The Woodpile

Great song. After a closer look at the lyrics, it seems like the narrator is at a dance club, feeling isolated and awkward. Too shy to approach someone, he's looking for someone to come be awkward in the corner with him.

The "woodpile" metaphor is very apt — he has all of the "fuel" for a connection, only lacking someone to provide a "spark."

I actually think that line in the first verse is "Bereft of all social charms" and not "But after all social charms."

oops, just noticed another one--should be "A lit torch to the woodpile, aye" at the end of the chorus

I think he says "we'll hide out" not "where I hide and"

Much of this album was written following the lead singer's break-up with his girlfriend.

It seems to me that things song is written about being out at a club at some stage after this break up. Having previously been in an relationship for what we can assume was a considerable amount of time (as alluded to by the use of "secret tongues", which indicates that they were together for long enough that they developed a certain way of speaking to each other that only they used; as many couples do) the singer finds himself out in a club, without a partner, conscious that many people are simply there on the dance floor looking for someone to sleep with. He calls this the "red meat market", utilising a fairly raw and vivid metaphor. It conveys his dislike for the way in which the "electric floor" (dance floor) acts as market for meat (women) to be consumed by men.

Having being in a relationship for so long, he finds the situation very uncomfortable ("trapped in a collapsing building") as he hasn't had to relate to girls like this in some time. He's obviously having some trouble moving on and is finding it hard to converse and dance with girls ("struck dumb by the hand of fear"). The ensuing cry for his ex-girlfriend to come "into my corner" tells us that he isn't fully over his girlfriend and so is not prepared to enter into any kind of relations with a woman ("there's no spark on the dampened (dance) floor").

This use of strong metaphors e.g. red meat and the woodpile convey the writer's intense emotion. This is a very powerful song.

-Rob

Goddamn this song is me at parties Stand in the corner and talk to two or three people because everyone else is scary/annoying/drunk off their face

oh and also.....killer song. just stellar.

Great song. After a closer look at the lyrics, it seems like the narrator is at a dance club, feeling isolated and awkward. Too shy to approach someone, he's looking for someone to come be awkward in the corner with him.

The "woodpile" metaphor is very apt — he has all of the "fuel" for a connection, only lacking someone to provide a "spark."

This seems far from dance floor. It's more about a guy who is calling for his ex girl freind back. "We'll speak in our secret tongues" indicates that they know eachother.

"Removed from the red meat market , i look for a fire door" , could show he got fired and he's looking for an escape

"I fall into the corner's arms The same way that I've done for years I'm trapped in a collapsing building" this shows that he is in a predicament same way he has done for years ( she probably knew him years) now he is stuck and can't get out.

"Spent too long alone tonight Would you come brighten my corner? She obviously is doing a lot better than him and he's feeling alone. She is his light.

" A lit torch to the woodpile, aye. Dead wood waits to ignite There's no spark on a dampened floor A snapped limb in an unlit pyre". I believe this means that yes he is a torch and dead wood waits to ignite, the floor is covered in fuel . Everywhere he goes he knows he will cause trouble but he wants her get back with him.

"Come find me now, where I hide and, We'll speak in our secret tongues" They have known each other for years and have a special bond.