This song seems to very clearly be about Ben Gibbard's divorce from wife Zooey Deschanel. Below are the lyrical give-aways:
"There is whiskey in the water/And there is death upon the vine"
This line points to the withering and death of their relationship.
"And there is 'yours' and there is 'mine' "
This line suggests that there is no longer an "us", but instead only the separation of the two.
"There is a desert veiled in pavement/And there's a city of seven hills/And all our debris flows to the ocean/To meet again I hope it will"
The desert veiled in pavement refers to the hometown of Deschanel: Los Angeles (Santa Monica). The city of seven hills is a term associated with Seattle, Washington, the home of Ben Gibbard. The following two lines suggest that their lives have been torn apart and separated, but that he hopes they will come back together some day.
"How could something so fair/ Be so cruel/ When this black sun revolved/ Around you"
A translation of this chorus could be "How could something so beautiful be so cruel when my life revolved around you". Ben Gibbard is often referred to as a dark soul. He even considers himself to be a dark person. This would make it very easy for him to consider himself a "dark sun". He could not simply state that he was a "sun" revolving around her, because that would be too bright and happy to describe himself.
"There is a role of a lifetime/ And there's a song yet to be sung"
This lyric seems to refer to Deschanel's acting career taking off at the same time as Ben Gibbard gaining wider success with his music. The "song yet to be sung" lyric could also refer to Deschanel's musical career.
"And there's a dumpster in the driveway/ Of all the plans that came undone"
This line seems to speak very literally about their separation as a couple, causing them to move apart from each other and throw away mementos and memories from their lives together.
"And there is grace within forgiveness/ But it's so hard for me to find"\
This line seems to speak to Gibbard attempting to find a way to forgive Deschanel for leaving him, but finding a major struggle in this effort. It is known that Deschanel is the one who filed for divorce, so it is easy to see that Ben is the one that feels betrayed.
These lyrics are not as simple as people seem to think.
@gk10 I've lurked on this site for years. Finally I've registered, because I've finally read an interpretation that was impossible to resist responding to.
@gk10 I've lurked on this site for years. Finally I've registered, because I've finally read an interpretation that was impossible to resist responding to.
I think you nailed it; it's every hunch I had about the meaning of this song, in far greater depth than my hunches could reach. I look forward to more of your insights.
I think you nailed it; it's every hunch I had about the meaning of this song, in far greater depth than my hunches could reach. I look forward to more of your insights.
@gk10 I definitely agree, but I'd just note that there seem to be some parallels between his lyrics and the Book of Revelations in the Bible:
"...the seven hills where the woman rules..."
"...The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair..."
I don't know if he intended any of this, but his lyrical cadence seems almost biblical. Plus, it feels like an 'end of the world' prophesy would be fitting for a soul-crushing breakup.
@gk10 I definitely agree, but I'd just note that there seem to be some parallels between his lyrics and the Book of Revelations in the Bible:
"...the seven hills where the woman rules..."
"...The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair..."
I don't know if he intended any of this, but his lyrical cadence seems almost biblical. Plus, it feels like an 'end of the world' prophesy would be fitting for a soul-crushing breakup.
This song seems to very clearly be about Ben Gibbard's divorce from wife Zooey Deschanel. Below are the lyrical give-aways:
"There is whiskey in the water/And there is death upon the vine" This line points to the withering and death of their relationship.
"And there is 'yours' and there is 'mine' " This line suggests that there is no longer an "us", but instead only the separation of the two.
"There is a desert veiled in pavement/And there's a city of seven hills/And all our debris flows to the ocean/To meet again I hope it will" The desert veiled in pavement refers to the hometown of Deschanel: Los Angeles (Santa Monica). The city of seven hills is a term associated with Seattle, Washington, the home of Ben Gibbard. The following two lines suggest that their lives have been torn apart and separated, but that he hopes they will come back together some day.
"How could something so fair/ Be so cruel/ When this black sun revolved/ Around you" A translation of this chorus could be "How could something so beautiful be so cruel when my life revolved around you". Ben Gibbard is often referred to as a dark soul. He even considers himself to be a dark person. This would make it very easy for him to consider himself a "dark sun". He could not simply state that he was a "sun" revolving around her, because that would be too bright and happy to describe himself.
"There is a role of a lifetime/ And there's a song yet to be sung" This lyric seems to refer to Deschanel's acting career taking off at the same time as Ben Gibbard gaining wider success with his music. The "song yet to be sung" lyric could also refer to Deschanel's musical career.
"And there's a dumpster in the driveway/ Of all the plans that came undone" This line seems to speak very literally about their separation as a couple, causing them to move apart from each other and throw away mementos and memories from their lives together.
"And there is grace within forgiveness/ But it's so hard for me to find"\ This line seems to speak to Gibbard attempting to find a way to forgive Deschanel for leaving him, but finding a major struggle in this effort. It is known that Deschanel is the one who filed for divorce, so it is easy to see that Ben is the one that feels betrayed.
These lyrics are not as simple as people seem to think.
@gk10 I've lurked on this site for years. Finally I've registered, because I've finally read an interpretation that was impossible to resist responding to.
@gk10 I've lurked on this site for years. Finally I've registered, because I've finally read an interpretation that was impossible to resist responding to.
I think you nailed it; it's every hunch I had about the meaning of this song, in far greater depth than my hunches could reach. I look forward to more of your insights.
I think you nailed it; it's every hunch I had about the meaning of this song, in far greater depth than my hunches could reach. I look forward to more of your insights.
@gk10 I definitely agree, but I'd just note that there seem to be some parallels between his lyrics and the Book of Revelations in the Bible: "...the seven hills where the woman rules..." "...The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair..." I don't know if he intended any of this, but his lyrical cadence seems almost biblical. Plus, it feels like an 'end of the world' prophesy would be fitting for a soul-crushing breakup.
@gk10 I definitely agree, but I'd just note that there seem to be some parallels between his lyrics and the Book of Revelations in the Bible: "...the seven hills where the woman rules..." "...The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair..." I don't know if he intended any of this, but his lyrical cadence seems almost biblical. Plus, it feels like an 'end of the world' prophesy would be fitting for a soul-crushing breakup.