“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Drink up, baby, stay up all night
The things you could do, you won't but you might
The potential you'll be that you'll never see
The promises you'll only make
Drink up with me now and forget all about
The pressure of days, do what I say
And I'll make you okay and drive them away
The images stuck in your head
People you've been before that you don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
Drink up, baby, look at the stars
I'll kiss you again between the bars
Where I'm seeing you there with your hands in the air
Waiting to finally be caught
Drink up one more time and I'll make you mine
Keep you apart, deep in my heart
Separate from the rest, where I like you the best
And keep the things you forgot
The people you've been before that you don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
The things you could do, you won't but you might
The potential you'll be that you'll never see
The promises you'll only make
Drink up with me now and forget all about
The pressure of days, do what I say
And I'll make you okay and drive them away
The images stuck in your head
People you've been before that you don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
Drink up, baby, look at the stars
I'll kiss you again between the bars
Where I'm seeing you there with your hands in the air
Waiting to finally be caught
Drink up one more time and I'll make you mine
Keep you apart, deep in my heart
Separate from the rest, where I like you the best
And keep the things you forgot
The people you've been before that you don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
Lyrics submitted by EnjOy IncUbus
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Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Somewhere Only We Know
Keane
Keane
Per the FAQ on Keane's website, Keane's drummer Richard Hughes, stated the following:
"We've been asked whether "Somewhere Only We Know" is about a specific place, and Tim has been saying that, for him, or us as individuals, it might be about a geographical space, or a feeling; it can mean something individual to each person, and they can interpret it to a memory of theirs... It's perhaps more of a theme rather than a specific message... Feelings that may be universal, without necessarily being totally specific to us, or a place, or a time..."
With the nostalgic sentiment and the overall tone of the song, I think Keane is attempting to express a Portuguese term known as 'saudade', which does not have a direct English translation but roughly means "that which we remember because it is gone."
Sunglasses at Night
Corey Hart
Corey Hart
In the 1980s, sunglasses were a common fashion for people who wanted to adopt a "tough guy" persona (note all the cop shows from that era -- Simon & Simon, Miami Vice, etc. -- where the lead characters wore shades). So I think this song is about a guy who wears shades as a way of hiding his insecurity after learning that his girlfriend is cheating on him. He's trying to pretend that he's a "tough guy" to hide the fact that his girlfriend's affair is disturbing him.
System
Mel And Kim
Mel And Kim
Just listening for the 784,654th time....and it's just perfect in every way. Just incredible. The only reason it was remade was to scoop up a boatload of money from a more modern and accepting audience. But it is a completely different song than the other one that sounds slapped together in a few takes without a thought for the meaning.
This song captivates me still, after 50+ years. Takes me to the deep South and the poverty of some who lived thru truly hard times. And the powerful spirit of a poor young girl being abandoned to her future with only a red dress and her wits to keep her alive.
She not only stayed alive, she turned her hard beginnings around, became self sufficient, successful and someone with respect for herself. She didn't let the naysayers and judgers stop her. She's the one sitting in the drivers seat at the end.
So, not a song about a poor girl, but a song of hope and how you can rise up no matter how far down you started.
There is a huge difference between a singer who simply belts out a song that is on a page in front of them, and someone who can convey an entire experience with their voice. Telling not just a story with words, but taking you inside it and making you feel like you are there, with their interpretation.
I don't actually think there's supposed to be another person involved here, I don't think it's romantic, exactly. It's about the power of addiction, the call of drink. He used to be someone else, someone with potential, but he knows he'll never live up to it because he can't get out of the grip of his addiction. The alcohol lets him "forget all about the pressure of days" and disappear in to another night that goes on too long. The people he's been before were people with ambition, friends, a life, and he can't stand to listen to those voices any more, only the drink can make them silent again. His pain can be relieved and he can experience beauty again through alcohol, but as long as he relies on this he won't ever be free - kisses between the bars of his cell. Of coure, maybe I'm just projecting, but I know Elliot was an addict himself and I know really well what it feels like to start drinking again and know that it'll go on for one more night... how wonderful it is to have that best friend in the world back, and also know that you'll be worse off than where you started in the morning.
This.
