Alright. So I just kind of skimmed what everyone else commented, but it looks like I might possibly perhaps be the only person who thinks that this song is not just about a guy who's more than hesitant to make a move with the girl he's falling for.
He's not just hesitant because of possible past heartbreak or because she's too beautiful. I think she's also incredibly smart. He not only feels lifted onto another plane when he talks to her, he wants to prove he's already on a level with her.
First, he's hesitant that she's deep enough to hold covert intentions:
Your clever eyes could easily disguise
Some backwards purpose
I think that the following holds the most evidence of this theory:
unknown quotients, you must be using potions
how else could you tie my head to the sky
this new convection has left no wondering why
i can't concern myself with ordinary tripe.
like what's this morning's paper got to say
and which brand of coffee to make
this is no umbrella to take into the wind
and before we begin is there nothing to kill this anxiety.
Not only is the diction here suggestive of an intellectual or academic, even pedantic or pompous, conversation (terms like "unknown quotients," "convection," "ordinary tripe") but these verses seem to express a certain revelation. This new contact has made it obvious why he doesn't bother with "ordinary tripe." Tripe, as a slang term, often means worthless speech or writing. So what I'm deriving from this is, now that he's connected with this girl whose speech is evocative of a "mountain range on fire," he wants more than boring, useless talk. He wants to get into things, "Like what's this morning's paper got to say."
He wants her to know he's on a level with her. After associating their speech with an emblazoned mountain range, he asks her to let him walk these hot coals to prove he can "cut the mustard." He's capable of intense conversations. And he concedes that "we scrutinize" so readily. Someone can immediately be deemed inadequate in her intelligent eyes.
And of course he's stricken with anxiety to avoid such negative scrutiny. And too much of this will wear "the paint away," making the prospect of their getting together a complete let down. And he realizes this is not just any girl he can take to the wind with (with the umbrella thing). There are gates to pass to be approved of. If he falls all over himself to show his affection, she may not see him worthy.
Finally, I think aside from the lyrics, the music itself in this song has a kind of uppity tone to it. It's not as carefree or saccharine as a song would sound if it were just about a guy gushing over a girl he thinks is beautiful.
Anyway, that's just my input. Hopefully at least one other person sees this. D:
Alright. So I just kind of skimmed what everyone else commented, but it looks like I might possibly perhaps be the only person who thinks that this song is not just about a guy who's more than hesitant to make a move with the girl he's falling for.
He's not just hesitant because of possible past heartbreak or because she's too beautiful. I think she's also incredibly smart. He not only feels lifted onto another plane when he talks to her, he wants to prove he's already on a level with her. First, he's hesitant that she's deep enough to hold covert intentions:
Your clever eyes could easily disguise Some backwards purpose
I think that the following holds the most evidence of this theory:
unknown quotients, you must be using potions how else could you tie my head to the sky this new convection has left no wondering why i can't concern myself with ordinary tripe.
like what's this morning's paper got to say and which brand of coffee to make this is no umbrella to take into the wind and before we begin is there nothing to kill this anxiety.
Not only is the diction here suggestive of an intellectual or academic, even pedantic or pompous, conversation (terms like "unknown quotients," "convection," "ordinary tripe") but these verses seem to express a certain revelation. This new contact has made it obvious why he doesn't bother with "ordinary tripe." Tripe, as a slang term, often means worthless speech or writing. So what I'm deriving from this is, now that he's connected with this girl whose speech is evocative of a "mountain range on fire," he wants more than boring, useless talk. He wants to get into things, "Like what's this morning's paper got to say." He wants her to know he's on a level with her. After associating their speech with an emblazoned mountain range, he asks her to let him walk these hot coals to prove he can "cut the mustard." He's capable of intense conversations. And he concedes that "we scrutinize" so readily. Someone can immediately be deemed inadequate in her intelligent eyes.
And of course he's stricken with anxiety to avoid such negative scrutiny. And too much of this will wear "the paint away," making the prospect of their getting together a complete let down. And he realizes this is not just any girl he can take to the wind with (with the umbrella thing). There are gates to pass to be approved of. If he falls all over himself to show his affection, she may not see him worthy.
Finally, I think aside from the lyrics, the music itself in this song has a kind of uppity tone to it. It's not as carefree or saccharine as a song would sound if it were just about a guy gushing over a girl he thinks is beautiful.
Anyway, that's just my input. Hopefully at least one other person sees this. D:
That's a pretty amazing way of looking at this song!!!! :) thanks for sharing
That's a pretty amazing way of looking at this song!!!! :) thanks for sharing