Periphery

If you've ever heard the expression "He's got someone on the side" then you get the idea of this song. The periphery is the "side" of your vision. I have lost a couple of boyfriends to the periphery... I really relate to this song.

To me it sounds like the periphery is the part of society where people have casual sex and meaningless relationships. If people think its worth it, they leave the periphery with someone and start a serious relationship. I think Fiona is saying that she doesn't appreciate people who don't appreciate commitment, so she stays away from the periphery.

this song is about a dude who became distracted by the vapid (but fun) people and things in his (and Fiona's) social periphery - but!

she alludes to horses/horse racing a lot in the song - I can't believe no one has mentioned it yet

periphery = horses wear blinders so that they don't get distracted by whats going on in their peripheral vision

bite to bear = a horse bit is placed in the mouth to control the animal

celebrate your name = racing horse names are silly

have 'em forge you a pedigree = a pedigree is "the record of descent of an animal, showing it to be purebred"

run the races lame = ...

I don't appreciate people who don't appreciate = not sure about the horse thing, but I think she might be using "appreciate" to mean "increase/improve value with time"

You let me down = losing the bet (or maybe putting a horse down?)

More even-tempered air = he went for a calm, well behaved animal rather than a wild horse

Good family man = I think Family Man was the name of a horse in the Kentucky Derby years ago

I don't really know anything about horses but I was listening yesterday (for the thousandth time) and the horse thing really stuck out to me.

The periphery can also apply to vision (peripheral vision). Things on the periphery are usually seen from the corner of one's eye. Fiona is skeptical of the people and places that make up the periphery because they're (their intentions are) not within clear vision ("Have them forge you a pedigree ... run it if you want ... but not with me, 'cause I don't appreciate people who don't appreciate").

I think the song mocks somewhat the kind of alternative/LA scene, edgy artists who've ultimately been shallow. I think Fiona has perhaps seen guys who've been making out they're outsiders and edgy, but who ultimately want the wife, 2.4 kids and a traditional lifestyle. I love the honesty, compare with fast as you can: "don't you know how crazy, how crazy I am". Fiona is also the periphery.

My favourite is "Cause I don't appreciate People who Don't appreciate All that loving must've been lacking something If I got bored trying to figure you out.

I hear "take it up with his brethren, or with his bride" which means the same thing, but sounds more fluid.

I think, for a reason, that this Fiona's answer to why she lives in a secluded area (she has said so herself). She can't stand people "who don't appreciate".

I think this song is about peripheral vision, in the sense of the saying "hindsight's 20/20." I believe Fi is talking about how she realizes, looking through corners of her eyes (peripherally), that what she had with the man meant nothing, and that she doesn't believe it was worth all she went through emotionally. This one hits home :/ Love u Fi

I feel like this song is about other peoples opinions. When people talk about you behind your back in a messy situation. She could confront them and get defensive or she could ignore them and let it go cause they aren't worth her time. The "periphery" are the people you see out of the corner of your eyes who only have negative things to say, but once you're with them face to face their fake. So in the end their never worth it.

I have very little idea what this song could mean but that's part of why its awesome.

Great lyrics so far... I am hearing "but not with me" instead of "go now, with me". And "Buy themselves their own plot of land". And even though "stay away" makes sense at the end I hear... "Oh, the periphery.. stole you away."

This albums raw.