I am posting a reply here because no one will read my buried one explaining this, and this is a great song and want to fill in some points from the original post. The song is sung by alcohol (I think he might have said this once in an interview), anyways, like imagine a bottle of whiskey sitting on a table in front of him, the bottle is singing the song to Elliott while he plays it. "I'll kiss you again, between the bars" The bottle is saying that Elliott will take another drink when he stops playing (writing the song) for a second. (Bars = bars of music), "Where I'm seeing you there," that is where (actually when) the bottle and Elliott keep "meeting" between the bars, then "With your hands in the air", when you are writing a song and stop for a drink you lift your hands out over the guitar and reach for the drink, and in his case just "Waiting to finally get caught" back into his addiction.
Oh one more really cool part of this song I wanted to share, If you are listening to this song with the understanding that alcohol is actually singing the Song to Elliott, listen to how Elliott sings the line "Do what I say", he purposely changes the tone of his voice to make it a really dark sounding command. The alcohol is not really giving him a choice. It really drives home the point that he is in deep with this addiction. Well,you can't write songs like this without actually suffering a lot, he must of really suffered to write it for us to enjoy. RIP!
Totally agree. I was just doing something unrelated when this song came into my mind. The lyrics hit me like they never had before, and, sadly, I started seeing myself in it. The first few lines hit me in the gut. It's so true, what you said and what he said.
@kaffeine_krazy really really well done....this song is so haunting and now even more so...thanks for your interpretation<br />
@kaffeine_krazy I always thought the bars were like bars on a music sheet with music notes and lyrics....<br />
@kaffeine_krazy Love this whole interpretation - really unlocked another level of depth to the song for me! <br /> <br /> A few people have hypothesised that the song is a dialogue with a previous lover struggling with alcoholism, (which I also find really compelling) and personally, I see the first signal of that in the first line, where Elliott uses the word 'baby'. Now, that's a totally normal thing to call a lover, but in the context of the interpretation above, I think it's adding quite a subtle layer of emotion. <br /> <br /> For me, it brings to mind the image of a baby pining for a bottle of milk, a metaphor which I think works beautifully with the song's themes of vulnerability and dependency. Most would agree that a baby is a bit of a symbol of innocence, so it makes sense if the singer is speaking to a former version of himself, as yet untainted by drugs and alcoholism. <br /> <br /> Tragically, in the present day, the only way he can find his way back to that state of wide-eyed adolescence is via the comfort and warmth of the bottle. <br /> <br /> Reading that back, it seems pretty tenuous to base so much analysis on one word and I'm sure I'm just going off on a bit of a ramble. Even still, I love the way it links in with the rest of the song as a little detail and hope you do too.
@kaffeine_krazy "Promises you'll only make" is another lyric that supports your thesis here. He's referring to the constant breaking of promises that addicts do to lived ones as well as themselves. <br /> There's a literary theory that I believe applies to music... once the song is out, it's meaning no longer belongs to the author but to the reader (listener in this case) . The song is now yours to interpret based on your life & experiences. Great interpretation in my humble opinion
Elliott Smith has actually explained before that he began writing this song one evening when he was getting fairly plastered (with his favorite liquor, Johnny Walker Red), and was watching an episode of "Xena Warrior Princess"....a chick he claims to have had a major childhood crush on. Anyways, although it doesn't directly relate to the experience of the song, he went on in the interview to describe that these lyrics were in fact, and quite literally, the bottle of alcohol PERSUADING him to drink. Giving him false promises and seductive persuasions, the bottle was personified as a human being, and was actively trying to delude and coax him to drink more and forget about all the entanglements of reality for as long as possible. He intends on showing the bottle as genuine solace or protection, "The People you've been before that you don't want around anymore/ they'll push, and shove and won't bend to your will/ I'll keep them still", however the resonance of this song truly lies in the fact that it is so melancholy, as if Elliott knows the bottle is lying to him but he still reciprocates its love so deeply.
@Scammed Where can I find this interview? I think you're correct in the sense that this song is about the bottle (also could be a person) persuading Elliott to drink. I really want to see Elliott talk about this!
Wow, obviously very few here have ever taken a college lit course, or even graduated high school. Elliott Smith is a BRILLIANT songwriter, capable of creating very complex metaphors to convey complicated emotions. This song is one of my favs, and it also happens to be very straighforward... allow me to enlighten all the amateurs here:
THIS IS A SONG ABOUT ALCOHOLISM. The NARRATOR IS ALCOHOL ADDICTION (or any addiction, really) personified as an warm and comforting intimate partner (aka girlfriend), who also happens to be emotionally manipulative, abusive, and possibly even a sociopath. If you're still having a hard time seeing it, allow me to walk you through...
