Poke

"I might never catch a mouse and present in my mouth" i think that could be a reference to an animal, or a metaphor for the relationship. Cat's bring their loved ones/owners presents (dead mice) which are usually rejected and thrown away. Human's don't appreciate them, because their needs are not compatible just a thought.

Great song. I think its about looking back at a relationship that was beautiful but toxic and once you get past the rose colored glasses you know that its best in the past.

To me, this song is about a relationship where the passion is just gone. They still care for one another too much to call it quits, but not enough to be happy together the way they used to be. The first time I heard this song, I got a little weepy and went and put on some "sexy clothes and graces" for my husband just in case we were heading that way ourselves.

this song is just beautiful. i love the lines: Well we can change our partners this is a progressive dance, But remember it was me who dragged you up to the sweaty floor. I think they mean that he pulled the girl out into the world of love and dating and that while she will meet others, he hopes she will always remember that he was the 1st.

I love the line "I'd say she was his sister, but she doesn't have his nose." It tells me that people may not know that they were in an intimate relationship ("navy knot with arms at night"), but they still can pick up that they are somehow connected.

I think it's more about a relationship that is in its final stages, but neither partner wants to admit that it's over. "Why won't our love keel over as it chokes on a bone?/We can mourn its passing and then bury it in snow." The relationship is over, it just won't die completely so that they can go their separate ways.

I agree with what you all think the song means, but for me I find different meaning in it too, I relate it to 2 people liking one another but they never talk about it, never discuss it, and this is the turmoil from one person, just wishing that they could talk...

Hmmartin2 - I kind of agree with you. I think its that type of couple who were going out for so long that they just can't break up or that are so right for each other that it wouldn't make sense for them to break up....but there's nothing there or nothing left to hang on to, and maybe with a bit of love-hate going on between them - sometimes they dont get on but they fancy the pants off each other and that kind of thing. May as well explain this by just going through the song - He's not upset about it, he can't cry & she doesn't want him to fancy her (sexy clothes reference.) They don't really talk anymore (language) and pursed lips makes it seem as though they are sort of bored and frustrated with each other. In the lines about the mouse I think he's trying to say he doesn't always try to show her how great he is (the way a cat does when it brings a mouse to its owner) or always prove that he's the person she should be with - maybe because they're so right for each other or he just can't be bothered. I like the lines But there's one thing we've got going and it's the only thing worth knowing. It's got lots to do with magnets and the pull of the moon. They are still attracted to each other - which makes it even tougher to break up. They don't know what to do about their love...to destroy it or let it destroy itself. "Why won't our love keel over...." etc. He's saying that they can let it fizzle out and get over it or they could get angry with it and each other. Either he is referring to a night they were at a dance with each other and using it as a metaphor for their relationship or he just uses the dance as a metaphor. These lines suggest they're a partying couple, get drunk and stoned all the time and maybe they've split up lots of times before and gone out with other people or cheated on each other? (changing partners?) But they forget about the bad bits and remember the good bits - like a drunken night, you only ever remember the good bits. The photo chorus is pretty clear I think (you would never know to look at them that they even loved each other at one point) and it seems as though they talk but aren't on great terms (like a sister). This annoys him because even though all the shit between them that they didn't like is gone, he never hated her and he never will. Just my opinion!!!

I worked in a factory when this album came out with a whole mess of surly strong bearded men, and while I was on the sublimator machine, they'd let me wear headphones. When I first heard this song, I started to cry (totally oblivious that they could all see me perfectly). When I looked up there was an enormous production worker staring at me like he was about to have to beat the masculinity back into me. I've tried since to get him to listen to the song but I think he fears he may start to cry to, and have to rethink his whole image. Just a funny story. To remain germane, this is also my favorite Frightened Rabbit song. Absolutely beautiful. Possibly the most relatable song for anyone who is having trouble letting go of their first/most significant relationship. "I hate when I feel like this, and I never hated you" is when the song finally drops all metaphor and just calls this terribly sad spade exactly that... and oh man, I just lost it. Thanks, FR for keeping songwriting intimate.

'Should look through some old photos I adored you in every one of those. If someone took a picture of us now they'd need to be told that we had ever clung and tied a navy knot with arms at night I'd say she was his sister but she doesn't have his nose. And now we're unrelated and rid of all the shit we hated, But I hate when I feel like this and I never hated you. ' This last bit breaks my heart. They've come apart and he feels the strong emotion against her, but he doesn't like it, and even though they have fought/are fighting, he never hated her.