Hmm, seems like a lot of people just used this page to express how much they dig the song... Although I do agree, I am going to address the actual prompt...
"We used to leave the blue lights on and there was a beat"
Describing a dark room with a television set flickering with the each changing scene. Basically a TV set used to occupy their recreational time.
"Ever since you have been gone it's all caffeine-free faux punk fatigue."
Ever since her partner left all the people they know have lost their energy and drive. All that's left of these ostensibly rebellious people are their Punk clothes that imply they were once rebels/social deviants and have now retired.
"Said it all before they try to kick it their feet fall asleep."
These old "friends" have the look and attitude of a nonconformist but in reality when they are confronted with a cause they grow weary and bored and are too lazy to exert the required effort needed to battle for change. (Imagine punks kicking with actual combat boots kicking and destroying problems instead of solving them).
"Get no harm done, no, none of them want to fight me."
These people are unable to change anything and aren't passionate enough to put up a good fight and struggle even with Emily.
"Combat baby, come back baby. Fight off the lethargy"
Her former partner whom she believed was a genuine fighter at heart, has also grown weary of the battle for social change even though he/she admitted to "never give up easy" or go quietly he/she has resigned and gotten over-it.
"Get back in town, I wanna paint it black."
Emily longs to take action and transform her environment, even her own town.
"Wanna get around, easy living crowd so flat."
The apathetic masses-so easily entertained & distracted- completely bore her. (A caffeine-free crowd, gone flat like a soft drink).
"I want to be wrong but no one here wants to fight me like you do."
Emily wants to be proven wrong. She dares everyone to do so. To react, to challenge her points of view but nobody even cares enough to respond.
"I try to be so nice, compromise. Who gets it good?"
Ever since Emily's formidable partner left, she's tried to acquiesce and be submissive to compromise herself and her beliefs in order to get along or at least incite some change. But in the end if both sides are compromising both lose out and are inevitably unsatisfied. Hence the: "who gets it good?" Her reply: "No one!"
"Every mighty mild seventies child...beats me."
Most of the hippies in the 60's & 70's were "mild" and never really part of a cohesive movement for reform or for any specific cause, but were merely following the rebel trend of the times. (Hello future tight-ass Baby-Boomers). Other hippies really were "mighty" activists who renounced consumerism, war, and fought against the injustices of the status quo. Emily points out her flawed attempts at compromising with those in power by comparing her failures with the "success" of those Flower Children.
"How I miss your ranting"
She misses the arguments, debates, and the fiery-rants of frustration/uncompromising opposition from the only person she knew who expressed genuine concern and passion for the issues and problems of society.
"Do you miss my all time lows?"
Does Emily's former Combat Baby miss her helpless cynicism and pessimism?
This song has a whole lot of meaning for me. And whether or not my comments say more about me than it does about Emily Haines (although Emily is pretty overtly against contemporary society), I invested a lot of thought and compassion into my interpretation of this song and I hope that you'll agree it did justice...
-Jaci
Hmm, seems like a lot of people just used this page to express how much they dig the song... Although I do agree, I am going to address the actual prompt...
"We used to leave the blue lights on and there was a beat" Describing a dark room with a television set flickering with the each changing scene. Basically a TV set used to occupy their recreational time.
"Ever since you have been gone it's all caffeine-free faux punk fatigue." Ever since her partner left all the people they know have lost their energy and drive. All that's left of these ostensibly rebellious people are their Punk clothes that imply they were once rebels/social deviants and have now retired.
"Said it all before they try to kick it their feet fall asleep." These old "friends" have the look and attitude of a nonconformist but in reality when they are confronted with a cause they grow weary and bored and are too lazy to exert the required effort needed to battle for change. (Imagine punks kicking with actual combat boots kicking and destroying problems instead of solving them).
"Get no harm done, no, none of them want to fight me." These people are unable to change anything and aren't passionate enough to put up a good fight and struggle even with Emily.
"Combat baby, come back baby. Fight off the lethargy" Her former partner whom she believed was a genuine fighter at heart, has also grown weary of the battle for social change even though he/she admitted to "never give up easy" or go quietly he/she has resigned and gotten over-it.
"Get back in town, I wanna paint it black." Emily longs to take action and transform her environment, even her own town.
"Wanna get around, easy living crowd so flat." The apathetic masses-so easily entertained & distracted- completely bore her. (A caffeine-free crowd, gone flat like a soft drink).
"I want to be wrong but no one here wants to fight me like you do." Emily wants to be proven wrong. She dares everyone to do so. To react, to challenge her points of view but nobody even cares enough to respond.
"I try to be so nice, compromise. Who gets it good?" Ever since Emily's formidable partner left, she's tried to acquiesce and be submissive to compromise herself and her beliefs in order to get along or at least incite some change. But in the end if both sides are compromising both lose out and are inevitably unsatisfied. Hence the: "who gets it good?" Her reply: "No one!"
"Every mighty mild seventies child...beats me." Most of the hippies in the 60's & 70's were "mild" and never really part of a cohesive movement for reform or for any specific cause, but were merely following the rebel trend of the times. (Hello future tight-ass Baby-Boomers). Other hippies really were "mighty" activists who renounced consumerism, war, and fought against the injustices of the status quo. Emily points out her flawed attempts at compromising with those in power by comparing her failures with the "success" of those Flower Children.
"How I miss your ranting" She misses the arguments, debates, and the fiery-rants of frustration/uncompromising opposition from the only person she knew who expressed genuine concern and passion for the issues and problems of society.
"Do you miss my all time lows?" Does Emily's former Combat Baby miss her helpless cynicism and pessimism?
This song has a whole lot of meaning for me. And whether or not my comments say more about me than it does about Emily Haines (although Emily is pretty overtly against contemporary society), I invested a lot of thought and compassion into my interpretation of this song and I hope that you'll agree it did justice... -Jaci