First of all, this song is amazing. My favorite on Baseball (albeit with very stiff competition).
The way I interpret it is that it's about a girl who had a relationship with the speaker, but they eventually fell apart. The girl embraced a new lifestyle and left the speaker behind, seeing herself as deserving better than what the speaker can offer. The speaker, though, believes she's lying to herself, and asks "would it kill you to be shameless," e.g. have a little humility and embrace what makes you happy (scream this in defiance), despite what others may think. The speaker knows that she's making the wrong decision (I will be with you..our love is here to stay) and that they both know their love was real (eardrums are like elephants..of the things fed to your ear). The 'rock n' roll' in her eyes is a metaphor for the variable, exciting, adventurous relationship/lifestyle she gave up, a metaphor that I think works throughout the song. He invites her "back to mankind" at anytime, meaning she could always come back to him. He's trying to "take it in stride," letting her explore a different lifestyle without him, but hopes she will return and it will be like old times (I will always love you).
This song always makes me think of my 'One Who Got Away'..for me it's depressing, empowering, and brutally honest all in one. I love it. I even sing the part where Max messes up at 2:18. It makes me just want to walk up to people and ask them if it would kill them to be shameless, just to break them out of their smug little fucking shells. That's how it makes me feel anyway (I did warn you that it was MY interpretation!).
But anyway, that was my angsty rant. Point is, this song rocks, and the musicianship in terms of lyrics and dynamics shown by it is truly astounding, especially for SA's FIRST album. Incredible song, incredible album, incredible band.
First of all, this song is amazing. My favorite on Baseball (albeit with very stiff competition).
The way I interpret it is that it's about a girl who had a relationship with the speaker, but they eventually fell apart. The girl embraced a new lifestyle and left the speaker behind, seeing herself as deserving better than what the speaker can offer. The speaker, though, believes she's lying to herself, and asks "would it kill you to be shameless," e.g. have a little humility and embrace what makes you happy (scream this in defiance), despite what others may think. The speaker knows that she's making the wrong decision (I will be with you..our love is here to stay) and that they both know their love was real (eardrums are like elephants..of the things fed to your ear). The 'rock n' roll' in her eyes is a metaphor for the variable, exciting, adventurous relationship/lifestyle she gave up, a metaphor that I think works throughout the song. He invites her "back to mankind" at anytime, meaning she could always come back to him. He's trying to "take it in stride," letting her explore a different lifestyle without him, but hopes she will return and it will be like old times (I will always love you).
This song always makes me think of my 'One Who Got Away'..for me it's depressing, empowering, and brutally honest all in one. I love it. I even sing the part where Max messes up at 2:18. It makes me just want to walk up to people and ask them if it would kill them to be shameless, just to break them out of their smug little fucking shells. That's how it makes me feel anyway (I did warn you that it was MY interpretation!).
But anyway, that was my angsty rant. Point is, this song rocks, and the musicianship in terms of lyrics and dynamics shown by it is truly astounding, especially for SA's FIRST album. Incredible song, incredible album, incredible band.