Science vs. Romance

I don't know, i think this one is about a long distance relationship. In the first verse, she sings about how she thought that a long distance relationship was ok because life is short and she needs love, but then realzed that it's just not enough. Then she says that she had a good time with her bf, but now she wants something more than just phone talking or emails (i think it's more about emails because of the zeros and ones). Those crash sites and stuff is when she wonders at night if she should break up with him or stay (It splits in two/ Directly underneath you). Then she sings how it was such a great experience and she will remember it even though her bf might not, the "you've grown up and over me" part sounds like his bf is becoming distant and that's another fact that leads her to end the relationship. In the next verse, she remembers how they used to spend nights talking online ("Chainlink and metres/I talk to you"), and she could go outside or something but she stayed home because being with him she felt a little less alone. The final part of the song is about how she accept the fact that even if she wants to love him, it wont work because of the distance (Facts vs. Romance) and that you can't truly love somenone online because "we're not robots inside a grid" so we need some kind of human contact. In the last line, i imagine she finally sent her break up message, and email or something like that, hence the zeroes and ones. I also think this is somehow connected with "Wires and waves" (There are oceans and waves and wires between us). But that's just my take on the song and it could be wrong :P.

any song with robots in it certainly wins the key to my heart.

It's called songmeanings.net for a reason, not songappreciation.net. Personally, I think this song has something to do with a long-distance/online relationship. The computers in communicating allows for the science bit, along with the cold hard facts of distance. The latter is causing them to grow apart. And romance? It's what she craves. This is definitely a theme song of mine. Although my explanation probably didn't make much sense...

midouw, I take my hat off to you, that explanation was brilliant! I also do think it's very closely connected to wires and waves.

The final verse definetly shows she's talking in some way about computers, and "It's cold out there, but I'm telling you / I'm lonely too" is where we know for sure it's about a long distance relationship.

What I don't know exactly is what she means when she talks about test sites and crash sites, I don't think she is literally refering to websites.

Anyhow, an amazing song in all its aspects. My favorite Rilo Kiley song.

Although the song is called "Science vs Romance", I don't think it's about choosing one over the other. Instead I feel its about how both exist in life and coming to terms with that contradiction.

Also I view romance and science in very broad terms, where romance = idealistic and science = realistic, and the struggle of the two.

The first verse is very romantic in the idealistic sense, and the line "Used to believe/In a lot more/Now I just see straight ahead" signifies an abandonment of the idealistic/romantic ways of thinking in favour of a more realistic/scientific perspective.

Jenny goes on to say "That's not to say/I don't have good times", suggesting that although everyone seems to think a more scientific/realistic way of life is colder, it has suited her just as fine as a romantic life could have. However, she spends her days "waiting", meaning science is not the only thing out there for her.

The chorus, where she sings "Crash sites keep me up at night", also suggests that although she is more scientific/realistic now, she has not grown cold and inhuman - she is affected by pain.

"As for those things/That act as markers in your life/But in between you can't remember" This line seems to elude to large milestones people often romanticize and build up, and how they obscure the little things that aren't planned. I viewed it as a struggle between the romanticized things people think you should have and the scientific/realistic view that life goes on and that the little everyday things measure your life as well, even if they are forgotten.

"And so it seems/That you've grown up and over me/And these silly things I like to dwell on" - She used to view things romantically/ideally, but a relationship changed that for her, she realized the romanticized things in her life were not necessarily what she wanted, and rather the details were the finer things in life.

"Facts versus romance/You go and call yourself the boss" - This is up for interpretation as to who the boss is, what the facts are, etc. To me, I see it as her looking at the person who got over her and comparing the facts of the relationship to the idealized version of romance in general.

"Still we're not robots inside a grid" - Science imagery, but I think it also points to the events people romanticize in their lives - the big milestones and how great they're supposed to be. We're not all going to follow orders and live out exactly as we are programmed to like robots are, we choose our own paths and those milestones people think everyone should have - graduation/wedding/honeymoon etc. are not for everyone.

"Zeroes and ones" - Binary. I think it's pointing to more of a social binary, where people see others as fitting in certain boxes, while identity is not that easy to sort out, and as a result neither is a choice between Science and Romance, in the sense of living your life realistically or ideally. It's not that simple.

this song keeps me up at night. I can listen to this over and over all night.

"that's not to say i don't have good times, but as for my days i spend them waiting." WOW. how perfect does that express my feelings that i can never describe..i am now jealous of this band.

i am currently addicted to his song.. and the beautiful thing about it is that is gets better with every listen.

this is hard core one of the most bitchin songs ever. serisouly, because not only is it totally sweet, but it sums up how i feel about a lot of stuff. "That's not to say/I don't have good times/But as for my days/I spend them waiting "...exactly

good song. thats all there is to it. good song.