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.
I'm running out of miracles
Oh my soul
And the streets alive with one-man shows
Oh my soul
Corner boys were moved along
Oh my soul
We're plummeting like crippled crows
Oh my soul
Oh, long before
You and I were born
Others beat these benches with their empty cups
To the night and its stars
To be here, and now, and who we are
Another sunrise with my sad captains
With who I choose to lose my mind
And if it's all we only pass this way but once
What a perfect waste of time
The BMX apothecary
Oh my soul
The architect of infamy
Oh my soul
For each and every train we miss
Oh my soul
A bitter little Eucharist
Oh my soul
Oh, long before
You and I were born
Others beat these benches with their empty cups
To the night and its stars
To be here, and now, and who we are
Another sunrise with my sad captains
With who I choose to lose my mind
And if it's all we only come this way but once
What a perfect waste of time
Another sunrise with my sad captains
With who I choose to lose my mind
And if it's all we only pass this way but once
What a perfect waste of time
Another sunrise with my sad captains
With who I choose to lose my mind
And if it's all we only pass this way but once
What a perfect waste of time
What a perfect waste of time
Oh my soul
And the streets alive with one-man shows
Oh my soul
Corner boys were moved along
Oh my soul
We're plummeting like crippled crows
Oh my soul
Oh, long before
You and I were born
Others beat these benches with their empty cups
To the night and its stars
To be here, and now, and who we are
Another sunrise with my sad captains
With who I choose to lose my mind
And if it's all we only pass this way but once
What a perfect waste of time
The BMX apothecary
Oh my soul
The architect of infamy
Oh my soul
For each and every train we miss
Oh my soul
A bitter little Eucharist
Oh my soul
Oh, long before
You and I were born
Others beat these benches with their empty cups
To the night and its stars
To be here, and now, and who we are
Another sunrise with my sad captains
With who I choose to lose my mind
And if it's all we only come this way but once
What a perfect waste of time
Another sunrise with my sad captains
With who I choose to lose my mind
And if it's all we only pass this way but once
What a perfect waste of time
Another sunrise with my sad captains
With who I choose to lose my mind
And if it's all we only pass this way but once
What a perfect waste of time
What a perfect waste of time
Lyrics submitted by niteflite01, edited by alf1053044
My Sad Captains Lyrics as written by Guy Edward John Garvey Craig Lee Potter
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Love this song, it reminds me of my mum, not a lot makes sense and it's just sad, and so this drinking is a perfect waste of time, being drunk is the real life, as opposed to the sober one which tends to be a struggle.