I believe in this song the Alpha husband goes back and forth from wishing his life was so much more and being somewhat satisfied with what it is.
“Dug up a fifth of Hood River gin / ” It’s sort of ironic that Hood River gin is known for it’s bowler hat which represents an English gentlemen. The Alpha couple is so far from that. This could represent their desire for luxury, but they’re lack of effort to try to actually obtain it.
“ / music on the television playing our song. / I'm in the mood, / the mood for you.” I believe that the music is a game show theme song, considering the rest of the lyrics. The fact that this music gets him in mood insinuates that the prospect of luxury is what turns him on. Or perhaps he believes his wife is the luxury, the prize. Or both.
We effectively get an image of a sort of white trash household. They sit around all day drinking and smoking in the dark with the TV on loudly. I believe this is very important, because they live very far from luxury. Their lifestyle is described with a jutting honesty as if the narrator doesn’t even realize these things are unhealthy, just facts. So lines like, “I held onto you with a desperate strength, with everything, with everything in me,” are especially touching. He seems to realize that “everything” in him is not much, and all he can do is hold on to her.
“People say friends don’t destroy one another, / what do they know about friends?” I believe this is the narrator’s fear that his wife will rise above him. The entire song, everyone and everything else seems to be above the two of them. He knows he is so far down, so he desires to keep her down too and believes that that is friendship, or rather, sticking together.
“Thunder clouds forming, cream white moon, everything's gonna be okay soon. / Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day.” This line is very important. We see a storm forming. So does the couple. Above that is the “cream white moon”, which I believe represents the luxury that is so far out of their reach and even above the storm. However, the narrator insists things will be okay. It seems very ignorant and blind. It is either that, or he believes his wife and him will stay (down) together, and in that sense, everything will be okay.
“Carried you up the stairs that night, / all of this could be yours, if the price is right.” The couple lives in a state of fantasy. As mentioned before, there are points where the narrator seems to realize that his wife is all he has (and perhaps needs), but when he’s not in that clarity, they seem to like to pretend that things are perfect. He’s carrying her up, fantasizing about winning a game show.
“I heard cars headed down to oblivion on the expressway.” This again is a representation of the people above him.
“Your drunken kiss is as light as the air. / Maybe everything that falls down, eventually rises.” More of the above us sort of theme. Her drunken kiss is “light” but he recognizes that they’re down, and hopes they can rise.
“Our house sinking into disrepair. / Ah, but look at this showroom, filled with fabulous prizes.” This last line sums up the feeling held throughout the entire piece. It’s a final realization that their house, their home, is a mess. And yet, there is the showroom--in their minds, in their love. And then the question is, will that be enough?
I believe in this song the Alpha husband goes back and forth from wishing his life was so much more and being somewhat satisfied with what it is.
“Dug up a fifth of Hood River gin / ” It’s sort of ironic that Hood River gin is known for it’s bowler hat which represents an English gentlemen. The Alpha couple is so far from that. This could represent their desire for luxury, but they’re lack of effort to try to actually obtain it.
“ / music on the television playing our song. / I'm in the mood, / the mood for you.” I believe that the music is a game show theme song, considering the rest of the lyrics. The fact that this music gets him in mood insinuates that the prospect of luxury is what turns him on. Or perhaps he believes his wife is the luxury, the prize. Or both.
We effectively get an image of a sort of white trash household. They sit around all day drinking and smoking in the dark with the TV on loudly. I believe this is very important, because they live very far from luxury. Their lifestyle is described with a jutting honesty as if the narrator doesn’t even realize these things are unhealthy, just facts. So lines like, “I held onto you with a desperate strength, with everything, with everything in me,” are especially touching. He seems to realize that “everything” in him is not much, and all he can do is hold on to her.
“People say friends don’t destroy one another, / what do they know about friends?” I believe this is the narrator’s fear that his wife will rise above him. The entire song, everyone and everything else seems to be above the two of them. He knows he is so far down, so he desires to keep her down too and believes that that is friendship, or rather, sticking together.
“Thunder clouds forming, cream white moon, everything's gonna be okay soon. / Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day.” This line is very important. We see a storm forming. So does the couple. Above that is the “cream white moon”, which I believe represents the luxury that is so far out of their reach and even above the storm. However, the narrator insists things will be okay. It seems very ignorant and blind. It is either that, or he believes his wife and him will stay (down) together, and in that sense, everything will be okay.
“Carried you up the stairs that night, / all of this could be yours, if the price is right.” The couple lives in a state of fantasy. As mentioned before, there are points where the narrator seems to realize that his wife is all he has (and perhaps needs), but when he’s not in that clarity, they seem to like to pretend that things are perfect. He’s carrying her up, fantasizing about winning a game show.
“I heard cars headed down to oblivion on the expressway.” This again is a representation of the people above him.
“Your drunken kiss is as light as the air. / Maybe everything that falls down, eventually rises.” More of the above us sort of theme. Her drunken kiss is “light” but he recognizes that they’re down, and hopes they can rise.
“Our house sinking into disrepair. / Ah, but look at this showroom, filled with fabulous prizes.” This last line sums up the feeling held throughout the entire piece. It’s a final realization that their house, their home, is a mess. And yet, there is the showroom--in their minds, in their love. And then the question is, will that be enough?