"I'll lay down my glasses, I'll lay down in houses, if things come alive."
I'm attacking this in two ways. By "lay[ing] down [his] glasses" he either means he'll stop scrutinizing everything she does or kick his drinking habit. The "houses" part means he's willing to settle down, that is, if the relationship comes out of its dead end.
"I'll subtract pain by ounces, yeah, I will start painting houses,
if things come alive."
This means he'll slowly become a better person, so she'll stop hurting over him. And "painting houses" could mean he'll get a steady job or he'll be ready for a family. You know, painting a new home they've bought together.
"I promise to commit no acts of violence, be it physical or otherwise, if things come alive."
He's saying he'll be sweet to her. He won't hit her or emotionally abuse her.
"I'll say it now...'cause I want it now."
He's just anxious for things to happen so they can get out of this rut.
"When personality is scar tissue, it travels south with disuse."
Just like when someone has surgery and the scar tissue becomes deeper and deeper with time and eventually unnoticed until the area is cut into again, someone's hidden emotions remain out of sight until something cuts into them.
"I'm subtle like a lion's cage; such a cautious display."
Outside, he's calm and harmless, but inside, he's raging with emotion.
"Remember take hold of your time here, give some meanings to the means to your end. Not even jail."
He's telling her to make sure she doesn't waste time over meaningless issues, that she pays attention to herself and figures her own life out. "Not even jail" could confine her as much as she is confining herself.
"We marshal in the days of longing, we tremble like anyone's children, and wink towards the fire."
The relationship is tumbling and they're afraid; "like anyone's children" means "anybody." Everyone is somebody's child. They see it coming but they can't turn away from it.
"I'm erring on the side of caution, betraying no other symptom,
but girl, you shake it right."
He's trying to be careful about the situation, even though what he's telling her is like walking on eggshells with their already delicate relationship. He's being outwardly stoic, but she seems to keep asking just the right questions to get the real feelings out of him.
"I will bounce you on the lap of silence, we will free love to the beats of science. And girl, you shake it right."
Apparently, they're having amazing make-up sex right about now.
"I'll say it now."
"Oh, but hold it still, darling, your hair so pretty. Can't you feel the warmth of my sincerity?"
She's starting to tremble because she's crying, and he's reassuring her by telling her how pretty she is, trying to make her feel better. He's promising that he's not trying to hurt her, he's just being honest.
"You make motion when you cry. You're making people's lives feel less private. Oh hey, don't take time away. You make motion when you cry."
She's now sobbing. She's kind of embarrassing people because she's displaying the emotion everyone feels but can't show in public. She has proposed to take a break from the relationship but it's not what he wants.
"We all hold hands, can't we all hold hands, when we make new plans?"
He wants her full input on their tomorrow. He's almost begging her to take part in the relationship.
"I pretend like no one else to try to control myself. I'm subtle like a lion's cage, such a cautious display. Remember take hold of your time here; give some meanings to the means
to your end. Not even jail."
He is trying so hard to keep his stoic shell while still reminding her to take control of her own destiny.
"I'll lay down my glasses, I'll lay down in houses, if things come alive." I'm attacking this in two ways. By "lay[ing] down [his] glasses" he either means he'll stop scrutinizing everything she does or kick his drinking habit. The "houses" part means he's willing to settle down, that is, if the relationship comes out of its dead end.
"I'll subtract pain by ounces, yeah, I will start painting houses, if things come alive." This means he'll slowly become a better person, so she'll stop hurting over him. And "painting houses" could mean he'll get a steady job or he'll be ready for a family. You know, painting a new home they've bought together.
"I promise to commit no acts of violence, be it physical or otherwise, if things come alive." He's saying he'll be sweet to her. He won't hit her or emotionally abuse her.
"I'll say it now...'cause I want it now." He's just anxious for things to happen so they can get out of this rut.
"When personality is scar tissue, it travels south with disuse." Just like when someone has surgery and the scar tissue becomes deeper and deeper with time and eventually unnoticed until the area is cut into again, someone's hidden emotions remain out of sight until something cuts into them.
"I'm subtle like a lion's cage; such a cautious display." Outside, he's calm and harmless, but inside, he's raging with emotion.
"Remember take hold of your time here, give some meanings to the means to your end. Not even jail." He's telling her to make sure she doesn't waste time over meaningless issues, that she pays attention to herself and figures her own life out. "Not even jail" could confine her as much as she is confining herself.
"We marshal in the days of longing, we tremble like anyone's children, and wink towards the fire." The relationship is tumbling and they're afraid; "like anyone's children" means "anybody." Everyone is somebody's child. They see it coming but they can't turn away from it.
"I'm erring on the side of caution, betraying no other symptom, but girl, you shake it right." He's trying to be careful about the situation, even though what he's telling her is like walking on eggshells with their already delicate relationship. He's being outwardly stoic, but she seems to keep asking just the right questions to get the real feelings out of him.
"I will bounce you on the lap of silence, we will free love to the beats of science. And girl, you shake it right." Apparently, they're having amazing make-up sex right about now.
"I'll say it now."
"Oh, but hold it still, darling, your hair so pretty. Can't you feel the warmth of my sincerity?" She's starting to tremble because she's crying, and he's reassuring her by telling her how pretty she is, trying to make her feel better. He's promising that he's not trying to hurt her, he's just being honest.
"You make motion when you cry. You're making people's lives feel less private. Oh hey, don't take time away. You make motion when you cry." She's now sobbing. She's kind of embarrassing people because she's displaying the emotion everyone feels but can't show in public. She has proposed to take a break from the relationship but it's not what he wants.
"We all hold hands, can't we all hold hands, when we make new plans?" He wants her full input on their tomorrow. He's almost begging her to take part in the relationship.
"I pretend like no one else to try to control myself. I'm subtle like a lion's cage, such a cautious display. Remember take hold of your time here; give some meanings to the means to your end. Not even jail." He is trying so hard to keep his stoic shell while still reminding her to take control of her own destiny.
I love this song.