good song, lovin dis album its brilliant!

I think this song is about how stubbornness and arguements can cause a relationship to die.

"I'll get tired of the heart attacks
Every time it rings."

To me the heart attack is referring to the pain and fear of the "ring" which is a phone call as it's going to lead to a row.

"I'll put myself on the waiting list
And get it all cleared up"

I think this refers to the positive effect a break can have on a relationship.

The first verse seems to be using hospitals as a way of describing relationships. Maybe because our life starts in a hospital, we go there when we have health problems and often die there. I think Snow Patrol have used this to link to the start, the problems with and the end of a relationship.

"You're the one with the attitude
Don't try and make me out
To be the root of the evil in
The whole rotten affair"

I think these lyrics refer to the stubbornness of his ex-partner and the "rotten affair" refers to how the relationship turned sour.

"Lie back and suffer now
We've both earned our reward "

This is satirical as it's basically saying "Look what we've done, it's not we wanted but it's our fault."

-----

"Buried deep in the telegram
I'm sure I never got
Was any clue of the whereabouts
Of all the things I'd lost"

A telegram is a way of sending of a message. I think this refers to the lack of communication in the relationship.

"Just because you were right before
Doesn't mean you're right
To make up now would just vindicate
Every doubt I had"

Stubbornness again.

It's not as simple as
How much you think you care
You would never know
When to take the hint
Broken glass aside
My feelings stay the same
Covered head to toe
In blood and fear and spite

And this refers to the bad feeling at the end of the relationship. Broken glass makes me think of destruction. Once it's been destroyed he's still in spite.


As with most of Snow Patrol lyrics you can take these in a number of ways. The above is just what I think. It would be nice to see other people's opinions on the song.

my favourite track on the album.

Hmm - he is in a relationship where his feelings are being trampled on. Or, like coroar says, he was in a relationship where he felt that way. Now the main question I have about this song is the title: Why is it called "Gleaming Auction"?

i thought it was "everytime it rains" hmmmm... why the rain would cause a heart attack...

i thought it was "everytime it rains" hmmmm... why the rain would cause a heart attack...

I would guess, it's called Gleamin Auction as a symbology to those who take their old, worn down, beaten "crap" and try to make a buck or two out of. Hence saying, It's total worth can't possibly be spent yet. Or, It sucks, it's pretty much usless to me, but here maybe it would suit you for awhile. ... We take all our trash, all the things we don't want and put a dollar sign on it trying to get rid of the things in our life that we dont want anymore.

symbology ... did i really write that ... oh my, someone watches too much Boondock Saints ... yikes!

Man, I really lik this song. I don't really like the Snow Patrol, but I really like this one.

NONE of Snow Patrol's songs are about FEMALES... Ffs... The only song that is, is on the new song "Chasing Cars" which is chasing girls really.

the waiting lists makes me think therapy for some reason.

Totally agree with Coroar about this song: It seems like the guy's sick and tired of this relationship and the lack of communication has resulted in the loss of the love. Seems like the singer is really hurting from his relationship and has a lot of pent up angst about it. Broken relationship/glass leaving the bloodied and emotional scars.

As kpismpstp1 suggested, Gleaming Auction may be referring to the fact that the writer is clearing out his "junk" (aka current partner). However, could also be that it is referring to the dignity or pride that both have, and it is "gleaming" until it is smashed by both of them. Then, bleeding from their broken emotions/pride, they still stare at each other with hate and spite. The auction may be referring to each other trying to out-bid each other for the pride in the relationship... Hmm... seems consistent with the way the song ends I guess - abrupt because neither have won the auction and their pride has been smashed.

Auctions to me are the epitomy of loneliness. Dunno if any of you like em but when I see someone sitting alone at an auction buying used antique crap it just makes me think get a life. Maybe he's thinking he should auction himself of and not deal with this disasterous relationship anymore.