I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I can't believe you
You bend your words like Uri Geller's spoons
Not quite safe here
When every judgement
Seems to smack of doom
Are you OK?
I'm just fine
You take Nanci
For me Loretta's fine
A legal precedent
Could set us straight
But no one's brought up suit
And I'm assuming
That if they did
The point would still be moot
And are you just joking?
No I'm just fine
You take Nanci
For me Loretta's fine
No I've changed my mind
I'll take Nanci
For you Loretta's fine
And still we walk without quite seeing things
And I'll admit there's not that much to see
And I will follow through
And expect that you will follow suit
And I can't believe you
You bend your words like Uri Geller's spoons
Not quite safe here
When every judgement
Seems to smack of doom
And Are you OK?
I'm just fine
You take Nanci
For me Loretta's fine
No I've changed my mind
I'll take Nanci
For you Loretta's fine
Loretta's fine (3x)
You bend your words like Uri Geller's spoons
Not quite safe here
When every judgement
Seems to smack of doom
Are you OK?
I'm just fine
You take Nanci
For me Loretta's fine
A legal precedent
Could set us straight
But no one's brought up suit
And I'm assuming
That if they did
The point would still be moot
And are you just joking?
No I'm just fine
You take Nanci
For me Loretta's fine
No I've changed my mind
I'll take Nanci
For you Loretta's fine
And still we walk without quite seeing things
And I'll admit there's not that much to see
And I will follow through
And expect that you will follow suit
And I can't believe you
You bend your words like Uri Geller's spoons
Not quite safe here
When every judgement
Seems to smack of doom
And Are you OK?
I'm just fine
You take Nanci
For me Loretta's fine
No I've changed my mind
I'll take Nanci
For you Loretta's fine
Loretta's fine (3x)
Lyrics submitted by rabidpenguin
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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,
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“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Is it possible that the lyrics themselves are a conversation?
Follow me here...
"I can't believe you, you bend your words like Uri Geller's spoons" - 1st person, and a derogatory comment at that since Uri Geller, although entertaining was lost from collective popular conscienous after being 'disproven' by various skeptics
"(It's) Not quite safe here, (and) every judgment seems to smack of doom" - 2nd person - the reference to Geller being a severe judgment and dooming to whatever matter is presented between the two characters
"Are you ok?" - 1st person - asked after judgment passed, we've all felt that, the 'trying to go back and correct my mistake by being nice way of talking to your loved one' feeling...
"I'm just fine" -2nd person - curtly and deservedly.
"You take Nanci, for me Loretta is fine" (referring to Nanci Griffith's songs of despair and longing, and Loretta Lynn's struggle but sunshine songs, and between these two characters, 1st person is saying you take the long road pal to the 2nd person. be as sad as you want to) - 1st person,
but at the end of the song, the context switches so that the 1st person feeling guilty chooses to let the 2nd person being wronged, in more than one ways now, choose the lighter path of Loretta Lynn rather than the darker Nanci Griffiths to wright the wrongs as the 1st person, the author, is comforted in the self-inflicted punishment that most humans can relate to.