think obstacle2 really hit the nail on the head.. The song seems to be about the singer being 110% aware and explicit that he wants (and needs) to be "out" of this relationship he's in (for whatever reason[s]). Whether a relationship was a great and genuine or one with many bumps along the way, breakups are inevitable (but, easier said than DONE). The singer doesn't seem to be all that upset personally about (the-near-future) breakup, but is about "the talk" and how this will impact the girlfriend at that moment and down the road (maybe he knows her demons, how she reacts to stress, her lack of self-confidence. whatever it may be). There's always a party that cares more, and will be impacted/broken down more psychologically.
When Parker explains (or practices explaining) the summary after the blow... ("But I know that I'll be happier....and I know you will, too.....EVENTUALLY"), it's a double-edged sword. It could be a gulping cop-out (not in an asshole-way, but more or less a courtesy call), knowing he has to put a "positive" spin on making this other person feel shitty. But on the flip side, it's also a "hey, I know life will go on, this sucks now, but I genuinely know you deserve better and WILL be happier by yourself or with somebody else".
Also, Parke describes his own take/feelings about the song in an interview (on Stereogum.com)
http://www.stereogum.com/1795134/tame-impala-hope-people-dont-think-cause-im-a-man-is-sexist/news/:
"The song is about knowing that you’re about to damage someone almost irreparably, and the only consolation you get is this distant hope that they’ll be alright eventually, because you know they aren’t going to be now or soon. It’s like “Fuck!” . . . I guess I can’t really deny [that it’s a breakup song], but at the same time I like songs to be ambiguous. I hate to say that a song is about this and you must interpret it this way, because one of the cool things is to hear someone’s interpretation of one of your songs that’s completely different. That’s when you feel like you’ve done something that belongs not just to you. That’s when you feel like your music belongs to the world".
The last stanza also sort of jars you back into the present moment. Although we might think the singer is recalling the breakup (or in the very midst of saying these words), it doesn't seem like he's actually even initiated "the talk" yet - the first lines of the last stanza stress "And I know just what I've got to do / And it's got to be soon") suggests that he's still in the process of ruminating over how/when he'll do it; he knows these feelings/thoughts are building up inside within him and "[the breakup talk has] got to be soon). He is worried about how it'll REALLY ) go. Right now all the right phrases of "what to say" are merely swimming inside his mind. The word "eventually" holds hope (and ironically, despair) at the same time. The singer is yearning for the former for his future ex.
think obstacle2 really hit the nail on the head.. The song seems to be about the singer being 110% aware and explicit that he wants (and needs) to be "out" of this relationship he's in (for whatever reason[s]). Whether a relationship was a great and genuine or one with many bumps along the way, breakups are inevitable (but, easier said than DONE). The singer doesn't seem to be all that upset personally about (the-near-future) breakup, but is about "the talk" and how this will impact the girlfriend at that moment and down the road (maybe he knows her demons, how she reacts to stress, her lack of self-confidence. whatever it may be). There's always a party that cares more, and will be impacted/broken down more psychologically. When Parker explains (or practices explaining) the summary after the blow... ("But I know that I'll be happier....and I know you will, too.....EVENTUALLY"), it's a double-edged sword. It could be a gulping cop-out (not in an asshole-way, but more or less a courtesy call), knowing he has to put a "positive" spin on making this other person feel shitty. But on the flip side, it's also a "hey, I know life will go on, this sucks now, but I genuinely know you deserve better and WILL be happier by yourself or with somebody else".
Also, Parke describes his own take/feelings about the song in an interview (on Stereogum.com)
http://www.stereogum.com/1795134/tame-impala-hope-people-dont-think-cause-im-a-man-is-sexist/news/: "The song is about knowing that you’re about to damage someone almost irreparably, and the only consolation you get is this distant hope that they’ll be alright eventually, because you know they aren’t going to be now or soon. It’s like “Fuck!” . . . I guess I can’t really deny [that it’s a breakup song], but at the same time I like songs to be ambiguous. I hate to say that a song is about this and you must interpret it this way, because one of the cool things is to hear someone’s interpretation of one of your songs that’s completely different. That’s when you feel like you’ve done something that belongs not just to you. That’s when you feel like your music belongs to the world".
The last stanza also sort of jars you back into the present moment. Although we might think the singer is recalling the breakup (or in the very midst of saying these words), it doesn't seem like he's actually even initiated "the talk" yet - the first lines of the last stanza stress "And I know just what I've got to do / And it's got to be soon") suggests that he's still in the process of ruminating over how/when he'll do it; he knows these feelings/thoughts are building up inside within him and "[the breakup talk has] got to be soon). He is worried about how it'll REALLY ) go. Right now all the right phrases of "what to say" are merely swimming inside his mind. The word "eventually" holds hope (and ironically, despair) at the same time. The singer is yearning for the former for his future ex.