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Well. this has got to die
I said, this has got to stop
This has got to lie down
With someone else on top
You can keep me pinned
'Cause it's easier to tease
But you can't paint an elephant
Quite as good as she
And she may cry like a baby
And she may drive me crazy
'Cause I am lately
Lonely
So why'd you have to lie?
I take it I'm your crutch
The pillow in your pillow case
Is easier to touch
When you think you've sinned
Do you fall upon your knees?
Or just sit within your picture
You still forget the breeze
And she may rise
If I sing you down
And she may wisely
Cling to the ground
'Cause I am lately
Horny
So why would she take me horny?
What's the point of this song?
Or even singing?
You've already gone
Why am I clinging?
Well I could throw it out
And I could live without
And I could do it all for you
I could be strong
Tell me, do you want me to lie?
Because this has got to die
'Cause this has got to stop
This has got to lie down, down
With someone else on top
You can both keep me pinned
'Cause it's easier to tease
But you can't make me happy
Quite as good as me...
(you know that's a lie)
I said, this has got to stop
This has got to lie down
With someone else on top
You can keep me pinned
'Cause it's easier to tease
But you can't paint an elephant
Quite as good as she
And she may cry like a baby
And she may drive me crazy
'Cause I am lately
Lonely
So why'd you have to lie?
I take it I'm your crutch
The pillow in your pillow case
Is easier to touch
When you think you've sinned
Do you fall upon your knees?
Or just sit within your picture
You still forget the breeze
And she may rise
If I sing you down
And she may wisely
Cling to the ground
'Cause I am lately
Horny
So why would she take me horny?
What's the point of this song?
Or even singing?
You've already gone
Why am I clinging?
Well I could throw it out
And I could live without
And I could do it all for you
I could be strong
Tell me, do you want me to lie?
Because this has got to die
'Cause this has got to stop
This has got to lie down, down
With someone else on top
You can both keep me pinned
'Cause it's easier to tease
But you can't make me happy
Quite as good as me...
(you know that's a lie)
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They have sex, and she keeps him "pinned" - won't let him move on, because it's easier to tease than to actually address the feelings they have for each other, and end their relationships with the other people...it seems like he won't end his because she won't end hers, and he is trying to think of a reason his current girlfriend is better for him than her, but can't, so he claims his girlfriend can paint an elephant better than his lover. If we link it to The Animals Were Gone, he often compares his girlfriend with the "depression" and "double chin" to animals.
I think the "you" shifts in the song, but I'm not sure.
"She may rise if I sing you down...or she may wisely cling to the ground"
He can't balance the two, and he's not sure what would be better for everyone involved.
He needs the affair to die, and for them each to get under other people (probably their partners) because they can't lie, and he can't be her crutch for whenever she needs someone - he will never be able to touch her because she's involved with someone else. she's in a pillowcase.
Just Started a new relationship with 'someone new' but cant take his mind of his ex, but he has to because they finished for a good reason so his feelings for her 'have to die'
Painting an elephant is slang for giving a bj (sorry but think about it!!!)
sex is a big part of a relationship especially if you have a connection with someone you love, hense why he mentions being horny and sexually frustrated because his new girlfreind cant ''paint an elephant'' as good as his ex, the sex is'nt the same or as good because he's not in love with his new gf!
Unfortunatley i've been in the same situation :(
The other girl he refers to is someone that is tempting him away into a new relationship, who is emotional and not perfect. And he also has issues trying to figure out why she would take him so newly out of a relationship. She symbolises his moving on from the past and this ex.
The ex is to blame for the relationship break up 'why'd you have to lie?' but she keeps coming back to him begging him to get back, tempting him, teasing him, playing him but he wants to move on.
Toward the end of the song he admits that he is also clinging onto the past even though he knows they should move on, he claims he'll be happier without her, but they both know that's a lie.
And she may wisely cling to the ground"
i think what he is saying here is that whoever 'she' is may rise if he sings down 'you'. essentially meaning that 'she' will feel more secure if he talks down about whoever the 'you' is because it will help her feel that he is over that person. but he then goes on to say that 'she' may wisely cling to the ground', meaning that she will realize that he doesn't actually mean what he is saying and she won't let his words give her false hope.
"Cause I am lately horny
So why would she take me horny?"
i think what he means here is that he is just saying all this because he is horny and wants to get her to trust him enough to sleep with him and satisfy his needs. yet he doesn't understand why should would take him like that since she knows its just because he is horny and he doesn't really care for her.
i find the next part very interesting, where he sings:
"What's the point of this song? Or even singing?
You've already gone, why am I clinging?
Well I could throw it out, and I could live without
And I could do it all for you
I could be strong
Tell me if you want me to lie
'Cause this has got to die"
i think here he has realized that there is no point of him trying to convince her that he is over the ex (whats the point of this song) and that there is no point talking about it at all because she's already realized the game (or even singing, you've already gone). he doesn't understand why he is still caught up about it because he could live without it and just throw it out and forget about her but then he turns around saying he could do it all for her, even lie if thats what she wanted, i think what he means here is that while he still may not be over the ex he does love her and wants to be with her. and finally the 'this' that has to die i think here is the never ending back and forth between the two about whether he truly loves her and is over the ex.
*this song is amazing. i improved to it once in a dance class and it was probably one of the best times i've ever danced. something about the music just carried me away. it may have something to do with the fact that it relates so closely to my life as of now but i just adore the song. damien rice is incredible.
"She may rise if I sing you down."
I think he is still hung up on his ex. Cant get over her. Cant get her, so trying to move on, but cant get over the situation. Even thinks of giving both of them up in the last stanza. But cant.