Twisting

I see it as sort of like a friend telling the guy who got dumped not to worry, that she DOES want to see him again. Dead, swinging on the gallows pole (Hold it a little while).

See, I always saw this song as a metaphor for those relationships that never seem to end. We've all met this couple: they're together, they're broken up, they're together, they're broken up, repeat ad nauseum.

The couple keeps having this huge blowout breakup that involves the giving back or destroyal of property, and the guy gives up on her, only to discover she wants to see him again, they get back together, and the cycle continues.

This girl doesn't really like this guy (she destroys his stuff, is trying to kill him ("blew out your pilot light and made a wish" like DavidGrimmer said) and has even said so "she's not your satellite, she doesn't miss you" but for some reason, she keeps going back to him.

The guy, on the other hand, is really an idiot for taking her back just so she can screw him over some more. But he likes her, to the point of glorifying her (the "smoke machine and Marshall's stack" reference implies he's making songs about her) so he takes her back, and she breaks his heart over and over. "Twisting in the wind" indeed.

Worst part is, through all of it they're learning NOTHING. "There's not a lot of things that she'll take back" indicates she's said and done things she's never going to apologize for, so each time they start the relationship again, the problems from the last relationship bleed into the next.

As I described in "Birds Fly", the refrain of this song is a prime example of the bait-and-switch game that TMBG seems to enjoy playing with their imagery. It starts out with a seemingly joyous exclamation that "she wants to see me again", but then it's followed by a backspin. She wants to see him again, "slowly twisting in the wind".

If you don't think of twisting in the wind as being hung, you can find another meaning (many songs by TMBG have multiple meanings). (a bit of forewarning, I largely got the idea for this interpretation from the Name of the Wind, so it might be a bit of a stretch)

She's not your satellite she doesn't miss you - you aren't the only person in her life and she doesn't need you. don't overestimate your place in her life.

so turn off your smoke machine and Marshall stack - so don't try to fool or coerce her into coming back.

She wants to see you again - She wants it, you didn't bring her back she came back, and "see" doesn't always mean anything further.

slowly twisting - changing direction, slowly considering returning in the wind - the wind (coincidence) might be causing her to change direction, and not to read to much into it.

or she might be just taking one look back before she leaves, and you shouldn't try to use that to bring her back.

neat song, once you realize "twisting in the wind" is an expression for being hanged.

Anyone know what they mean by "Marshall stack"?

Yep. Ultra-bitter break-up song.

She set your goldfish free (as in dumped out your aquarium). Blew out your pilot light, and made a wish (obviously wishing you die from either gas poisoning or an explosion).

What they mean by "Marshall stacks" (it should be plural): The "stacks of Marshalls" has become a common rock and roll icon. Marshall guitar amps are probably the most popular brand out there for electric guitarists who play into big PA systems. The typical Marshall rig is about 4 feet high, and designed to be stacked on top of each other, so by stacking them two high and having several stacks, you create a "wall of amplifiers" effect at the back of the stage, towering over the performers. It's become so perfuctory for hard rock and heavy metal acts to have stacks of Marshall guitar amps at the back of their stage that sometimes bands in the 80's and 90's would have them there even though they weren't plugged in! It was all part of the image, just like the smoke machines.

thanks for the reply!

Thanks for the groundwork ably laid down by Mr. Grimmer. Let me now expand.

This song explodes the myth of "period." People often think that artifacts and culture are an important part of a love relationship; that the songs and sounds and images of your culture form a supportive backdrop for the drama of romance. Well, this song describes a scenario where "period" fails to compensate for a lack of love. Or, another way of putting it; that people can fall for this, but then find out the hard way that this is not a foundation for a real relationship. They find this out when the cultural landscape changes; when the accoutrements they valued become passe, particularly in their own hearts. A good cautionary tale!

I think that "twisting in the wind" means that she pretends to want to get back together but she does things that show that she doesn't love him and only wants her stuff back.

from Wikipedia: "The Young Fresh Fellows are an American alternative rock group that was formed in 1981 in Seattle, Washington." Their song "Low Beat" appeared on the Hype! OST, and they were also mentioned in the Ziggens song "Big Salty Tears."