The song isn't about drugs... MrBrightside's analysis is pretty spot on.
"Like I didn't know it
Choking on the pulp of it
Semper fi"
He's known that the relationship was going to end for a while... Pulp is what remains when objects, most likely plants or fruits, are broken down. The relationship is destroyed and it's making him feel awful.
Semper fi is Latin for always faithful... He's aware this relationship won't work ever, but he can't help but go back to her every time. He's faithful to a fault.
"You kept me on your long line
Tugging in the whole time
Keep shining on"
They've broken up, but she keeps him "on the hook" as a backup plan if her current plans don't work out. Every now and then she'll "tug on the line" and make him think there's a chance of them getting back together.
"And that silent head grip
Can't do it no more"
He feels like she has him in a headlock, figuratively... He can't let her go. Eventually he's had enough and puts his foot down.
"The honey bin
The bunny's in
Is telling you there's a countdown
Oh, damn your eyes"
This is Justin presumably telling her off... "Honey bin, the bunny's in". He's saying he's fed up (Think along the lines of someone "throwing the towel in"). The "countdown" is him telling her that there's a limited time the relationship can be sustainable. "Oh, damn your eyes"... He's second guessing this whole thing now. He's obviously attracted to her and is having trouble sticking to his plan about this.
"To add that one a long time
Sitting on a strip line
Said it will be a tall climb"
They agree to try and get back together... They say this time it's going to work and last, but there's going to be a lot of hard work. It will be a "tall climb".
"Said that we could go back
Said that we could go find
Terra-forming!
Said that you were coke blind
Drinking in dramnesic
Tore out at the comrade"
She has second thoughts about trying again... "Said that we could go back; Said that we could go find". She originally said yes and then changed her mind. A terra is a habitat that can sustain life... He said that they agreed to try and find a way to make the relationship work and be sustainable.
Don't know if "coke-blind" is referring to being on cocaine or referring to coke bottle glasses, meaning she didn't see that the relationship wasn't going to work at first. Dramnesic is synonymous with amnesia... Justin is saying she told him that she could forget anything that happened in their past relationships and start fresh. By breaking all of her promises to him, she lost him as a friend as well.
"That Ticonderoga's shit
Made my mind and my heart all split up over
The floor of the jackpot
There's a floor to the jackpot
Where'd you rise?"
Fort Ticonderoga is a famous fort from the Revolutionary War... He's talking about it in reference to her shutting him out. She locked her emotions behind a fort. This caused him a lot of pain and confusion.
The two "jackpot" lines refer to his thoughts of her and their relationship at the end as compared to the beginning. Talking about the jackpot in general means that he was very happy in the beginning... He had "hit the jackpot". As the relationship proceeds, he starts to see his jackpot dwindle... Until he hits the bottom of the pot, meaning their relationship is no longer valuable to him. His repeating of the line "There's a floor to the jackpot" is really him talking to himself in a questioning manner. He's almost in disbelief that there would be an end to his "jackpot".
"They say you ain't a comrade
Still, I'd know you'd come back
For a folly-ridden Romeo, you break down a fortress now
Standing out in public
Stained with your conscience"
Justin's presumably talking about his friends telling him that she was no good... That she wasn't treating him well, but he obviously thinks of her in a way different light than they do. He thinks that she will notice how much he loves her and will come back.
She does come back to him... Publicly saying she messed up. But he thinks she is only doing it because she's guilty.
"I know that you love me
You are just lawless, son"
In my opinion... This is the girl trying to pin their relationship issues on Justin. Saying their breaking up was somehow his fault. This leads him to his breaking point and his lashing out in the last verse.
"Give it another fortnight
Eye to eye the culprit
Just rid the fucking pulpit
I ain't giving you another full ride
Underneath the combine
Said it didn't bump you right
Habitual falling right?"
He's trying to convince himself to see her again in a couple weeks and maybe he'll feel differently than he does now... Angry. He decides it's really over and that he's not going to do that. A pulpit is another word for a podium or "soap-box"... He's telling her to stop trying to explain her way out of this and accept it's over. He isn't going to give the relationship another try.
A combine is another word for a tractor or heavy farming equipment... He's saying he has been trapped underneath the heavy equipment... Aka he was in a lot of pain. I think the line "Said it didn't bump you right" should have a question mark at the end... I think this is Justin asking her why she wasn't in as much pain as he was. He then follows up with another question, "Habitual falling, right?"... Justin is basically saying that she was under the impression that he would always fall back in love with her. But he's done for good now.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
"Justin" isn't saying any of these things. Justin is just the singer. These aren't Justin's lyrics. Not upset, just clerical. Give credit where credit is due.
"Justin" isn't saying any of these things. Justin is just the singer. These aren't Justin's lyrics. Not upset, just clerical. Give credit where credit is due.
The song isn't about drugs... MrBrightside's analysis is pretty spot on.
"Like I didn't know it Choking on the pulp of it Semper fi"
He's known that the relationship was going to end for a while... Pulp is what remains when objects, most likely plants or fruits, are broken down. The relationship is destroyed and it's making him feel awful.
Semper fi is Latin for always faithful... He's aware this relationship won't work ever, but he can't help but go back to her every time. He's faithful to a fault.
