I though that the meaning of this song was clear, until I saw the diverse opinions here. This is definitely not about the lack of commitment of the 1st-person-voice. In fact, up until he had a "turn in [his] head" he wanted to marry her. His problem was that he, like Hamlet, was unable to make a decision.
The voice is saying things like "you sat on your hands", "atone"... this chick could get with the idea that they were engaged. She was a bad fiancé. Anyway, he plants a "poison pill" in her ear, which is a strategy used in business to increase the likelihood of negative when someone want to attempt a hostile take over. Here it's meant to say that he knew that she was screwed up but rather than just calling her out for her bad behavior, he sabotaged the relationship, which by the way is not cool, but I guess he stoped because he says he's standing on high [moral] ground... I guess he's doing the right thing. He probably tortured her emotionally after he found out she was being a dog with his best friend.
He's also saying that in the end she wanted to salvage the relationship... she wanted to fight for it... by calling himself a dove he's saying that he wants peace, which may be a double entondre for (1) he's not going to oblige her conversation on the subject because to him it's a done deal or "clear" (probably ignoring her... giving her the silent treatment), and (2) He finally wants peace and tranquility in his life with a cheatin' woman, so there is no fight left in him.
Now it's her turn to be the lonely one... you don't know what you have until it walk out on you.
J. Mercer is the best writer of our time... amazing.
@twoxlove The sinking stone may be a reference to "I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be. That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea" from St. Louis Blues by WC Handy. Earlier in the song reference is made to Teen Angel by Mark Dinning. The dove reference might be Elliott Smith's True Love, "tranquil as a dove
people that have lost their true love." There is a lot going on in this song. Could probably find more if spent some time on it.
@twoxlove The sinking stone may be a reference to "I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be. That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea" from St. Louis Blues by WC Handy. Earlier in the song reference is made to Teen Angel by Mark Dinning. The dove reference might be Elliott Smith's True Love, "tranquil as a dove
people that have lost their true love." There is a lot going on in this song. Could probably find more if spent some time on it.
I though that the meaning of this song was clear, until I saw the diverse opinions here. This is definitely not about the lack of commitment of the 1st-person-voice. In fact, up until he had a "turn in [his] head" he wanted to marry her. His problem was that he, like Hamlet, was unable to make a decision.
The voice is saying things like "you sat on your hands", "atone"... this chick could get with the idea that they were engaged. She was a bad fiancé. Anyway, he plants a "poison pill" in her ear, which is a strategy used in business to increase the likelihood of negative when someone want to attempt a hostile take over. Here it's meant to say that he knew that she was screwed up but rather than just calling her out for her bad behavior, he sabotaged the relationship, which by the way is not cool, but I guess he stoped because he says he's standing on high [moral] ground... I guess he's doing the right thing. He probably tortured her emotionally after he found out she was being a dog with his best friend.
He's also saying that in the end she wanted to salvage the relationship... she wanted to fight for it... by calling himself a dove he's saying that he wants peace, which may be a double entondre for (1) he's not going to oblige her conversation on the subject because to him it's a done deal or "clear" (probably ignoring her... giving her the silent treatment), and (2) He finally wants peace and tranquility in his life with a cheatin' woman, so there is no fight left in him.
Now it's her turn to be the lonely one... you don't know what you have until it walk out on you.
J. Mercer is the best writer of our time... amazing.
What is a "sinking stone" a metaphor for?
@twoxlove The sinking stone may be a reference to "I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be. That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea" from St. Louis Blues by WC Handy. Earlier in the song reference is made to Teen Angel by Mark Dinning. The dove reference might be Elliott Smith's True Love, "tranquil as a dove people that have lost their true love." There is a lot going on in this song. Could probably find more if spent some time on it.
@twoxlove The sinking stone may be a reference to "I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be. That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea" from St. Louis Blues by WC Handy. Earlier in the song reference is made to Teen Angel by Mark Dinning. The dove reference might be Elliott Smith's True Love, "tranquil as a dove people that have lost their true love." There is a lot going on in this song. Could probably find more if spent some time on it.