My Morning Jacket – Phone Went West

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  General Comment:well maybe I disagree with the anal sex analogy, by maybe i mean i definitely do.

  Flag JPC20on December 01, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I agree with all that you are saying, but what's with the song title? Can anyone explain why this song is called "Phone Went West"? I can't, and it's something a friend and I were debating the other night. Anything might help.

  Flag JPC20on December 01, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:This song is under the guise of anal sex.
  
  But(t) actually about forbidden love or regret.
  
  Aptly done. I'd totally regret taking one up my arse.

  Flag eeewalkableon November 24, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:Very astute analysis, electric__warrior. I agree with your idea that the narrator of the song is considering going--trying to work up the courage, really--to knock on his ex's front door. The reason why the repetition of "there'll be a knock on your front door" is so powerful, in my view, is because it gives the impression that he's not fully resolved to act--he's trying to convince himself that the event is inevitable, even though it will of course only occur if he seizes the day and acts. And, as you also pointed out, it is left completely ambiguous whether or not the knock on the front door actually ever happens (or ever will happen, for that matter). Makes my neck tingle just to think about it, as I know that I certainly lack the courage to do what the narrator is pondering. So I'll just sit in the bar and dream about what could have been.

  Flag themoviegoeron June 24, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:and I thought I was the only person who thought this song was about anal sex..."is there still a lock on your back door?" come on people...MMJ is AMAZINGLY creative covering up "dirty" lyrics...
  i also agree that this is the second most beautiful song they've ever made (after it beats 4 u)-which also has a creative line about masturbating in it (who can count the time i'm beating, with my hands)...just sayin'...

  Flag silverosepetalson March 28, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:I really like the interpretations here. I think clovus' is possible, but i'm leaning more towards the interpretation that they are exes and he wants her back. i also feel like he's sitting in a bar, thinking about this, wanting to go over and see if the back door is unlocked like it used to be when they were together. I think he's saying "tell me i'm wrong" as in tell me that we both don't totally still love eachother, you're not sitting up thinking about me like i am about you. its that point in a relationship with an ex when you have such strong feelings for the other party and you feel sure that they must feel the same, but you have no way of knowing and could be completely wrong since you probably haven't seen them in a while . Do you take the plunge, swallow your pride, and go over to their house and say "we both know there is nobody else in the world"? I think this song is about him debating whether or not do to that and the pain associated being in that limbo. he can sit in the echo filled bar and continue wishing that there was someone (a “doctor”), who could tell him that he's right and relieve him of his pain associated with the inaction and uncertainty. But there’s no doctor in the house, nobody in reality who can really say “yeah, dude she totally still loves you” so he has to choose whether to act on his feelings and risk rejection or continue sitting in the bar, wishing.
  in the end it seems like he decides to go over there, but its unclear to me whether or not he really takes the plunge. The song says "there WILL be a knock on your back door" – ie, in the future. I feel like, given the tone of the song, maybe he will stay in the bar and continue dreaming about going over to her house and thinking about how it would feel. Maybe its something he’s promising himself he will do so he doesn’t feel miserable about not knowing.
  And that’s my 2 cents! Whatever the intent behind it is, I love this song and think its absolutely beautiful.
  

  Flag electric_warrioron June 12, 2010   Link

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  My Interpretation:FetusTree is not completely joking. “Back door” can be a reference to anal sex. However, a “back door man” is usually someone who sneaks into a house. So, if your woman is cheating on you, she is doing it with a back door man. I’m pretty sure “back door” is being used here in the second sense.
  
  So, I think the line, “Is there a lock on your back door?” means, “Are you being faithful?” The song seems very desperate. Like he is in a relationship with someone he knows will cheat on him. It sounds like he’s always asking about it, but she won’t give a clear enough answer (“Tell me I’m wrong, Tell me I’m right.”). He wishes a doctor would just make everything in the relationship right.
  
  In the end we have him knocking on the front door and someone else knocking on the back door. Which door does she answer? Given the pusillanimous nature of this guy, I’d suggest going for the back door.
  

  Flag clovuson May 05, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:Thanks to yoshiidino for teaching me a new word, and to Inuka for a good laugh "...or not. I don't know" haha, honesty is hilarious.
  
  Oh, and is fetustree joking? haha
  
  This song reminds me of the Cheap Trick song, 'I want you to want me'. But beyond the desire to be wanted (or needed), obviously the knock on the front door would be some kind of overt romantic gesture, probably a direct confrontation. I'm just not completely sure what the back door refers to, and why or how it would be locked..

  Flag SadLoveon January 06, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:about wanting to be wanted, beautiful song

  Flag juliaaon November 22, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:I just fell in love with this song.
  I've had it for so long but it just came on earlier and struck a chord with me.
  A need to be needed by someone else.
  You want to be able to go to them but you're not sure if they'll let you.

  Flag Lho411on November 30, 2008   Link

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