It took me a few times of listening to realize this, but this song; as well as many of the Barenaked Ladies songs (that I've heard), is about drugs.
The singer is in love, but he doesn't feel like he deserves his girlfriend's love because he's helplessly addicted to some kind of drug. He feels guilty for hiding it from her ("in a book, in a box high upon a shelf in a locked and guarded vault"), and for the fact that he's wasting so much money he can't support them if they get married ("it's (poverty) your fate but it's not your fault"/"I would give you all I could ever give though it's less than you will need.")
But I could be wrong, since the REAL meaning is what YOU (the listener) think of it.
You're a listener as well, so that would mean your opinion is equally valid. However, I disagree. I think it's about someone who cannot open up to the person he likes and he isn't displaying his real self in public because he is too afraid to. He's afraid he might not be able to open up to anyone and truly be himself and he wonders if the woman he loves can accept this.
You're a listener as well, so that would mean your opinion is equally valid. However, I disagree. I think it's about someone who cannot open up to the person he likes and he isn't displaying his real self in public because he is too afraid to. He's afraid he might not be able to open up to anyone and truly be himself and he wonders if the woman he loves can accept this.
It took me a few times of listening to realize this, but this song; as well as many of the Barenaked Ladies songs (that I've heard), is about drugs.
The singer is in love, but he doesn't feel like he deserves his girlfriend's love because he's helplessly addicted to some kind of drug. He feels guilty for hiding it from her ("in a book, in a box high upon a shelf in a locked and guarded vault"), and for the fact that he's wasting so much money he can't support them if they get married ("it's (poverty) your fate but it's not your fault"/"I would give you all I could ever give though it's less than you will need.")
But I could be wrong, since the REAL meaning is what YOU (the listener) think of it.
You're a listener as well, so that would mean your opinion is equally valid. However, I disagree. I think it's about someone who cannot open up to the person he likes and he isn't displaying his real self in public because he is too afraid to. He's afraid he might not be able to open up to anyone and truly be himself and he wonders if the woman he loves can accept this.
You're a listener as well, so that would mean your opinion is equally valid. However, I disagree. I think it's about someone who cannot open up to the person he likes and he isn't displaying his real self in public because he is too afraid to. He's afraid he might not be able to open up to anyone and truly be himself and he wonders if the woman he loves can accept this.