This song is absolutely about irrational jealousy in a relationship.
“I saw the scene unfold on a rainy Sunday
Creases indicating folds that kept four walls from caving in
I took a little more of what I take for granted
And filled my plate with fear that gears would turn
And wheels would roll away”
Something's got to break you down [x2]”
He started imagining her screwing around while he was in a bad place mentally; a “rainy Sunday”. But he went a little further this time and imagined her leaving him now; “.. with fear that gears would turn/and wheels would roll away”. He knows it’s a bad idea; it’s an irrational fear. But regardless, he’s convinced that she’s going to find someone else, either because of their persistence or because she’s tired of his jealousy. “Something’s got to break you down”. He recognizes it’s unhealthy but he keeps doing it.
“Entered the scene (I'm told) on I think it was Monday
You drove straight through and mined that quarry
For all it could bleed 'til dry
I took a little more 'til I got taken for granted
'cause beautiful boys gave chase
And when they arch your backbone
It's such a dreadful sight”
He’s practically blind with jealousy again; like before, when he references “creases indicating folds”, he’s talking about seeing the corners of a room but not understanding them or maybe just not caring; this time, he doesn’t even know about the day. He’s imagining things again, due to a fight that really took it out of him “you drove straight through and mined that quarry/for all it could bleed til dry”; so the scene got more vivid and angry. He’s feasting on that fear again. “'Cause beautiful boys gave chase/and when they arch your backbone/it's such a dreadful sight” is clearly about him thinking she’s cheating on him.
“I'll react when faces find you
With jealous fits that gag and bind you
'cause nothing hurts like nothing at all
When imagination takes full control
I saw the scene unfold [x4]”
He’s acting out again and recognizes that his fear and jealousy and anger come from nowhere except his insecurity and imagination when she’s approached by people; “I'll react when faces find you/with jealous fits that gag and bind you/'cause nothing hurts like nothing at all/when imagination takes full control”. He sees that it’ll be the end of them and it hurts her, but he can’t control it; his mind gets carried away at practically nothing at all, or when she says “it was nothing”. “I saw the scene unfold” is clearly just him talking about how he sees it over and over and how it could go every time; he’s either mocking himself, quoting the argument, or trying to justify it. Regardless, it’s clearly about jealousy. I think the title might come from something she’d said from a fight when he asked her not to go out or something like that, when he tried to control or “gag and bind” her; “You’re the president of what?”
Excellent song though, and this is just my interpretation.
This song is absolutely about irrational jealousy in a relationship.
“I saw the scene unfold on a rainy Sunday Creases indicating folds that kept four walls from caving in I took a little more of what I take for granted And filled my plate with fear that gears would turn And wheels would roll away” Something's got to break you down [x2]”
He started imagining her screwing around while he was in a bad place mentally; a “rainy Sunday”. But he went a little further this time and imagined her leaving him now; “.. with fear that gears would turn/and wheels would roll away”. He knows it’s a bad idea; it’s an irrational fear. But regardless, he’s convinced that she’s going to find someone else, either because of their persistence or because she’s tired of his jealousy. “Something’s got to break you down”. He recognizes it’s unhealthy but he keeps doing it.
“Entered the scene (I'm told) on I think it was Monday You drove straight through and mined that quarry For all it could bleed 'til dry I took a little more 'til I got taken for granted 'cause beautiful boys gave chase And when they arch your backbone It's such a dreadful sight”
He’s practically blind with jealousy again; like before, when he references “creases indicating folds”, he’s talking about seeing the corners of a room but not understanding them or maybe just not caring; this time, he doesn’t even know about the day. He’s imagining things again, due to a fight that really took it out of him “you drove straight through and mined that quarry/for all it could bleed til dry”; so the scene got more vivid and angry. He’s feasting on that fear again. “'Cause beautiful boys gave chase/and when they arch your backbone/it's such a dreadful sight” is clearly about him thinking she’s cheating on him.
“I'll react when faces find you With jealous fits that gag and bind you 'cause nothing hurts like nothing at all When imagination takes full control
I saw the scene unfold [x4]”
He’s acting out again and recognizes that his fear and jealousy and anger come from nowhere except his insecurity and imagination when she’s approached by people; “I'll react when faces find you/with jealous fits that gag and bind you/'cause nothing hurts like nothing at all/when imagination takes full control”. He sees that it’ll be the end of them and it hurts her, but he can’t control it; his mind gets carried away at practically nothing at all, or when she says “it was nothing”. “I saw the scene unfold” is clearly just him talking about how he sees it over and over and how it could go every time; he’s either mocking himself, quoting the argument, or trying to justify it. Regardless, it’s clearly about jealousy. I think the title might come from something she’d said from a fight when he asked her not to go out or something like that, when he tried to control or “gag and bind” her; “You’re the president of what?”
Excellent song though, and this is just my interpretation.