Chivalry

I could tell in the way He did not kiss back < I think this is about the end of a relationship, when she knows it's going to end because of the way he kisses her - without feeling or emotion. > What's the use in painting faces? You're never gonna find a shade to match < This is just commenting on the way people try to paint their faces or act certain ways to attract a person, when this is useless because it's not going to lead you to your true love. You're never gonna find a shade to match the real you. I think in this song, she feels like the person she was seeing was merely "painting his face" to attract her or please her, but it wasn't real and is now causing the end of their relationship.>

Well, yours is a common name And I hear it all the time <I think this could have literal meaning or a deeper meaning. Literally, it could be talking about how her ex had a really common name, so now she is constantly reminded of him because she hears it all the time, as suggested by someone else. However, I think it's possible that this could be interpreted as the narrator realizing that the person she was with is just like everybody else, and she's realizing this now as she sees his traits repeated in lots of other people, something she didn't notice when they were together.> Could belong to anyone It could never be mine <This goes with the deeper meaning interpretation from the previous two lines. She's saying that his "name", or the way he is, could be how anyone is. He's not unique and she's realizing this. She's also realizing that this makes her incompatible with him because she's not just like everybody else and could never live that way.>

I am tired I'm through When I love I will love so hard Harder than I could love with you < She couldn't love as hard as she is able to with him because he was not real to her. She knows that when she finds the love of her life, she still has a lot of love to give. These lines show her hope for the future and the fact that he hasn't ruined her.)

There's nothing in your eyes But slightly amused < When she looks in his eyes, she can't see love or longing. He's simply amused by her, she could be anyone.> An offer of me you politely refused < She tried to be real with him and give herself to him, but he wouldn't respond.> Is it that my heart beat too loud < She's questioning why they weren't able to be that way together, wondering whether she scared him off by loving him too openly.) Is it that i did not bid it come down < She is still questioning wondering whether she should have had more self control when it came to loving him with everything she had; she's wondering if she should have held back, despite wanting to let it show.> Your round-about etiquette < His etiquette seems to be an effort to hide how he really feels.> You hold the door but you won't let me in < He goes through the boyfriend motions, he holds the door, he does sweet things for her, but his heart isn't in it. He can't be real to her, he can't let her in, he can only do the things society has taught him are good to do.>

I am tired I'm through When I love I will love so hard Harder than I could love with you Harder than I could love with you

I won't make you flex emotion < She never wanted him to fake feelings for her.> I won't make you come a little closer < She's not going to force him to be more open with her.> Do what you want Don't do it for me < She wants any relationship she has to be naturally occurring, not staged and forced.> What's the use in chivalry < What's the use in acting in a way just for the hell of it, as opposed to doing it because you genuinely want to or genuinely love the person that much.>

I am tired I am through When I love I will love so hard Harder than I could love with you Harder than I could love with you

Well, I could tell in the way He did not kiss back What's the use in painting faces? You're never gonna find a shade to match Well, I could tell in the way He did not kiss back Well, I could tell in the way, yeah, yeah He did not kiss back