i'm a recovering alcoholic and this song speaks VOLUMES to me. many of MCS' songs deal (indirectly) with alcoholism and the self-hatred that accompanies it.
first let's look at the title: When 'You're' Around. this shows that he's not actually talking about another person, but rather the drunken version of himself. whenever he begins drinking, this person comes out, and he's an asshole.
the song mentions "vicious remarks and verbal attacks", in reference to the rude, unfiltered, and harsh things he says to his loved ones under the influence. it shows how he begins pushing away and alienating the people who care most about him (this is also the main theme in the MCS song "Better Open the Door").
the "midwest love affair" is a symbolic term for his drinking habit. the "midwest aftermath" refers to when he wakes up the next day after being drunk and realizes everything he said/did ("did i truly do the things that you've described?") and how hurtful he was to his friends.
alcoholism is often regarded with a depressed, hopeless tone in Motion City Soundtrack's songs. the line "all i can do is close my eyes, and cross my heart, and hope to die" shows that he knows his binges are wrong; he knows he shouldn't be drinking, but he just does it anyway.
I think your analysis is spot on: it's all too tempting to just say "it's about a girl", but be completely wrong or only be looking at it superficially.
I think your analysis is spot on: it's all too tempting to just say "it's about a girl", but be completely wrong or only be looking at it superficially.
I think "late night liquor blue" tells it all. Blue is a color for depression, and other recovering alcoholics have told me that when you binge hard, often you begin to see blue.
Also, given that this album mostly focuses on self-loathing and neurosis, we can say that the subject of the song is also dealing with his hatred and contempt for himself and others, as you so aptly stated....
I think "late night liquor blue" tells it all. Blue is a color for depression, and other recovering alcoholics have told me that when you binge hard, often you begin to see blue.
Also, given that this album mostly focuses on self-loathing and neurosis, we can say that the subject of the song is also dealing with his hatred and contempt for himself and others, as you so aptly stated. He hates himself because he's miserable, and he drinks to stop hating himself. But he hates others around him, because they can't rid him of his self-loathing. And this leads him to keep up the alcoholism and lash out at those around him. I think "they must hate me, every single one" is also indicative of the subject's (most likely Justin Pierre) insecurity and self-hatred...it's easier to project your self-loathing onto others to avoid dealing with the fact that you are the one carrying so much contempt for yourself. And getting drunk and abusive ("vicious remarks and verbal attacks") is a way to earn other peoples' scorn.
Personally, I used this song to get over an abusive ex, but I knew that interpretation was superficial and self-serving. I'm glad to have read your thoughts on it, especially since you have some experience that would inform this closer analysis. Congratulations on your recovery.
@karlkisba
i'm a recovering alcoholic and this song speaks VOLUMES to me. many of MCS' songs deal (indirectly) with alcoholism and the self-hatred that accompanies it.
first let's look at the title: When 'You're' Around. this shows that he's not actually talking about another person, but rather the drunken version of himself. whenever he begins drinking, this person comes out, and he's an asshole.
the song mentions "vicious remarks and verbal attacks", in reference to the rude, unfiltered, and harsh things he says to his loved ones under the influence. it shows how he begins pushing away and alienating the people who care most about him (this is also the main theme in the MCS song "Better Open the Door").
the "midwest love affair" is a symbolic term for his drinking habit. the "midwest aftermath" refers to when he wakes up the next day after being drunk and realizes everything he said/did ("did i truly do the things that you've described?") and how hurtful he was to his friends.
alcoholism is often regarded with a depressed, hopeless tone in Motion City Soundtrack's songs. the line "all i can do is close my eyes, and cross my heart, and hope to die" shows that he knows his binges are wrong; he knows he shouldn't be drinking, but he just does it anyway.
but hey, what do i know
I think your analysis is spot on: it's all too tempting to just say "it's about a girl", but be completely wrong or only be looking at it superficially.
I think your analysis is spot on: it's all too tempting to just say "it's about a girl", but be completely wrong or only be looking at it superficially.
I think "late night liquor blue" tells it all. Blue is a color for depression, and other recovering alcoholics have told me that when you binge hard, often you begin to see blue. Also, given that this album mostly focuses on self-loathing and neurosis, we can say that the subject of the song is also dealing with his hatred and contempt for himself and others, as you so aptly stated....
I think "late night liquor blue" tells it all. Blue is a color for depression, and other recovering alcoholics have told me that when you binge hard, often you begin to see blue. Also, given that this album mostly focuses on self-loathing and neurosis, we can say that the subject of the song is also dealing with his hatred and contempt for himself and others, as you so aptly stated. He hates himself because he's miserable, and he drinks to stop hating himself. But he hates others around him, because they can't rid him of his self-loathing. And this leads him to keep up the alcoholism and lash out at those around him. I think "they must hate me, every single one" is also indicative of the subject's (most likely Justin Pierre) insecurity and self-hatred...it's easier to project your self-loathing onto others to avoid dealing with the fact that you are the one carrying so much contempt for yourself. And getting drunk and abusive ("vicious remarks and verbal attacks") is a way to earn other peoples' scorn.
Personally, I used this song to get over an abusive ex, but I knew that interpretation was superficial and self-serving. I'm glad to have read your thoughts on it, especially since you have some experience that would inform this closer analysis. Congratulations on your recovery. @karlkisba