The Museum of Broken Relationships Lyrics

Lyric discussion by nutshell02 

Cover art for The Museum of Broken Relationships lyrics by Veruca Salt

Veruca Salt makes references to songs/music in their songs. I wanted to add a comment to "The Museum of Broken Relationships" because I like to think the line "Jubilation he loves me again" is a reference to "Cecilia" by Simon and Garfunkel, in which they sing "Jubilation, she loves me again." In a way, "The Museum of Broken Relationships" could be seen as one response/answer to "Cecilia."

"The Museum of Broken Relationships" sounds like classic Nina + Louise. Nina's voice with attitude, Louise's harmony and bridge (?), Nina's "hoo-ooh," the sliding bar/barre chords, the solid bass, and tight drums. It's a fun song to play on guitar and isn't too difficult (a song doesn't need to be hard to play to be great).

Interviews exist explaining the song, but I would feel remiss in not including a meaning on songmeanings. There is an original, actual, physical Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb, Croatia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Broken_Relationships, http://brokenships.com/). Since the wrote this song, there is now a Museum in Los Angeles.

"Garden of rejection" is a great turn of phrase, as gardens are generally places of life, growth, death and rebirth as contrasted with rejection. But gardens are also where people can go to commune (with nature) and rejuvenate their spirit.

I take as an implication that a "relic" contains and is imbued with a (good) memory and emotion that needs to be shared, perhaps to help others, share a common humanity, convey a story or lesson, and then let go. Maybe the new piece will be important to someone else or to a collection, but it is no longer yours, you're giving it away, and moving on. It's being offered up to others and being locked behind the door. "Jubilation, he loves me again" and "I don't care" portray "lock the door" as both a literal door and the door to the possibility of reopening the relationship. Besides, you're better off without the "cheater, a bottom feeder." Keeping "a lock of his hair" would be gross.

I've heard of people throwing away or even burning relics of an old relationship. The Museum is different than that.

My Opinion