I hadn't researched this at all when I wrote this, so I don't know what it's actually about. I feel like this interpretation fits pretty well except for a piece or two. This has reminded me of a situation I was in that was very frustrating with a girl where everything was right but I couldn't give her the time she wanted and it caused me to back out because I couldn't bare to go on and her never be truly happy.
Ain't that the way it always starts
A simple round of conversation
Became a shameful equation
I flipped you station to station
A relationship starting and morphing into something painful.
When the troubles came, the writer tries to find what is the base of the problems.
Hey, don't go and turn the other way
Don't say there's nothing more to say
Come on, hear me out, hush, hush, settle down
Button up don't make a sound
As he’s sifting through all these things in his mind, he’s trying to talk them out with the partner. It’s turmoil for the other person, not knowing why the writer is even having problems. He keeps asking for the partner to just stick around while he figures it out.
Shame, shame, go away
Come again some other day
You used to say I couldn't save you enough
So I've been savin' it up, I started savin' it up
It’s hurtful to the writer that he’s stirring the pot—in his mind, he doesn’t know whether the problems are real, or whether he’s just making them up. Finally, he suspects that his partner is expecting too much of him: time, attention, energy…
And when you said I couldn't give you enough,
I started givin' you up, I started givin' you up
You are not me, Arlandria, Arlandria,
You and what army, Arlandria, Arlandria
Oh God you gotta make it stop
And he realizes the terrible truth of it all. If he just gives her the time she wants, he wouldn’t be happy. If he keeps going on without changing anything, he knows she’ll be unhappy. The only option is to just draw away entirely. He’s frustrated now, they’re different people, he’s been trapped into this position by her, and he needs her to be more realistic.
Chase all of those memories away
Save them all for another day
Don't you remember it was rain that drowned you
This line could be about her or him. (if her): her past has caused her to be the way she is now, and reminds her that it will cause problems again, like in the past with whomever else. (if him): he’s frustrated with himself and just wants to forget about the relationship. His ill perception is what got him there, and he needs to remember to cast it away.
Wait, I wanna see if you can change
I wanna keep all I can take
I feel much better now
Use me up, spit me out, let me be your hand-me-down
Fame, fame, go away, come again some other day
This is pleading with the situation. He decides to give it a shot again, maybe she can lower her expectations. He’s a little reckless now: I’ll handle anything on my end, let’s just try this. He’s frustrated with fame and all of other life’s distractions, if they weren’t there they might not be having problems.
You used to say I couldn't save you enough
So I've been savin' it up, I started savin' it up
And when you said I couldn't give you enough
I started givin' you up, I started givin' you up
You are not me, Arlandria, Arlandria
You and what army, Arlandria, Arlandria
Oh God you gotta make it stop
This is the same as concept as when he decided he had to draw away (above).
My sweet Virginia
I'm the same as I was in your arm
My sweet Virginia
I'm the same as I was in your arm
I’m not sure. Maybe he’s things are getting rocky again and he wants to remind her he’s the same as he was in the past.
Shame, shame go away, come again some other day
Memories keep haunting me, help me chase them all away
Hush, now, settle down, button up, don't make a sound
Close your eyes, turn around, help me burn this to the ground
Come now, take the blame, that's OK I'll play the game
I don't care it's all the same, watch it all go up in flames
Use me up, spit me out, let me be your hand-me-down
Fame, fame, go away, come again some other day
He’s lost his will now and he’s pissed at the situation—relationship, aspiration, haunting memories.
You used to say I couldn't save you enough
So I've been savin' it up, I started savin' it up
And when you said I couldn't give you enough
I started givin' you up, I started givin' you up
You are not me, Arlandria, Arlandria
You and what army, Arlandria, Arlandria
Oh God you gotta make it stop
My sweet Virginia
Oh God you gotta make it stop
My sweet Virginia
Oh God you gotta make it stop
He’s pleading for the situation to stop.
I hadn't researched this at all when I wrote this, so I don't know what it's actually about. I feel like this interpretation fits pretty well except for a piece or two. This has reminded me of a situation I was in that was very frustrating with a girl where everything was right but I couldn't give her the time she wanted and it caused me to back out because I couldn't bare to go on and her never be truly happy.
Ain't that the way it always starts A simple round of conversation Became a shameful equation I flipped you station to station A relationship starting and morphing into something painful. When the troubles came, the writer tries to find what is the base of the problems.
Hey, don't go and turn the other way Don't say there's nothing more to say Come on, hear me out, hush, hush, settle down Button up don't make a sound As he’s sifting through all these things in his mind, he’s trying to talk them out with the partner. It’s turmoil for the other person, not knowing why the writer is even having problems. He keeps asking for the partner to just stick around while he figures it out.
Shame, shame, go away Come again some other day You used to say I couldn't save you enough So I've been savin' it up, I started savin' it up
It’s hurtful to the writer that he’s stirring the pot—in his mind, he doesn’t know whether the problems are real, or whether he’s just making them up. Finally, he suspects that his partner is expecting too much of him: time, attention, energy…
And when you said I couldn't give you enough, I started givin' you up, I started givin' you up You are not me, Arlandria, Arlandria, You and what army, Arlandria, Arlandria Oh God you gotta make it stop
And he realizes the terrible truth of it all. If he just gives her the time she wants, he wouldn’t be happy. If he keeps going on without changing anything, he knows she’ll be unhappy. The only option is to just draw away entirely. He’s frustrated now, they’re different people, he’s been trapped into this position by her, and he needs her to be more realistic.
Chase all of those memories away Save them all for another day Don't you remember it was rain that drowned you
This line could be about her or him. (if her): her past has caused her to be the way she is now, and reminds her that it will cause problems again, like in the past with whomever else. (if him): he’s frustrated with himself and just wants to forget about the relationship. His ill perception is what got him there, and he needs to remember to cast it away.
Wait, I wanna see if you can change I wanna keep all I can take I feel much better now Use me up, spit me out, let me be your hand-me-down Fame, fame, go away, come again some other day
This is pleading with the situation. He decides to give it a shot again, maybe she can lower her expectations. He’s a little reckless now: I’ll handle anything on my end, let’s just try this. He’s frustrated with fame and all of other life’s distractions, if they weren’t there they might not be having problems.
You used to say I couldn't save you enough So I've been savin' it up, I started savin' it up And when you said I couldn't give you enough I started givin' you up, I started givin' you up You are not me, Arlandria, Arlandria You and what army, Arlandria, Arlandria Oh God you gotta make it stop
This is the same as concept as when he decided he had to draw away (above). My sweet Virginia I'm the same as I was in your arm My sweet Virginia I'm the same as I was in your arm
I’m not sure. Maybe he’s things are getting rocky again and he wants to remind her he’s the same as he was in the past.
Shame, shame go away, come again some other day Memories keep haunting me, help me chase them all away Hush, now, settle down, button up, don't make a sound Close your eyes, turn around, help me burn this to the ground Come now, take the blame, that's OK I'll play the game I don't care it's all the same, watch it all go up in flames Use me up, spit me out, let me be your hand-me-down Fame, fame, go away, come again some other day
He’s lost his will now and he’s pissed at the situation—relationship, aspiration, haunting memories.
You used to say I couldn't save you enough So I've been savin' it up, I started savin' it up And when you said I couldn't give you enough I started givin' you up, I started givin' you up You are not me, Arlandria, Arlandria You and what army, Arlandria, Arlandria Oh God you gotta make it stop
My sweet Virginia Oh God you gotta make it stop My sweet Virginia Oh God you gotta make it stop He’s pleading for the situation to stop.