When I listen to this song, I imagine it's about an ended romance. I really want to make a music video for it.
I think the first four lines are just about a feeling of restlessness. He needs to get out, get away from where he is, to someplace like on a postcard. Somewhere beautiful, and far away. And if he's going to go ahead and wish for stuff, he might as well wish that he's there in that beautiful place in the past, when he still is loved by his lady.
And perhaps his restlessness is inspired by the lady- they were each other's first love, and while he wanted the love to also be their last, she wants to experience new things. How many more hearts will she break? She is directionless, but wants to wander without him. He is worried she will forget about him.
I especially love this part:
"No one has to hear, the sound of people laughing at their fears, and the ocean and sun are always there, to make you happy if you're feeling scared of the darkness."
I think this is addressing the annoying platitudes that people offer when someone is heartbroken. I know I am terrified of being alone for the rest of my life. I am terrified that I will never be loved again.
so to me, when people say shit like "there are other fish in the sea" it's as though... heartbreak is being taken lightly. I'd want to go to my postcard getaway and away from the fake people and with beautiful distractions. Getting lost in the awe of nature would definitely take my mind off of my lost love, even if only for a short time.
"If I ever saw a ghost it'd change the way I think.
I wouldn't gasp for air if ever I did sink.
I wouldn't struggle, I'd just let it all out fast,
and then start living in the past. "
This part is also beautiful. He doesn't necessarily believe there is an afterlife, or at least he admits not knowing one way or the other. So if he were drowning now, he'd gasp and struggle, because the afterlife is unknown and scary. But if he knew he would become a ghost... death seems more appealing. He wouldn't have to feel any more, he could just be a memory, he could just live in his memories. He doesn't really want to be dead and gone, he just feels like his heartbreak is unbearable.
The last part... I don't have as clear a picture of. It sounds almost political, but that doesn't fit into the neat little context I've created in my mind, sooo fuck that.
I take it as him watching his ladylove goes through a series of bad relationships. He realizes that she will never be in love with him again. Which sucks, because their relationship was secure and innocent and pure-- because it was their first love, and that's really the only time people give themselves so fully. Walls go up after a heart is broken once.
But when it comes down to it, even though he doesn't get the ending he wanted, it's okay.
Love always remains-- in memories, in the way the relationship changed and shaped you, in the way that warmth and love positively effects everyone who is exposed to it.
So basically, hearts get broken but they will mend eventually. At least partially. But what's important is knwoing that loving someone is never a waste of time. This song inspires me to take chances, and to knock my walls down and be more willing to let people in.
In short, MGMT rock and I love this song and to me it is a very sweet love story.
Great interpretation of this song, I especially love your last couple paragraphs...what you said about Love always remains and that loving someone is never a waste of time. You should be a songwriter!
Great interpretation of this song, I especially love your last couple paragraphs...what you said about Love always remains and that loving someone is never a waste of time. You should be a songwriter!
When I listen to this song, I imagine it's about an ended romance. I really want to make a music video for it.
I think the first four lines are just about a feeling of restlessness. He needs to get out, get away from where he is, to someplace like on a postcard. Somewhere beautiful, and far away. And if he's going to go ahead and wish for stuff, he might as well wish that he's there in that beautiful place in the past, when he still is loved by his lady. And perhaps his restlessness is inspired by the lady- they were each other's first love, and while he wanted the love to also be their last, she wants to experience new things. How many more hearts will she break? She is directionless, but wants to wander without him. He is worried she will forget about him.
I especially love this part:
"No one has to hear, the sound of people laughing at their fears, and the ocean and sun are always there, to make you happy if you're feeling scared of the darkness."
I think this is addressing the annoying platitudes that people offer when someone is heartbroken. I know I am terrified of being alone for the rest of my life. I am terrified that I will never be loved again. so to me, when people say shit like "there are other fish in the sea" it's as though... heartbreak is being taken lightly. I'd want to go to my postcard getaway and away from the fake people and with beautiful distractions. Getting lost in the awe of nature would definitely take my mind off of my lost love, even if only for a short time.
"If I ever saw a ghost it'd change the way I think. I wouldn't gasp for air if ever I did sink. I wouldn't struggle, I'd just let it all out fast, and then start living in the past. "
This part is also beautiful. He doesn't necessarily believe there is an afterlife, or at least he admits not knowing one way or the other. So if he were drowning now, he'd gasp and struggle, because the afterlife is unknown and scary. But if he knew he would become a ghost... death seems more appealing. He wouldn't have to feel any more, he could just be a memory, he could just live in his memories. He doesn't really want to be dead and gone, he just feels like his heartbreak is unbearable.
The last part... I don't have as clear a picture of. It sounds almost political, but that doesn't fit into the neat little context I've created in my mind, sooo fuck that.
I take it as him watching his ladylove goes through a series of bad relationships. He realizes that she will never be in love with him again. Which sucks, because their relationship was secure and innocent and pure-- because it was their first love, and that's really the only time people give themselves so fully. Walls go up after a heart is broken once.
But when it comes down to it, even though he doesn't get the ending he wanted, it's okay. Love always remains-- in memories, in the way the relationship changed and shaped you, in the way that warmth and love positively effects everyone who is exposed to it.
So basically, hearts get broken but they will mend eventually. At least partially. But what's important is knwoing that loving someone is never a waste of time. This song inspires me to take chances, and to knock my walls down and be more willing to let people in.
In short, MGMT rock and I love this song and to me it is a very sweet love story.
Great interpretation of this song, I especially love your last couple paragraphs...what you said about Love always remains and that loving someone is never a waste of time. You should be a songwriter!
Great interpretation of this song, I especially love your last couple paragraphs...what you said about Love always remains and that loving someone is never a waste of time. You should be a songwriter!
Fanatastic song.....
Fanatastic song.....