"You kept me on your long line Tugging in the whole time Keep shining on"
They've broken up, but she keeps him "on the hook" as a backup plan if her current plans don't work out. Every now and then she'll "tug on the line" and make him think there's a chance of them getting back together.
"And that silent head grip Can't do it no more"
He feels like she has him in a headlock, figuratively... He can't let her go. Eventually he's had enough and puts his foot down.
"The honey bin The bunny's in Is telling you there's a countdown Oh, damn your eyes"
This is Justin presumably telling her off... "Honey bin, the bunny's in". He's saying he's fed up (Think along the lines of someone "throwing the towel in"). The "countdown" is him telling her that there's a limited time the relationship can be sustainable. "Oh, damn your eyes"... He's second guessing this whole thing now. He's obviously attracted to her and is having trouble sticking to his plan about this.
"To add that one a long time Sitting on a strip line Said it will be a tall climb"
They agree to try and get back together... They say this time it's going to work and last, but there's going to be a lot of hard work. It will be a "tall climb".
"Said that we could go back Said that we could go find Terra-forming! Said that you were coke blind Drinking in dramnesic Tore out at the comrade"
She has second thoughts about trying again... "Said that we could go back; Said that we could go find". She originally said yes and then changed her mind. A terra is a habitat that can sustain life... He said that they agreed to try and find a way to make the relationship work and be sustainable.
Don't know if "coke-blind" is referring to being on cocaine or referring to coke bottle glasses, meaning she didn't see that the relationship wasn't going to work at first. Dramnesic is synonymous with amnesia... Justin is saying she told him that she could forget anything that happened in their past relationships and start fresh. By breaking all of her promises to him, she lost him as a friend as well.
"That Ticonderoga's shit Made my mind and my heart all split up over The floor of the jackpot There's a floor to the jackpot Where'd you rise?"
Fort Ticonderoga is a famous fort from the Revolutionary War... He's talking about it in reference to her shutting him out. She locked her emotions behind a fort. This caused him a lot of pain and confusion.
The two "jackpot" lines refer to his thoughts of her and their relationship at the end as compared to the beginning. Talking about the jackpot in general means that he was very happy in the beginning... He had "hit the jackpot". As the relationship proceeds, he starts to see his jackpot dwindle... Until he hits the bottom of the pot, meaning their relationship is no longer valuable to him. His repeating of the line "There's a floor to the jackpot" is really him talking to himself in a questioning manner. He's almost in disbelief that there would be an end to his "jackpot".
"They say you ain't a comrade Still, I'd know you'd come back For a folly-ridden Romeo, you break down a fortress now Standing out in public Stained with your conscience"
Justin's presumably talking about his friends telling him that she was no good... That she wasn't treating him well, but he obviously thinks of her in a way different light than they do. He thinks that she will notice how much he loves her and will come back.
She does come back to him... Publicly saying she messed up. But he thinks she is only doing it because she's guilty.
"I know that you love me You are just lawless, son"
In my opinion... This is the girl trying to pin their relationship issues on Justin. Saying their breaking up was somehow his fault. This leads him to his breaking point and his lashing out in the last verse.
"Give it another fortnight Eye to eye the culprit Just rid the fucking pulpit I ain't giving you another full ride Underneath the combine Said it didn't bump you right Habitual falling right?"
He's trying to convince himself to see her again in a couple weeks and maybe he'll feel differently than he does now... Angry. He decides it's really over and that he's not going to do that. A pulpit is another word for a podium or "soap-box"... He's telling her to stop trying to explain her way out of this and accept it's over. He isn't going to give the relationship another try.
A combine is another word for a tractor or heavy farming equipment... He's saying he has been trapped underneath the heavy equipment... Aka he was in a lot of pain. I think the line "Said it didn't bump you right" should have a question mark at the end... I think this is Justin asking her why she wasn't in as much pain as he was. He then follows up with another question, "Habitual falling, right?"... Justin is basically saying that she was under the impression that he would always fall back in love with her. But he's done for good now.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to agree with ThHeretic on this one. The more I sit and indulge in Vernon's lyrics, the more I see how many references he makes towards drugs, especially in the way that the actual music itself pans out. But, as someone mentioned earlier, it's all about the perspective of the listener. Every opinion matters here, mate.
"Justin" isn't saying any of these things. Justin is just the singer. These aren't Justin's lyrics. Not upset, just clerical. Give credit where credit is due.
"Justin" isn't saying any of these things. Justin is just the singer. These aren't Justin's lyrics. Not upset, just clerical. Give credit where credit is due.
@milesaway,
@milesaway,
From reading this interview (http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/9202-volcano-choir/) it seems Justin is very much involved in the writing process, if not entirely his doing.
From reading this interview (http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/9202-volcano-choir/) it seems Justin is very much involved in the writing process, if not entirely his doing.
Just clerical. From reading that interview, and many others... It seems I have given credit where credit is due.
Just clerical. From reading that interview, and many others... It seems I have given credit where credit is due.
@milesaway,
@milesaway,
From reading this interview (http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/9202-volcano-choir/) it seems Justin is very much involved in the writing process, if not entirely his doing.
From reading this interview (http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/9202-volcano-choir/) it seems Justin is very much involved in the writing process, if not entirely his doing.
Just clerical. From reading that interview, and many others... It seems I have given credit where credit is due.
Just clerical. From reading that interview, and many others... It seems I have given credit where credit is due.