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The Ghosts of Beverly Drive Lyrics
If only you'd had known me
Before the accident
For with that grand collision
Came a grave consequence
Receptors overloaded
They burst and disconnect
'Til there was little feeling
Please work with what is left
Oh I need not be flattered
That you've never been here before
So there's no need to mention
That you've no firsts anymore
But if you let me be your skyline
I'll let you be the waves
That reduces me to rubble
That looked safe from far away
I don't know why, I don't know why
I return to the scenes of these crimes
Where the hedgerows slowly wind
Through the ghosts of Beverly Drive
I don't know why, I don't know why
I don't know what I expect to find
Where all the news is second hand
And everything just goes on as planned
You wanna teach but not be taught
And I wanna sell but not be bought
So let us not be lonesome
So let us not be lonesome
Lost in between our needs and wants
Our needs and wants
(Chorus)
I don't know why, I don't know why
I don't know why, I don't know why
I don't know why, I don't know why
I don't know why, I don't know why
Before the accident
For with that grand collision
Came a grave consequence
Receptors overloaded
They burst and disconnect
'Til there was little feeling
Please work with what is left
That you've never been here before
So there's no need to mention
That you've no firsts anymore
But if you let me be your skyline
I'll let you be the waves
That reduces me to rubble
That looked safe from far away
I return to the scenes of these crimes
Where the hedgerows slowly wind
Through the ghosts of Beverly Drive
I don't know why, I don't know why
I don't know what I expect to find
Where all the news is second hand
And everything just goes on as planned
And I wanna sell but not be bought
So let us not be lonesome
Lost in between our needs and wants
Our needs and wants
I don't know why, I don't know why
I don't know why, I don't know why
I don't know why, I don't know why
Song Info
Submitted by
ozymandias25 On Mar 09, 2015
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Sorry I can't remember where I read this, but Ben stated it's about being honest and admitting that people in love have been in love before instead of the shenanigan of pretending it's the first time. (I need not be flattered, that you've never been here before, so there's no need to mention that you've no firsts anymore)
I think the song is about two people with a lot of emotional baggage dating. They know that they're not each others firsts, and they've both been hurt a lot before. He still thinks about all the things he's gone through, and wonders why he bothers to keep trying for love. He does like her, but they're both afraid to open up emotionally again so he knows it can't last.
As is the case for a lot of this album I feel like this is very much another Zooey song. Listening to the song and especially watching the video, I feel like it's talking about returning to "the scene of the crime" (LA) and driving through the city and having to relive everything that happened there. I can imagine from personal experience going through certain areas and basically being reminded of her everywhere you turn. Like a ghost that haunts you.