I love this song to death. Easily one of my favorite Lonely Forest songs. The part where it really kicks in around "my hands are shaking" it reminds me of a theatrical song, all the parts kicking in in a wonderful melody.
The meaning is quite difficult for me, but I love to ponder it.
He realizes that his music is "in style for a while" at least, I think he's speaking of his music, and he finds himself just trying to be meaningful to his listeners, "Working hard to catch the rhythm of your beating heart, your body system."
But now there's a girl who's trying to take advantage of this well-meaning. "Your eyes paralyze, don't tempt me, I'm vulnerable."
His "hands are shaking at the possibility of using..." of using what? Perhaps of using his hands? Whatever it is, it isn't good. "I must remember who I am and what it took to realize I can't win this alone." He's been through dark times, thinking he could do everything alone, and finally realized he couldn't after much pain.
but her beauty is in his mind, and he can't get rid of it. "I will not sleep tonight."
But she wasn't there when his world was burning down, or his courage drowning. So he can't decide whether or not to have anything to do with her.
While I enjoyed RavenGrip's idea of the song, I'm pretty sure Elisechristine is right. This song inspires a pretty strong image of someone battling an addiction (possibly some sort of opiate? "holds a flower and sighs" Maybe the flower is a reference to poppies? Might be looking too far into it) and the temptation that he/she faces every day.
While I enjoyed RavenGrip's idea of the song, I'm pretty sure Elisechristine is right. This song inspires a pretty strong image of someone battling an addiction (possibly some sort of opiate? "holds a flower and sighs" Maybe the flower is a reference to poppies? Might be looking too far into it) and the temptation that he/she faces every day.
I'm positively sure Elisechristine and kapo1488 are right. The 3rd stanza does it for me as the tip off that this song is absolutely about the struggle of addiction. "My hands shake at the possibility of using" is pretty straightforward. He's thinking of using again. The next line "But I know I must remember who I am, and what it took to realize I can't win this alone," he is addressing that that is not who he wants to be and what it takes to win this struggle.
I'm positively sure Elisechristine and kapo1488 are right. The 3rd stanza does it for me as the tip off that this song is absolutely about the struggle of addiction. "My hands shake at the possibility of using" is pretty straightforward. He's thinking of using again. The next line "But I know I must remember who I am, and what it took to realize I can't win this alone," he is addressing that that is not who he wants to be and what it takes to win this struggle.
When I was introduced to The Lonely Forest,...
When I was introduced to The Lonely Forest, I was also made aware of John Van Deusen's battle with heroin. Kapo1488 you were absolutely on the right track.
I love this song to death. Easily one of my favorite Lonely Forest songs. The part where it really kicks in around "my hands are shaking" it reminds me of a theatrical song, all the parts kicking in in a wonderful melody. The meaning is quite difficult for me, but I love to ponder it. He realizes that his music is "in style for a while" at least, I think he's speaking of his music, and he finds himself just trying to be meaningful to his listeners, "Working hard to catch the rhythm of your beating heart, your body system." But now there's a girl who's trying to take advantage of this well-meaning. "Your eyes paralyze, don't tempt me, I'm vulnerable." His "hands are shaking at the possibility of using..." of using what? Perhaps of using his hands? Whatever it is, it isn't good. "I must remember who I am and what it took to realize I can't win this alone." He's been through dark times, thinking he could do everything alone, and finally realized he couldn't after much pain. but her beauty is in his mind, and he can't get rid of it. "I will not sleep tonight." But she wasn't there when his world was burning down, or his courage drowning. So he can't decide whether or not to have anything to do with her.
I'm pretty positive it's about his struggle with addiction. love love love this song.
I'm pretty positive it's about his struggle with addiction. love love love this song.
While I enjoyed RavenGrip's idea of the song, I'm pretty sure Elisechristine is right. This song inspires a pretty strong image of someone battling an addiction (possibly some sort of opiate? "holds a flower and sighs" Maybe the flower is a reference to poppies? Might be looking too far into it) and the temptation that he/she faces every day.
While I enjoyed RavenGrip's idea of the song, I'm pretty sure Elisechristine is right. This song inspires a pretty strong image of someone battling an addiction (possibly some sort of opiate? "holds a flower and sighs" Maybe the flower is a reference to poppies? Might be looking too far into it) and the temptation that he/she faces every day.
I'm positively sure Elisechristine and kapo1488 are right. The 3rd stanza does it for me as the tip off that this song is absolutely about the struggle of addiction. "My hands shake at the possibility of using" is pretty straightforward. He's thinking of using again. The next line "But I know I must remember who I am, and what it took to realize I can't win this alone," he is addressing that that is not who he wants to be and what it takes to win this struggle.
I'm positively sure Elisechristine and kapo1488 are right. The 3rd stanza does it for me as the tip off that this song is absolutely about the struggle of addiction. "My hands shake at the possibility of using" is pretty straightforward. He's thinking of using again. The next line "But I know I must remember who I am, and what it took to realize I can't win this alone," he is addressing that that is not who he wants to be and what it takes to win this struggle.
When I was introduced to The Lonely Forest,...
When I was introduced to The Lonely Forest, I was also made aware of John Van Deusen's battle with heroin. Kapo1488 you were absolutely on the right track.
Whole-heartedly agree w/ addiction. I see it as the artist being approached by a hot groupie offering drugs and him struggling not to relapse.
Whole-heartedly agree w/ addiction. I see it as the artist being approached by a hot groupie offering drugs and him struggling not to relapse.
I'm not sure whether "fairest of fair" refers to the euphoria of the drugs or thinking of a girl who helped him get off of them.
I'm not sure whether "fairest of fair" refers to the euphoria of the drugs or thinking of a girl who helped him get off of them.