To me I apply it to a break up or the end of a friendship. Overall I see it as someone venting about how as they look bad on the relationship they realize that it was not good for them & that they are so happy to be out. The lines: vowel change
I remember when our voices used to sound the same now we just translate means that at one time they were extremely close and related to each other, they could basically read each others mind and know what they were thinking without talking or knew what they were saying without explaining themselves; the kind of friends that can finish each others sentences. If you think about it grammatically, vowels are the key to a word; every word has a vowel, and if you take it away or change it, the entire meaning of that word is transformed. Therefore, now they no longer sound the same or understand each other, all they can do is try to translate (as if it's another language completely different from their own).
I think the lines: breakneck speed tying up your hands cause you're landing back on your feet, further explains the person with which the speaker had the relationship. THe lines: born on your feet, running, forest fires underneath your bed further this thought and I think that it all works together to explain that this person is running from something, whether it be a bad family life, or a troubled past, the person was born on their feet running away from their past and their troubles. However, when they found the speaker and formed a relationship with him/her, they stopped running. They stopped moving their feet and they used their hands to tie 'double knots.' If you think about double knots, we make them to be sure that something doesnt come undone, so that it stays. So this person found a reason to stop running and stay; they wanted to stay so much that they tied double knots & make ties with the speaker, or in other words, they took refuge with the speaker and formed a deep relationship.
Well, that may seem like a happy song for the person, but for the speaker, apparently their life was hell. He/She refers to this time as the 'bad years.' Most likely, the problems from the person they had a relationship with were thrown onto them, and life got tough. Maybe their friend/lover came from an abusive home and was abusive themselves, or had a drug problem, etc. Overall, the relationship was bad.
Once the speaker is out of the relationship, they are extremely glad. They are back enjoying their youth & their life. "super fun at the movies, drunk and young double knots that came undone." THe ties between them and the other person are undone and now they are free. Not only that, but they keep repeating:but it's good to be back, good to be back, good to be back; meaning its so good to be themselves again, free from the hold of their unhealthy relationship.
Finally, the speaker reflects and wonders how that person could get right back on their feet after such an unhealthy relationship... how could they not be devestated after losing the one person who made them feel safe etc. Also, after having done such terrible things, whether it be abuse to them, or intense drug use etc, how they could live with themselves, or how they didnt die making bad choices. But then they realize that they have always done it; they have always been on their feet running away from their problems & always will (from the lines: 'cause I'm still amazed you made it out alive after what you did. born on your feet, running forest fires underneath your bed). They come to the realization that they could never have changed that person, and they had to save themselves and get out. The lines:spell it outI always skip the words 'cause all the pictures are so bright and loud better off than now, explain the speakers confusion at the breakup or end of the friendship. Even though there were good memories (pictures so bright and loud), they have to skip over them and not think about them because if they do, they may get sucked back in. Thats the way most unhealthy relationships are. At the moment they are alone and weak and if they think about the good memories, they may think they were better off then. But, when they sit down and think about the pain and the problems, they realize its better to be back being their true self (but its good to be back, good to be back, etc...).
To me I apply it to a break up or the end of a friendship. Overall I see it as someone venting about how as they look bad on the relationship they realize that it was not good for them & that they are so happy to be out. The lines: vowel change I remember when our voices used to sound the same now we just translate means that at one time they were extremely close and related to each other, they could basically read each others mind and know what they were thinking without talking or knew what they were saying without explaining themselves; the kind of friends that can finish each others sentences. If you think about it grammatically, vowels are the key to a word; every word has a vowel, and if you take it away or change it, the entire meaning of that word is transformed. Therefore, now they no longer sound the same or understand each other, all they can do is try to translate (as if it's another language completely different from their own). I think the lines: breakneck speed tying up your hands cause you're landing back on your feet, further explains the person with which the speaker had the relationship. THe lines: born on your feet, running, forest fires underneath your bed further this thought and I think that it all works together to explain that this person is running from something, whether it be a bad family life, or a troubled past, the person was born on their feet running away from their past and their troubles. However, when they found the speaker and formed a relationship with him/her, they stopped running. They stopped moving their feet and they used their hands to tie 'double knots.' If you think about double knots, we make them to be sure that something doesnt come undone, so that it stays. So this person found a reason to stop running and stay; they wanted to stay so much that they tied double knots & make ties with the speaker, or in other words, they took refuge with the speaker and formed a deep relationship. Well, that may seem like a happy song for the person, but for the speaker, apparently their life was hell. He/She refers to this time as the 'bad years.' Most likely, the problems from the person they had a relationship with were thrown onto them, and life got tough. Maybe their friend/lover came from an abusive home and was abusive themselves, or had a drug problem, etc. Overall, the relationship was bad. Once the speaker is out of the relationship, they are extremely glad. They are back enjoying their youth & their life. "super fun at the movies, drunk and young double knots that came undone." THe ties between them and the other person are undone and now they are free. Not only that, but they keep repeating:but it's good to be back, good to be back, good to be back; meaning its so good to be themselves again, free from the hold of their unhealthy relationship. Finally, the speaker reflects and wonders how that person could get right back on their feet after such an unhealthy relationship... how could they not be devestated after losing the one person who made them feel safe etc. Also, after having done such terrible things, whether it be abuse to them, or intense drug use etc, how they could live with themselves, or how they didnt die making bad choices. But then they realize that they have always done it; they have always been on their feet running away from their problems & always will (from the lines: 'cause I'm still amazed you made it out alive after what you did. born on your feet, running forest fires underneath your bed). They come to the realization that they could never have changed that person, and they had to save themselves and get out. The lines:spell it outI always skip the words 'cause all the pictures are so bright and loud better off than now, explain the speakers confusion at the breakup or end of the friendship. Even though there were good memories (pictures so bright and loud), they have to skip over them and not think about them because if they do, they may get sucked back in. Thats the way most unhealthy relationships are. At the moment they are alone and weak and if they think about the good memories, they may think they were better off then. But, when they sit down and think about the pain and the problems, they realize its better to be back being their true self (but its good to be back, good to be back, etc...).