This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Well hey Mama, take a look at me now
Things are going fine here in the big town
Hey Mama, if you could only see
All of my friends and how they love me
And I know, you said "I need Jesus"
But mama can't you see I'm doing fine
Oh yes I know, you said "I need Jesus"
But mama I ain't got the time, no I ain't got the time, well no, no
And hey mama, well it's been two long years
Since I have seen you, how are things you hear?
Hey mama, things they aren't the same
Since I last wrote you, well things have changed
Yes I know, you say "I need Jesus"
But mama can't you see I'm doing fine
Oh yes I know, you say "I need Jesus"
But mama I ain't got the time, well I ain't got the time, no, no
No, mama, no, no, no mama, mama no
Well, every thing's going wrong
Yes, every thing's going wrong
No, I can't take it no more
Well, every thing's going wrong
Yes, every thing's going wrong
No, I can't take it no more
Well, I need Jesus
I guess, I need Jesus, well forgive me
Come into my life, come into my heart
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus
And I know, you said "I need Jesus"
But mama can't you see I'm doing, can't you see I'm doing
Oh yes, I know I'm doing, you said "I need Jesus"
Well mama He is in my life, yes He is in my life, yeah, yeah
Yeah mama, Jesus save me
Yeah mama, yeah, yes
Yeah mama, Jesus save me
Yeah mama, mama, yeah
Things are going fine here in the big town
Hey Mama, if you could only see
All of my friends and how they love me
And I know, you said "I need Jesus"
But mama can't you see I'm doing fine
Oh yes I know, you said "I need Jesus"
But mama I ain't got the time, no I ain't got the time, well no, no
And hey mama, well it's been two long years
Since I have seen you, how are things you hear?
Hey mama, things they aren't the same
Since I last wrote you, well things have changed
Yes I know, you say "I need Jesus"
But mama can't you see I'm doing fine
Oh yes I know, you say "I need Jesus"
But mama I ain't got the time, well I ain't got the time, no, no
No, mama, no, no, no mama, mama no
Well, every thing's going wrong
Yes, every thing's going wrong
No, I can't take it no more
Well, every thing's going wrong
Yes, every thing's going wrong
No, I can't take it no more
Well, I need Jesus
I guess, I need Jesus, well forgive me
Come into my life, come into my heart
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus
And I know, you said "I need Jesus"
But mama can't you see I'm doing, can't you see I'm doing
Oh yes, I know I'm doing, you said "I need Jesus"
Well mama He is in my life, yes He is in my life, yeah, yeah
Yeah mama, Jesus save me
Yeah mama, yeah, yes
Yeah mama, Jesus save me
Yeah mama, mama, yeah
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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.
Gentle Hour
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Amazing
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Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Written like letters between a mother and her lost son. In the beginning of the song, the son is alright and doesn't see a need for God in his life. As the "letters" progress, the son's attitude is changed through experiences in his life and he ends up accepting Christ. Incredible song from an incredible album.