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.
Eh-oh oh oh, eh-oh oh oh
I�m underneath it all tonight
Out my window there�s a million lights
Thousand hearts feeling just like me
Man, it feels like Heaven out here in the street
I know I got a lot to learn
Breaking bottles only left me hurt
Played with fire �til I burned myself
Don�t you know that love will bring us somewhere else?
So you take the left, I�ll take the right
Under arrest, we�re under fire
Oh oh oh oh
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
You take the low, I�ll take the high
You lock the gate, I hear the choir
Everybody got a problem with the way I live
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
Maybe I should take my time
And build this life by my own design
With no direction and it's in between
Everything I love and everything I need
So bring it back, all I want is understanding
To live my life the way that I planned it
Wouldn�t change a thing
Man, it feels like Heaven underneath my feet
So you take the left, I�ll take the right
Under arrest, we�re under fire
Oh oh oh oh
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
You take the low, I�ll take the high
You lock the gate, I hear the choir
Everybody got a problem with the way I live
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
So raise �em up, raise �em up
All I ever wanted was a shot at your love
I know, and I believe
Everything we got is everything we need
Oh, love will get you higher
I set my heart on fire
I know, it�s what you see
Don�t wanna go to Heaven if they don�t want me
�Cause I�m no criminal
I�m not your enemy
All I have is life
And I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
So you take the left, I�ll take the right
Under arrest, we�re under fire
Oh oh oh oh
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
You take the low, I�ll take the high
You lock the gate, I hear the choir
Everybody got a problem with the way I live
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
Oh, yeah, raise �em up, raise �em up
Everything you wanted is inside your cup
Drink up
Love will get you higher
Oh, oh, I'm not your enemy
I never met no criminal
And in the end I�ll do it again
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
Oh, I�m not a criminal
Yeah, I�m no enemy
It�s just the way I live
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
I�m underneath it all tonight
Out my window there�s a million lights
Thousand hearts feeling just like me
Man, it feels like Heaven out here in the street
I know I got a lot to learn
Breaking bottles only left me hurt
Played with fire �til I burned myself
Don�t you know that love will bring us somewhere else?
So you take the left, I�ll take the right
Under arrest, we�re under fire
Oh oh oh oh
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
You take the low, I�ll take the high
You lock the gate, I hear the choir
Everybody got a problem with the way I live
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
Maybe I should take my time
And build this life by my own design
With no direction and it's in between
Everything I love and everything I need
So bring it back, all I want is understanding
To live my life the way that I planned it
Wouldn�t change a thing
Man, it feels like Heaven underneath my feet
So you take the left, I�ll take the right
Under arrest, we�re under fire
Oh oh oh oh
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
You take the low, I�ll take the high
You lock the gate, I hear the choir
Everybody got a problem with the way I live
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
So raise �em up, raise �em up
All I ever wanted was a shot at your love
I know, and I believe
Everything we got is everything we need
Oh, love will get you higher
I set my heart on fire
I know, it�s what you see
Don�t wanna go to Heaven if they don�t want me
�Cause I�m no criminal
I�m not your enemy
All I have is life
And I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
So you take the left, I�ll take the right
Under arrest, we�re under fire
Oh oh oh oh
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
You take the low, I�ll take the high
You lock the gate, I hear the choir
Everybody got a problem with the way I live
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
Oh, yeah, raise �em up, raise �em up
Everything you wanted is inside your cup
Drink up
Love will get you higher
Oh, oh, I'm not your enemy
I never met no criminal
And in the end I�ll do it again
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
Oh, I�m not a criminal
Yeah, I�m no enemy
It�s just the way I live
I don�t wanna go to Heaven if I can�t get in
Lyrics submitted by ofarevolution92
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
IMHO
I believe this song is about owning yourself. Living how you wish. Not caring what others may think. Deeper its about figuring out what that life is. Further its abut enjoying that journey.
And in the end it does not matter (per-say) where your life ends. What matters it what you did with that life. And that you would do it again the same way.
I agree that a lot of O.A.R. is very open to personal interpretation. My interpretation of this song is very generic - but I believe this is a very simple messaged, broad, generic song aimed and making you think about how you are living your life.