it seems to me there is actually a physical distance being referenced in the song but that there is an "echo" of that distance even when they are together....
she makes reference to him not really seeing her...looking through her, and her pretending to be someone else...then indicates that it is easier for her lover to say he loves her and is more generous towards her when they are apart...but when they are actually together they sit in awkward silence....
sounds a little like they never had a strong foundation for a relationship in the first place...that he doesn't really know, love or appreciate her for who she really is....when he's far away he can pretend she is a different person, and treats her more warmly...but when they are together and there is no way to pretend she is a different person - is forced to face who she really is...he cannot be warm or affectionate towards her...because he doesn't love the "real" her..he loves the one that lives in his mind...and that he carries with him when they are apart...
and of course its really clear that this causes her tremendous pain...she really want him to love who she really is...but the longer this goes on the more clear it is to her than he cannot love her...so she is lonely and sad...both when he is physically far away, and when he is physica lly present...but emotionally still far away....
it seems to me there is actually a physical distance being referenced in the song but that there is an "echo" of that distance even when they are together.... she makes reference to him not really seeing her...looking through her, and her pretending to be someone else...then indicates that it is easier for her lover to say he loves her and is more generous towards her when they are apart...but when they are actually together they sit in awkward silence....
sounds a little like they never had a strong foundation for a relationship in the first place...that he doesn't really know, love or appreciate her for who she really is....when he's far away he can pretend she is a different person, and treats her more warmly...but when they are together and there is no way to pretend she is a different person - is forced to face who she really is...he cannot be warm or affectionate towards her...because he doesn't love the "real" her..he loves the one that lives in his mind...and that he carries with him when they are apart...
and of course its really clear that this causes her tremendous pain...she really want him to love who she really is...but the longer this goes on the more clear it is to her than he cannot love her...so she is lonely and sad...both when he is physically far away, and when he is physica lly present...but emotionally still far away....