I think the lyrics describe a man (many men, most men?) in a relationship. The man is emotionally disconnected, "lost in space." Mann is sarcastically describing the relationship from her point of view, with dry, cynical wit. She describes the man (shifting to his point of view, but in an extremely defacing way) as the "stuff of happy endings." But, of course, she's just being sarcastic here. Really, all of the man's emotional interest in the relationship is a bluff, a ruse. He pretends to care, but is far, far away. Mann continues describing the situation from the man's I point of view, in more defacing terms: The woman is the leader ("face") in the relationship; the man is the "double," the follower. He "keeps the pace," but offers nothing of substance to the relationship. He just fills space with empty air.
The thing that I like about this song is that Mann doesn't offer a motivational explanation for the man's emotional disconnection. It could be for more willful, selfish reasons. Or, it could be someone like me, who is sometimes clueless due to a lifelong anxiety disorder. Either way, the woman is on the short end of the stick in this situation.
I think the lyrics describe a man (many men, most men?) in a relationship. The man is emotionally disconnected, "lost in space." Mann is sarcastically describing the relationship from her point of view, with dry, cynical wit. She describes the man (shifting to his point of view, but in an extremely defacing way) as the "stuff of happy endings." But, of course, she's just being sarcastic here. Really, all of the man's emotional interest in the relationship is a bluff, a ruse. He pretends to care, but is far, far away. Mann continues describing the situation from the man's I point of view, in more defacing terms: The woman is the leader ("face") in the relationship; the man is the "double," the follower. He "keeps the pace," but offers nothing of substance to the relationship. He just fills space with empty air.
The thing that I like about this song is that Mann doesn't offer a motivational explanation for the man's emotional disconnection. It could be for more willful, selfish reasons. Or, it could be someone like me, who is sometimes clueless due to a lifelong anxiety disorder. Either way, the woman is on the short end of the stick in this situation.