First verse: "Drink up baby, stay up all night..."
She's seducing him by exploiting his insecurities (the "potential...he'll never see"). She says it with a smile and gentle touch (calls him "baby"), knowing he has left her before and the only way she'll win him back is by breaking his spirit first ("the promises you'll only make"... to himself, to stay away from this toxic relationship).
Second verse: "Drink up with me now..." She's offering him company while he's lonely and vulnerable. She's basically saying wouldn't it be nice to "forget all...pressure" and to "drive away" those ugly "images stuck in your head"?? Of course it would be nice, let me "make you okay". ...but you gotta "do what I say", cause I'm a controlling bitch. haha.
Chorus: "The people you've been before..." "the people you've been before" is referring to all the mistakes and bad decisions he has made throughout his life. (his memory of the dumb teenager that sipped booze for the first time, the jerk who broke a former gf's heart with his selfish drinking, etc). He doesn't want them "around anymore", cause he's a good person and the memory torments his conscious ("push and shove and won't bend"). But as painful as they are, that is how you become a better person...by learning from your mistakes. This bitch knows better, but she offers him a shortcut, an easy way out, by offering to "keep them still"
Third verse: "Drink up baby, look at the stars..." Isn't it nice to just forget about your problems, and just stare "at the stars"? Now Elliott brilliantly throws in a metaphor on a metaphor... alcoholism as a manipulative yet seductive ex-gf is also like a cop. Elliott is a fugitive on the run... he's escaped her grasp before but being a fugitive takes its toll. She (the cop) knows he's tired of running, and soon will be "waiting to finally be caught" with his "hands in the air". When a fugitive is caught, they go back to jail. But she is saying its okay, jail won't be so bad because "I'll kiss you again between the bars", (even though she's the one who keeps him locked up). Alcoholism is jail but at least your girl will still come and visit so it's not so bad, right?...brilliant.
Fourth verse: "Drink up one more time and I'll make you mine..." He's drinking again, she kept her promise to "make you mine." She is jealous and possessive, "keeping him apart" from family and friends, "separate from the rest". She really does love him "deep in my heart", but for her love is all about control and dominance. She insists upon being in control of every aspect of his life. Now that she has won him back, the last thing she wants is for him to remember all the reasons why he originally left. That is why she'll "keep the things you forgot"... those things are the "people you've been before" (from the chorus). The only way we improve as humans is by remembering our mistakes. She knows that if she keeps those "things" from him, he will be her pawn forever.
Hallelujah. I was beginning to despair (reading the romantic girl-boy interpretations of this song) until I came across this piece. Right on the money.
yes, thank you. exactly -- your explanation is perfect. this is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever made, one of my ultimate favs.
"who also happens to be emotionally manipulative, abusive, and possibly even a sociopath." Goodnight paranoia. May tonight's activties alieviate any fears, and may panana pancakes fill your belly with warm and fuzzies....
Spot on.
@drmike123 feel better now?
I'm gonna have to disagree with the personal alcoholism explaination. I think this song is definitely about two people, specifically Elliott and a love interest. I interpret this as Elliott's way of saying he will stay with this woman, even through her alcohol addiction. He begins by explaining their relationship; "drink up baby, stay up all night... the potential will be that you'll never see the promises you only make" - he is referring to the way she lives her life, and in turn, treats him. The girl is unhappy with herself and perhaps drinks to cope with her self-loathing. Elliott promises to keep "The people she's been before that she doesn't want around anymore." He uses "between the bars" as a pun. On one end, it could mean he will kiss her between bars, as in the ones where you get alcohol, implying that he doesn't mind her drinking and loves her anyway. The other side uses "bars" as a metaphor for the prison of her addiction; he will "kiss her again between the bars," meaning he will stay with her, even through her addiction. He sees her "with her hands in the air, waiting to finally be caught," meaning that she is subtly crying for help, which he promises to provide her. I definitely see this song as Elliott's promise to stay with a woman through her troubles, not as a personal lament about his alcoholism, though it is well-documented.
I think you are right on.<br /> I have loved many addicts.<br /> I would ALWAYS help a friend through<br /> their troubles if they asked me to.<br /> But, sometimes they want to pull away<br /> and go through things by themselves.<br /> I hope it helps for them to know that they <br /> have people around who care about them<br /> and who would be willing to do almost<br /> anything for them.
