship joys because in his mind, he's with her forever in death.

I think that this song is about a man missing a relationship that was unhealthy. He knew that it was harmful and like a tomb but now that he is out if it he misses the girl. And just being with her is enough to make him forget all the bad times he has gone thru with her

I think this song is about a person going through hard times. All these bad things are happening to them and it has been a long time since things were going right. The good times of going out and driving in the Pontiac are over. Things aren't great but it's okay because they have this person (spouse, bf/gf, best friend, whatever) who makes them happy. With that person they can make it through anything.