I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
There's no end to the love you can give
When you change your point of view to underfoot
Very good
You may be flat but you're breathing
And there's no doubt he's at home in his room
Probably watching porn of you from the fall
It's last call
And you're the last one leaving
And you thought you could change the world
By opening your legs
Well it isn't very hard
Try kicking them instead
And you thought you could change his mind
By changing your perfume to the kind his mother wore
O god Delilah why?
I never met a more impossible girl
In this same bar where you slammed down your hand
And said "Amanda, I'm in love"
No you're not
You're just a sucker for the ones who use you
And it doesn't matter what I say or do
The stupid bastard's gonna have his way with you
You're an unrescuable schizo
Or else you're on the rag
If you take him back
I'm gonna lose my nerve
I never met a more impossible girl
I never met a more impossible girl
At four o'clock he got off
And you called up
"I'm down at Denny's on route one
And you won't guess what he's done"
Is that a fact Delilah?
Larry tap let you in through the back
And use his calling card again
For a quick hand of gin
You are impossible, Delilah: the princess of denial
And after 7 years in advertising you are none the wiser
You're an unrescuable schizo
Or else you're on the rag
'Cause if you take him back
I'm gonna lose my nerve
He's gonna beat you like a pillow
You schizos never learn
And if you take him home
You'll get what you deserve
So don't cry Delilah
You're still alive Delilah
You need a ride Delilah?
Let's see how fast this thing can go
When you change your point of view to underfoot
Very good
You may be flat but you're breathing
And there's no doubt he's at home in his room
Probably watching porn of you from the fall
It's last call
And you're the last one leaving
And you thought you could change the world
By opening your legs
Well it isn't very hard
Try kicking them instead
And you thought you could change his mind
By changing your perfume to the kind his mother wore
O god Delilah why?
I never met a more impossible girl
In this same bar where you slammed down your hand
And said "Amanda, I'm in love"
No you're not
You're just a sucker for the ones who use you
And it doesn't matter what I say or do
The stupid bastard's gonna have his way with you
You're an unrescuable schizo
Or else you're on the rag
If you take him back
I'm gonna lose my nerve
I never met a more impossible girl
I never met a more impossible girl
At four o'clock he got off
And you called up
"I'm down at Denny's on route one
And you won't guess what he's done"
Is that a fact Delilah?
Larry tap let you in through the back
And use his calling card again
For a quick hand of gin
You are impossible, Delilah: the princess of denial
And after 7 years in advertising you are none the wiser
You're an unrescuable schizo
Or else you're on the rag
'Cause if you take him back
I'm gonna lose my nerve
He's gonna beat you like a pillow
You schizos never learn
And if you take him home
You'll get what you deserve
So don't cry Delilah
You're still alive Delilah
You need a ride Delilah?
Let's see how fast this thing can go
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
I love this song. Maybe I'm just imagining, but I get the impression Amanda is the same way about Delilah that Delilah is about her boyfriend--expecting her to come over to a realistic point of view, hoping against hope that she'll change. I imagine after Amanda gives her a ride she eventually goes back to him again.
@mockingsmile I agree! Unhappy with Delilah for constantly going back to her boyfriend, yet unhappy with herself for constantly going back to the unrescuable schizo
I think its Amanda scolding a friendish person who very naive and rather desperate for love.
I also disagree with the prostitute thing. Delilah doesn't sound like a hooker to me. She sounds more naive, explaining why she "thinks she can change the world by opening her legs". Not because she gets paid to do it, but because she thinks it will make the person love her.
This is probably my favourite off the new album. Personally, I don't imagine Delilah as hooker; more like a girl who just keeps on forgiving a partner who doesn't deserve her.
"Do what? Rhyme?"
Regarding the point of view/porn of view thing. Its more than just rhyming. Im sure there is some big important word that fits the definition that I am also unable to properly illustrate through words.
There is some assonance and alliteration going on here, it makes you think you are hearing the same phrase twice if you arent paying attention.
its not like someone is in awe that britney rhymed "I still believe" with "Still Believe!" they know what they are talking about, even if they cant get it out (like Im not doing here).
But you know, be all elitest and snobby if it makes you feel better.
I don't think "porn of you" makes her a prostitute; it's a video Delilah and her boyfriend made probably. And I think she really does work in advertising--Amanda is saying that because of her job she should be able to tell her boyfriend is lying.
I always kind of hated this song untill I really listen to it, and it's actually really brilliant. It is one of the most straightforward songs of the dolls, lyrically, but what makes it is the way Amanda sings it. I sort of get the idea that the narrator (Amanda) has finally convinced Delilah to leave this loser, but Delilah has started to doubt her friend, and want to go back to him again.
I really thought "Let's see how fast this thing can go" was a reference to Thelma and Louise.
I think is so effective, because of course this girl is a sort of "victim" in an extremely dysfunctional not to mention abusive relationship, but doesn't really want help. Amanda perfectly articulates the frustration anyone is certain to feel when trying to help an individual who knows her behavior is self destructive, acknowledges the fact they are putting themselves in a terrible place, and continues to be consumed with the consequences of that behavior . While one side of her (Amanda) is of course compelled to have compassion upon her friend, she also expresses her exasperation when at last she says "if you take him home then you get what you deserve." Not that I think she is saying her friend deserves to ever be beaten and not to say that phrase isn't also referring to what the abuser might say to his victim. However, I think what is so great about this song is that Amanda realizes she cannot rescue her friend and that, ultimately, Delilah is the one who must make the choice to save herself from the vicious cycle that is abuse and codependency. I also love the beginning: "There's no end to the love you can give/When you change your point of view to underfoot." As if to say Delilah can love every man because she will compromise herself for anyone. Disclaimer: I in no way think victims of abuse are to blame for the way they are treated. I simply think it wonderful the way Amanda inadvertently comments on the way young women must commit to ending their dysfunctional relationships because another human being isn't capable of saving them.
"you're an unrescuable schizo/or else you're on the rag"
This doesn't have to be literal. I think it's just an intense way of saying Delilah probably says all the time that she's leaving him, and she's done with this guy who treats her like shit, and then she goes back to him. She's probably all over the place emotionally, she's acting crazy. It doesn't have to mean she is literally mentally ill.
I've recently come to realize I am a Delilah ( :/ ) in my current relationship/ex relationship type thing, and I my roommate absolutely HATES the guy because of how he treats me. My roommates name is Amanda, and I swear to God, we've had this conversation a million times:
"At the same bar, where you slammed down your hand and said "Amanda, I'm in love" No, you're not, you're just a sucker for the ones who use you and it doesn't matter what I say or do The stupid bastard's gonna have his way with you"
It's chilling, honestly. Seeing the other side of a bad relationship.
Also, regarding literally terms, "He's gonna beat you like a pillow", may very well be a metaphor, he is beating Delilah down emotionally with the way he is treating her. "And if you take him home-- you get what you deserve." Damn. What an intense song.
@heatherstai so it's been well over a year since you posted this. I'm just curious -did you get out of your Delilah-esque relationship?
i definitely agree with everything thing that's been said, including that i dont' agree with the prostitute angle, which actually means that i dont' agree with everything... but anyway. i just also thought that i'd add that i LOVE these lines:
And said, "Amanda, i'm in love" No you're not You're just a suck -er for the ones who use you
because of the way she stops in the middle of the word sucker, so it adds to the point of this guy just using her for sex. amanda says two things at once. genius. the desperation in this song is heartbreaking, especially because, as someone mentioned earlier, i think we all know a delilah. if not ourselves, then a friend