I wholly agree with your explanation. Actually, most of your explanations I've seen on Elliott Smith songs. I hate that everyone goes, "song is about drugs, done! next?" because there's usually a much deeper explanation. Not to say that he doesn't often write about addiction, but he's not always personifying drugs and singing to them in his songs.
it's a song about alcoholism...everyone knows that , his gf at the time before he died was sober and wanted him to get sober....she was scared of elliot bec of his behavior and addiction , great guy tho personally met him..just very messed up , on drugs...great personality in a weird kinda way....but , eh.....good die young
Interesting explanation, but these lines make no sense then:<br /> <br /> Drink up with me now and forget all about <br /> The pressure of days, do what I say <br /> And I'll make you okay and drive them away<br /> The images stuck in your head<br /> <br /> Those lines only make sense if the 'two people' are him and alcohol.
does anyone know what "between the bars" means?
I think "between the bars" is referring the prison cell bars.
I think prison cell bars was my original interpretation of this song, many years ago.
I've seen "between the bars" as three different things: one being jail bars, another is an actual bar (which I think fits the interpretation that the song is from the point of view a bottle), and then the bars found in music sheets.
The bars found in sheet music, IMO, fits as well since the song is a serenade. So whoever is singing is telling the other person that they will kiss them even between the bars of the song. <br /> If that makes any sense.
I think it means the bars of the girls mind. The things that block her love and happiness. The main reason I think this, is because throughout the song he is talking about her inner demons! How he can take them away. He is kissing her between the bars of the self destruction. He is breaking the barriers of her subconscious. That's just my interpretation!
I've always thought that this song was about alcoholism, and how it manages to addict people by being such a seductive escape from the stuff that they're trying to get away from. So 'between the bars' can be literal, but I think of it a little more abstractly, basically saying that at the very worst points in your life, you'll turn to your addiction because it'll take your mind off of it. It won't take you out of the cell, but it will comfort you while you wallow in it.
Really interesting that so many people think it's referring to being between bars (the place where you drink type of bar). I hadn't even considered that: I thought that it was a way of metaphorically talking about a jail cell, and how addiction comforts you while imprisoning you. I still see it that way, but the other interpretation is an interesting one, and I like it.
@pandorah85 You asked this question 16 years ago. What are your thoughts on the song and lyrics now looking back?
@pandorah85 i think this is 'between the bars' of a song. So a kiss in a pause of the song. If the woman in the song is a personification of alcohol, then this could be a swig from the bottle between bars of the song (like songwriters do).
I think he is walking from a bar he was at where he drank, and then is leaving thinking to himself, and arrives at another bar to repeat the process, and he realizes that this is all his life is, goining BETWEEN BARS!...but that is just my opinion, i could be wrong, amazing song either way
@Sublime24 <br /> why not this is just as great<br />
god, i love this song. it makes me sad, but the lyrics are wonderful. and the music is beautiful. if only elliot was younger...
i think everyone's meaning (except the date rape one) have good standing and are all unique to each person. what i get from this song is talking about someone he loves not accepting themselves and not really loveing who they are. i get this meaning because i have a similar experiance with someone i love. its difficult to see that person hate themselves and never truely be happy. its rough but you have to go through life with these things, it makes you stronger. anyway, i love this song and its sad to see this great artist pass away the way he did. im gonna miss the music.
ImpaledOnion on 11-23-2004 @ 10:32:43 AM
Man, I am honestly, very surprised to find that people actually listen to such level of music and actual attempt to interpret this low-level charade. Not quite fond of this particular type of music, I find it rather repititive and it also gives the music industry the vibe as a means to increase capital.
umm, am i the only one on here to notice what a rediculous statement this is? Why are you posting on an elliott song if you think its a low level charade?? why would you bother to look up his song, so you can tell us that it surprises you that people actually listen to such a level of music in an attempt to insult us as well as the work of a brilliant artist. Any time elliott used repitition it was very necessary and only added to the song, but a lot of his songs where just poety, no repetitve choruses like most music. Not to mention increasing capitol? Umm, he was not an artist that made a lot of money if thats what youre getting at. Fool.
I feel as if he's talking as if he's the alcohol; sort of how it can just kind of speak to people, especially alcoholics, luring them with the belief that it'll take away all of their problems.