Maybe we could break your ankle, clean and unsuspiciously.
An ER trip, a doctor’s slip,
and you could share your pills with me.
Won’t it feel so good, though, when we’re lying,
side by side, when you can’t move, when I’m not trying?

2000 milligrams each.

A hotel by the pharmacy with drinking straws in toothpaste tubes.
Stash them with your toiletries and I will share my pills with you.
Little Michael sleeping in the child safety seat,
lying with the windows rolled up, in the August heat.

3000 milligrams each,
4000 milligrams.

We’re driving down the interstate,
you’re feeling great,
you scratch your wrist,
and we pretend your kids,
your husband, all you left does not exist.
And in some motel that night we’re lying,
I can barely whisper “it’s like dying.

Baby, do you know what I mean?
Well baby, did you hear me?
Well baby, you fell asleep.”

I know I’m weak, I won't deny we’ll see our trial sometime soon.
But when we know we’re fucked,
I’ll half the pile and share my pills with you.
Cause we’ve felt fully in our bodies,
and we’ve felt totally alive,
so we’re prepared to float above this
dirty bed where we both lie.
Where we lie, lie, lie. Will we be fine?
Not this time.



Lyrics submitted by Samas

Track duration: 03:50


The Next Four Months song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I've listened to this song so many times, but it just occurred to me today that they commit suicide at the end. They've felt "totally alive," so they've experienced what they wanted to in life, and now they know they're fucked, so they're prepared to half a pile of pills and "float above this dirty bed, " indicating that their souls are going to become separate from their physical bodies.

    When he says, "We'll see our trial sometime soon," he may be expressing that they'll either see a trial in life (for the drug abuse/child neglect), or in the afterlife, when they're judged in the eyes of a higher power.

    That's my interpretation. Either way, this song is really beautiful. It kind of reminds me of Lolita, how the main characters are kind of awful people who did terrible things, but you sympathize with them nonetheless.
    Flag LeeEyeLaon May 13, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the drug in this song is either lortab/vicodin or percocet, and the dosage they are referring to is the acetaminophen (tylenol) component. I don't think it is any mistake that the highest amount is 4000mg, as that is the max dosage of acetaminophen in one day to avoid liver complications. So they are both taking as many of these pills as they can. There is no mistaking that it is painkillers that they are taking: the scratching of the wrist (itchiness), falling asleep, trying to get these drugs via breaking an ankle. I do think that little Michael died in the car and they are trying to avoid dealing with the situation. They are both physically and mentally trying to escape by staying at hotels and taking drugs to numb the pain of their decisions, even though it was this behavior that caused Michael to die in the first place. I think the next four months refers to either the amount of time they remained on the run or possibly the jail sentence they receive for negligence. I think that this addiction must be pretty serious if they are considering breaking body parts to get the drug, and of course they would have to give the doctor the slip because they are on the run. As far as the drinking straws in toothpaste tubes, I would guess that they were using the straws to snort drugs with (although I would not think anyone would want to snort lortabs/vicodins or percocets) and perhaps they hid them inside of toothpaste tubes. I really like the use of the word "lying" because they are living a lie in so many ways, but also literally are lying around because of the drugs.
    Flag maxpower2on September 16, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:and the kid died
    Flag tildson January 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think the bit about 'little michael' means they actually accidentally left a toddler in the car on a hot day, with the windows rolled up... maybe their kid or something
    Flag tildson January 07, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song makes me think of the Great Gatsby, the way the music and lyrics are portrayed is so bitter and sad, it reminds me of Gatsby's impossible plight to live the dream he'd always hoped for. The song captures perfectly the feeling of two lovers trying desperately to be together, even thought they know it can't be. The line "And when I know were fucked, I'll half the pile and share my pills with you," shows that the hopless situation that these two are in, no longer even matters. "Because we've felt fully in our bodies, and we've felt totally alive, and were prepared to to float above this dirty bed where we both lay, where we lay lie lie," this line shows that they are beyond the fear of getting caught, that they have forgotten the lives they lived before, and want only to live in their reckless, irresponisble world, free of the depressing ties that once binded them. In a way it is slightly sickening, but at the same time it is beautiful, and horrendously tragic. It captures the feeling we all have, the desire to shirk our responsibilities and live in a realm of total ecstacy. The reference of drugs strengthens my thesis, as it adds to the underlying theme of trying to forget the turmoil of the two's ordinary lives, and attempting to live free of the burden of responsibility. Despit the obvious decadence of the song, i think it is one of the most beautiful, tragic love songs ever made, in the same way that the Great Gatsby is one of the most beuatiful, tragic love stories ever told.
    Flag bfred89on November 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:every time i hear this song i feel like my heart is breaking
    Flag racheldudon November 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It always makes me think of Vicodin, too.
    Flag xArienetteon August 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I finally made my way into an Okkervil River song. "Little Michael". Talk about your childhood nostalgia.

    Great song otherwise though. OR remains true to their original musical landscape here.
    Flag Low Feedbackon June 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me, this song seems like it talks about adultery. The line that proves it quite well is the following: "We’re driving down the interstate,
    you’re feeling great,
    you scratch your wrist,
    and we pretend your kids,
    your husband, all you left does not exist.
    And in some motel that night we’re lying,"

    Both of them feel like shit and is probably the reason why they started having the affair, and that's where the medical theme comes in. It might be a reference to drugs, but what is for sure is that they're doing it to forget the fact they are in the biggest shit situation of their lives.

    Curious how Get Big is also about adultery, but from the viewpoint of the one who was betrayed rather than the cheater. This is most likely the same triangle of love that Next Four Months portrays. God, do I love Okkervil River.
    Flag Big Ideason November 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:every time i hear this song i think of being in high school and taking some vicodin pills before class...why four months, though?
    Flag milk_and_honeyon September 29, 2007   Link

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