Yes, this is a song about wanting someone back. But not like that. This is a heartbroken person, but he's finally ready to move on without baggage.
He was hurt, and you get the feeling that he tried to move on with someone, but it did not end well because of his post-heartbreak hang-ups ("Do you ever get the fear that you can't shift the tide that sticks around like something's in your teeth?"). Maybe this time he broke the heart of this rebound girl, who he is now actually genuinely longing for. That's what this song's about.+
She was hoping for more; he was just trying to fill the hole his broken heart left, and that selfishness hurt her in the process. But he wants her for real now, and he's hoping that she still wants him ("So have you got the guts? Been wondering if your hearts still open..").
The song gives too many hints that the person he wants to crawl back to isn't the one who originally broke his heart. Why would he ask the old lover if her heart is still open? Why would he flirt with her ("simmer down and pucker up.") And mostly: why would he say "we could be together if you wanted to"? He's asking the new girl this, not the old lover.
I love how the whole song is a clever way of him begging her to give him another chance. It's very coy. He says "was sort of hoping that you'd stay" and in this confession he admits that "the night's were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow." He's not trying to make excuses, but he regrets how he originally treated her. He wants only her now! "...maybe I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody new. Now I've thought it through."
Also, I think he actually says "so have you got the goods?" Not guts, lol. With his amazing accent though, it's kind of hard to tell. My god. The song is barely a day old and I am addicted. Why.
Also, I think he actually says "so have you got the goods?" Not guts, lol. With his amazing accent though, it's kind of hard to tell. My god. The song is barely a day old and I am addicted. Why.
Yes, this is a song about wanting someone back. But not like that. This is a heartbroken person, but he's finally ready to move on without baggage.
He was hurt, and you get the feeling that he tried to move on with someone, but it did not end well because of his post-heartbreak hang-ups ("Do you ever get the fear that you can't shift the tide that sticks around like something's in your teeth?"). Maybe this time he broke the heart of this rebound girl, who he is now actually genuinely longing for. That's what this song's about.+
She was hoping for more; he was just trying to fill the hole his broken heart left, and that selfishness hurt her in the process. But he wants her for real now, and he's hoping that she still wants him ("So have you got the guts? Been wondering if your hearts still open..").
The song gives too many hints that the person he wants to crawl back to isn't the one who originally broke his heart. Why would he ask the old lover if her heart is still open? Why would he flirt with her ("simmer down and pucker up.") And mostly: why would he say "we could be together if you wanted to"? He's asking the new girl this, not the old lover.
I love how the whole song is a clever way of him begging her to give him another chance. It's very coy. He says "was sort of hoping that you'd stay" and in this confession he admits that "the night's were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow." He's not trying to make excuses, but he regrets how he originally treated her. He wants only her now! "...maybe I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody new. Now I've thought it through."
Also, I think he actually says "so have you got the goods?" Not guts, lol. With his amazing accent though, it's kind of hard to tell. My god. The song is barely a day old and I am addicted. Why.
Also, I think he actually says "so have you got the goods?" Not guts, lol. With his amazing accent though, it's kind of hard to tell. My god. The song is barely a day old and I am addicted. Why.
I really like this interpretation. I have another, a bit more, I don't know, sinuous, explanation, with the basis on yours.
I really like this interpretation. I have another, a bit more, I don't know, sinuous, explanation, with the basis on yours.