Lyrics for Guest Room as interpreted by lampada

Guest Room Lyrics
They’re gonna send us to prison for jerks
for having vague ideas of the way to turn each other on again
they’re gonna send us to prison for jerks

They’ll find us here here here in the guest room
where we throw money at each other and cry, oh my

We miss being ruffians, going wild and bright
in the corners of front yards
getting in and out of cars
we miss being deviants

They’ll find us here here here in the guest room
where we throw money at each other and cry, oh my

We can’t stay here
we’re starting to stay the same
we can’t stay here
we can’t stay this way

Just tie your woman to your wrist
give her room to tie the other

They’ll find us here here here in the guest room
where we throw money at each other and cry, oh my

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  • 12 Comments
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knels21
05-22-2007

Rated 0 
the strong drumming continues in this song and keeps this excellent album moving.

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despero
05-23-2007

Rated 0 
For some reason, this song reminds me of the novel On the Road by Jack Kerouac.

Really good song. I think it's about losing youth, which seems to be a recurring theme in Boxer. It's also about not giving in to the mainstream or the status quo, after holding out for so long.

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devilgirl
06-24-2007

Rated 0 
Seems like a story as old as time of two old lovers getting in touch and feeling a spark again while they are currently married to (or in a significant relationship with) other people. It's not clear to me whether they are actually having an affair or if it's just something that they fantasize about. As you get older, it's hard sometimes not to think about past loves, and want to get back with them just to feel young again.

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ihadalitlweenie
07-01-2007

Rated 0 
My interpretation's somewhat close to devilgirl's, but I think the song's from the perspective of one couple, probably a married couple (marriage is the imagery I get from "tie a woman to your wrist"). I also agree with despero that it ties into Boxer's running theme of losing youth. They've been together a long time, the spark is gone. When they got together they were young and rebellious; becoming society's definition of "adults" has dulled them down ("we're starting to stay the same"). That they're in the guest room means that they're no longer in their bedroom: they've become strangers, the intimacy is gone, they're visitors in their own home. It used to be about passion and fun, now it's about money and stability.

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duke_mike
09-03-2007

Rated 0 
I agree with knels21 about the percussion on this album. I think its the most important instrument at moving the songs along and setting the tone. For example the drumming on Squalor Victoria gives it a dark cold feeling wheras on fake empire it propels the song along. Is this effect as profound on the Nationals previous work?

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koruboy
10-05-2007

Rated 0 
i think this song is rather about the judgment day, and how we all are going to be questioned for what we did. he sing they(the angels and all the heavenly figures) will send us to prison (hell, etc) for being jerks (sinful) and for having vague ideas(questioning god's presence) and treating each other badly (all the wars, crimes...)...and importantly he says they (the heavenly figures) will find us here in the Guest Room, the gues room being the earth our world, where all we do is just wait for our death and finally the judgemnt day..and he is sayingg there is nothing we can doo but throw money at each other (indulge ourselves in materials and earthly things..everyday life) and cry (complain and question our plight and its purpose if it has one)..i really dig this song coz i am in that state of mind

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koruboy
10-05-2007

Rated 0 
and i forgot to add that he mentions the only way you can ease this plight is through love, (hold your womann tight) and hope that things work out....

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user#55
11-06-2007

Rated 0 
i see it as being about a someone who feels like his life is being ripped away from him by society and its social norms, and he is tired of having to give into such materialistic and mainstream views. He misses his youth and the freedom that it held and allowed him to be a "deviant" and "ruffian".

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beanbag01
01-22-2008

Rated 0 
I agree with some of the other users. I think this is an analogy for a marriage going the way most do, or what happens in steady relationships after a period of time. Your feelings and all that you do move into a "different part of the house" you bought into in the first place. Sexy fun exciting stuff goes away and money problems take the place...sad...but true....the loss of being in love with your significant other and just becoming roommates who keep trying to make things exciting, sexy and fun again.

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PaoloTramezzani
05-17-2008

Rated 0 
agree with the drumming, key through the whole album, fantastic

i like koruboy's interpretation, though i don't agree, it's interesting and well though out

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theotherivan
06-19-2008

Rated 0 
I agree koruboy, but less regarding judgment day and more of the nature of life itself.
It's especially epitomized in the chorus, as this world is just "the guest room".
"We can't stay here."

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Desmoulins
11-16-2008

Rated 0 
Matt Berninger said he "stole" the image of a couple throwing money at eachother from a short story collection he was reading at the time. He said it typifies just one of those dumb things people do in relationships--an ugly bursts of anger that the couple overcomes.

Tying eachother by wrists suggests to me the couple will hold on through after the fight and get past it.

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