The lyrics are not quite correct, but "bluets" made a noble attempt. Since you posted this, the actual words were released in the liner notes. However, the fact that some of these lyrics sound like something else actually seems to present a double meaning. Keep in mind that the songwriters are not always completely truthful in interviews because they have to be careful to not set themselves up for lawsuits, or worse, hurt the friends that they love. Also, the video itself, although terribly cute, is somewhat misleading since it adds an extra storyline, and sometimes distracts from the lyrics.
When I read the lyrics, I take it to mean that Nick Hornby is talking about some friends (let's just make up some names here and call them Charles and Ruth). While sitting in a bar with their respective significant others, Charles had an epiphany: Ruth and he were met to be together -- they are soulmates. However, Charles misses the boat and Ruth goes off and marries Tom. Charles figures he'll marry Martha.
Both Ruth and Charles seem perfectly happy in their respective marriages, but they aren't -- not really. They are simply existing. All their friends know it. Everybody who really knows them knows it: that ideally, Charles and Ruth should be together. However everyone wonders if anything can be done about it or not.
Both start to feel it:
Just this vague notion that something was wrong
During this time, they also recognize that they are somehow connected:
Neither of them knew what was going on
A strange feeling of never,
heartbeats becoming synchronized.
A couple of places the double meaning really pops out for me (although I'm sure there are more) are in the lines:
"Maybe our ghosts live in that vacancy." Sounds like: "Maybe I'll go slow in that vacancy," suggesting that Charles is rethinking his marriage with Martha, but is going to go slow.
And maybe we "owe" the unlucky ones. Sounds very much like: Maybe we "are" the unlucky ones, once again, voicing the realization and fear that perhaps they are not with their soulmates. Adding the second female lead here late in the song suggests that Ruth has now also determined that Charles is her soulmate, but was slower to come to this realization. I get the impression at the end of the song that now that both Ruth and Charles are aware that they should be together, they intend to do something about their situation, but are stuck.
I would love to hear a sequel to the song -- what eventually happens to Ruth and Charles? Do they ever get together?
The lyrics are not quite correct, but "bluets" made a noble attempt. Since you posted this, the actual words were released in the liner notes. However, the fact that some of these lyrics sound like something else actually seems to present a double meaning. Keep in mind that the songwriters are not always completely truthful in interviews because they have to be careful to not set themselves up for lawsuits, or worse, hurt the friends that they love. Also, the video itself, although terribly cute, is somewhat misleading since it adds an extra storyline, and sometimes distracts from the lyrics.
When I read the lyrics, I take it to mean that Nick Hornby is talking about some friends (let's just make up some names here and call them Charles and Ruth). While sitting in a bar with their respective significant others, Charles had an epiphany: Ruth and he were met to be together -- they are soulmates. However, Charles misses the boat and Ruth goes off and marries Tom. Charles figures he'll marry Martha.
Both Ruth and Charles seem perfectly happy in their respective marriages, but they aren't -- not really. They are simply existing. All their friends know it. Everybody who really knows them knows it: that ideally, Charles and Ruth should be together. However everyone wonders if anything can be done about it or not.
Both start to feel it: Just this vague notion that something was wrong
During this time, they also recognize that they are somehow connected: Neither of them knew what was going on A strange feeling of never, heartbeats becoming synchronized.
A couple of places the double meaning really pops out for me (although I'm sure there are more) are in the lines:
"Maybe our ghosts live in that vacancy." Sounds like: "Maybe I'll go slow in that vacancy," suggesting that Charles is rethinking his marriage with Martha, but is going to go slow.
And maybe we "owe" the unlucky ones. Sounds very much like: Maybe we "are" the unlucky ones, once again, voicing the realization and fear that perhaps they are not with their soulmates. Adding the second female lead here late in the song suggests that Ruth has now also determined that Charles is her soulmate, but was slower to come to this realization. I get the impression at the end of the song that now that both Ruth and Charles are aware that they should be together, they intend to do something about their situation, but are stuck.
I would love to hear a sequel to the song -- what eventually happens to Ruth and Charles? Do they ever get together?