I think this song is about a relationship that is about to end or where the subject of the song is cheating on the author, and the author doesn't understand, doesn't want it to be true - He loves the other person, and doesn't want her (using him/her for the purposes of this comment) to leave and doesn't want things to change between them.
There's a "divide", he suspects she's cheating ("maybe that's what your lover finds all night"), she's lying to him ("tell me a line"), he's looking for that spark that they used to have together but doesn't think her happiness is for him ("there's love in your eyes"), they're having problems ("fumble in the kitchen", "here comes another fight").
At the beginning of the song, she's keeping him in the "dark" about the situation (lying), and he likes it there because he doesn't want her to leave. He's in denial, doesn't want it to be true. He hopes he's just imaging things "hoping and hoping that the feeling goes away" and that she's not really cheating on him (it's just a feeling after all... isn't it?). If she "calls" him tonight, everything is ok. Otherwise, it's probably over. "Yeah, we know".
He's fighting, struggling between two difficult places - losing, the end is near - morning has him "on the ropes" = "Etymology: from the idea of a weakened prize fighter who leans against the ropes that surround the boxing ring" (source: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/on+the+ropes)
By the end of the song he's changed his tune a little bit - He wants her to "turn on the light" - the light is either the truth or her love for him. He is searching for that love, but is pretty sure it's not for him, so he pleads (another stage of loss/mourning) and offers to change. If it gets her to love him, if it makes her stay, he offers to change. But it's probably too late, and he probably can't or shouldn't change anyway.
@GuitarHero9000 Interesting analysis. I don't think it's about cheating at all. I think it's about a man who realises that the woman he's with is a real person, a person who has needs and emotions of her own and he wants to stay 'in the dark' and idealise her and that is why he thinks she 'loves fights' - it's easier to blame someone else than take responsibility. He does not want her to 'change' because he wants to stay oblivious and not change himself which is what she wants.
@GuitarHero9000 Interesting analysis. I don't think it's about cheating at all. I think it's about a man who realises that the woman he's with is a real person, a person who has needs and emotions of her own and he wants to stay 'in the dark' and idealise her and that is why he thinks she 'loves fights' - it's easier to blame someone else than take responsibility. He does not want her to 'change' because he wants to stay oblivious and not change himself which is what she wants.
As he starts accepting that...
As he starts accepting that ('turn on the light'), he is willing to change if that will make her stay and fall in love/stay in love because she's been losing feelings for him due to his behaviour/mistakes.
He says 'make it easy for me' whether it's regarding 'giving him a line' or 'turning on the light'. He relies on her to guide him, to do all the motional work because he can't do it himself. How exhausting for her.
He even says he can change if it helps her feeling real love which alludes to her not feeling it from his side, something is missing for her. He wants to prove that he does really love her, so he promises he can change.
I've loved this song forever and it resonates with me deeply at the moment cause I am the one losing feelings due to someone's inability to change. You can only get hurt so many times before the feelings start dying and once that happens, it's not easy to get them back, change or no change.
If someone wants to stay in the dark and ignore reality, you can't make them see the light.
I think this song is about a relationship that is about to end or where the subject of the song is cheating on the author, and the author doesn't understand, doesn't want it to be true - He loves the other person, and doesn't want her (using him/her for the purposes of this comment) to leave and doesn't want things to change between them.
There's a "divide", he suspects she's cheating ("maybe that's what your lover finds all night"), she's lying to him ("tell me a line"), he's looking for that spark that they used to have together but doesn't think her happiness is for him ("there's love in your eyes"), they're having problems ("fumble in the kitchen", "here comes another fight").
At the beginning of the song, she's keeping him in the "dark" about the situation (lying), and he likes it there because he doesn't want her to leave. He's in denial, doesn't want it to be true. He hopes he's just imaging things "hoping and hoping that the feeling goes away" and that she's not really cheating on him (it's just a feeling after all... isn't it?). If she "calls" him tonight, everything is ok. Otherwise, it's probably over. "Yeah, we know".
He's fighting, struggling between two difficult places - losing, the end is near - morning has him "on the ropes" = "Etymology: from the idea of a weakened prize fighter who leans against the ropes that surround the boxing ring" (source: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/on+the+ropes)
By the end of the song he's changed his tune a little bit - He wants her to "turn on the light" - the light is either the truth or her love for him. He is searching for that love, but is pretty sure it's not for him, so he pleads (another stage of loss/mourning) and offers to change. If it gets her to love him, if it makes her stay, he offers to change. But it's probably too late, and he probably can't or shouldn't change anyway.
Sad song, beautiful song, great song.
@meowza ???? The sheer length of the post gave me a hearty chuckle. Thank you!
@meowza ???? The sheer length of the post gave me a hearty chuckle. Thank you!
@GuitarHero9000 Interesting analysis. I don't think it's about cheating at all. I think it's about a man who realises that the woman he's with is a real person, a person who has needs and emotions of her own and he wants to stay 'in the dark' and idealise her and that is why he thinks she 'loves fights' - it's easier to blame someone else than take responsibility. He does not want her to 'change' because he wants to stay oblivious and not change himself which is what she wants.
@GuitarHero9000 Interesting analysis. I don't think it's about cheating at all. I think it's about a man who realises that the woman he's with is a real person, a person who has needs and emotions of her own and he wants to stay 'in the dark' and idealise her and that is why he thinks she 'loves fights' - it's easier to blame someone else than take responsibility. He does not want her to 'change' because he wants to stay oblivious and not change himself which is what she wants.
As he starts accepting that...
As he starts accepting that ('turn on the light'), he is willing to change if that will make her stay and fall in love/stay in love because she's been losing feelings for him due to his behaviour/mistakes.
He says 'make it easy for me' whether it's regarding 'giving him a line' or 'turning on the light'. He relies on her to guide him, to do all the motional work because he can't do it himself. How exhausting for her.
He even says he can change if it helps her feeling real love which alludes to her not feeling it from his side, something is missing for her. He wants to prove that he does really love her, so he promises he can change.
I've loved this song forever and it resonates with me deeply at the moment cause I am the one losing feelings due to someone's inability to change. You can only get hurt so many times before the feelings start dying and once that happens, it's not easy to get them back, change or no change.
If someone wants to stay in the dark and ignore reality, you can't make them see the light.