I think he's talking about a really oblique relationship here--he can't name any names, he's almost secretive in tone. I think this song is about infidelity. In interviews about this album, he said one of the things that went into its composition was trying to get back down to earth after touring, trying to get back into life and its everyday relationships. I think this song is about something that happened when he was not in that everyday life. A beautiful connection with someone that he met and a connection that ended up taking him somewhere he didn't want to be. "Resolve is as dead as the leaves"--he didn't mean to cheat. But he's been forced into a new season in his manhood and relationship with his wife. This song is about knowing that he still loves his wife and that the connection he has had with this other woman can't go anywhere--"there's no other way"--he's a family man. He's been listening to this other woman talking all night, and I think he likes listening to her, but there's no point now, there's nowhere their connection can go, it can only exist in oblique space and only be talked about obliquely.
I think he's talking about a really oblique relationship here--he can't name any names, he's almost secretive in tone. I think this song is about infidelity. In interviews about this album, he said one of the things that went into its composition was trying to get back down to earth after touring, trying to get back into life and its everyday relationships. I think this song is about something that happened when he was not in that everyday life. A beautiful connection with someone that he met and a connection that ended up taking him somewhere he didn't want to be. "Resolve is as dead as the leaves"--he didn't mean to cheat. But he's been forced into a new season in his manhood and relationship with his wife. This song is about knowing that he still loves his wife and that the connection he has had with this other woman can't go anywhere--"there's no other way"--he's a family man. He's been listening to this other woman talking all night, and I think he likes listening to her, but there's no point now, there's nowhere their connection can go, it can only exist in oblique space and only be talked about obliquely.