Fascinating. I just stumbled upon this song and started listening to it on repeat for like a million times. I had my friend listen and he thought it was sad - about unrequited love. I guess I didn't analyze the lyrics at that point, was just really enjoying the song. But I feel that the line "Let me feel one more time what if feels like to feel / And break these calluses off me one more time" is very telling...
He's happy to be sitting outside heaven's door - away from her - just listening to her breathing. There's nowhere else he'd rather be. This, for him, is like a "starter kit" relationship. She IS keeping him at arm's length, but I don't get it being unrequited love, so much as her not being able to love him. She doesn't want to speak that night, like she's just spent, exhausted, or too angry to speak - not about him but something else. But this suits him quite well ... he doesn't want a thing from her. As it is now, he's still "calloused" hardened and even if she were more accessible, she'd probably not be able to get to him.
All in all, I think the song is about him emerging and starting to the feel the effects of love again, but he's not ready, and she's not ready, but he's getting his heart going again, and where he's at right now is perfect, he's not even back to sanity right now, so why would he want to be deeply entrenched in a relationship now anyway? Whatever she gives / doesn't give is all right with him, because she's giving him an opportunity to expect love. He's listening to her breathing, which is proof that love exists, even if it's not yet being totally embraced.
Fascinating. I just stumbled upon this song and started listening to it on repeat for like a million times. I had my friend listen and he thought it was sad - about unrequited love. I guess I didn't analyze the lyrics at that point, was just really enjoying the song. But I feel that the line "Let me feel one more time what if feels like to feel / And break these calluses off me one more time" is very telling...
He's happy to be sitting outside heaven's door - away from her - just listening to her breathing. There's nowhere else he'd rather be. This, for him, is like a "starter kit" relationship. She IS keeping him at arm's length, but I don't get it being unrequited love, so much as her not being able to love him. She doesn't want to speak that night, like she's just spent, exhausted, or too angry to speak - not about him but something else. But this suits him quite well ... he doesn't want a thing from her. As it is now, he's still "calloused" hardened and even if she were more accessible, she'd probably not be able to get to him.
All in all, I think the song is about him emerging and starting to the feel the effects of love again, but he's not ready, and she's not ready, but he's getting his heart going again, and where he's at right now is perfect, he's not even back to sanity right now, so why would he want to be deeply entrenched in a relationship now anyway? Whatever she gives / doesn't give is all right with him, because she's giving him an opportunity to expect love. He's listening to her breathing, which is proof that love exists, even if it's not yet being totally embraced.