This song is a perfect example of Smith's trademark bittersweet style. The song is gorgeous and ethereal in delivery, but the lyrics are brutal and scathing. Elliot adresses the listener by writing in the second person perspective - all of his accusations are directed at 'you.' This line is probably cruelest: "how you maintain all (your friends) in a constant state of suspense / for your own protection over their affection." It implies that an entire personality could be nothing more than a gimmick. It suggests that someone might be so insecure that they would utilize friendship as a scam. Elliot was very good at finding our worst flaws and exaggerating them. It must have been an awfully heavy cross to bear.
"If you can't get rid of the skeletons in your closet, you'd best teach them to dance."
-George Bernard Shaw
This song is a perfect example of Smith's trademark bittersweet style. The song is gorgeous and ethereal in delivery, but the lyrics are brutal and scathing. Elliot adresses the listener by writing in the second person perspective - all of his accusations are directed at 'you.' This line is probably cruelest: "how you maintain all (your friends) in a constant state of suspense / for your own protection over their affection." It implies that an entire personality could be nothing more than a gimmick. It suggests that someone might be so insecure that they would utilize friendship as a scam. Elliot was very good at finding our worst flaws and exaggerating them. It must have been an awfully heavy cross to bear.
"If you can't get rid of the skeletons in your closet, you'd best teach them to dance." -George Bernard Shaw