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let me have the keys and you can take a rest
from the lightless main street until the next
who knows what there was to see before the light turned green
there's so much hell to live
the static or the science; don't know which is worse
the dial isn't broken; that's the way it works
to the new professionals irregular is normal
it's all in how you pray
not what needs to change
don't get comfortable
don't be sensible
swing with all you have
stop me if you can
imagine we had canvas with the midnight cold
dig our fingers in and then we'd watch the snow
maybe i need stronger meds
don't let those feelings in
i can't get closer now
matters straight across and just for me to use
but there's always another choice; another way through
the notes in progress float along over your candle song
the game is how you play
not who wears a ring
don't get comfortable
don't be sensible
swing with all you have
stop me if you can
i'm on the losing side
not every time
i'm gonna lose this love of mine
here are the words defined
not one is mine
why are we still so afraid
the things we do deserve their rightful names
don't get comfortable
don't be sensible
swing with all you have
stop me if you can
from the lightless main street until the next
who knows what there was to see before the light turned green
there's so much hell to live
the static or the science; don't know which is worse
the dial isn't broken; that's the way it works
to the new professionals irregular is normal
it's all in how you pray
not what needs to change
don't get comfortable
don't be sensible
swing with all you have
stop me if you can
imagine we had canvas with the midnight cold
dig our fingers in and then we'd watch the snow
maybe i need stronger meds
don't let those feelings in
i can't get closer now
matters straight across and just for me to use
but there's always another choice; another way through
the notes in progress float along over your candle song
the game is how you play
not who wears a ring
don't get comfortable
don't be sensible
swing with all you have
stop me if you can
i'm on the losing side
not every time
i'm gonna lose this love of mine
here are the words defined
not one is mine
why are we still so afraid
the things we do deserve their rightful names
don't get comfortable
don't be sensible
swing with all you have
stop me if you can
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Just for starters, in the second verse, it is mentioned how the singer doesn't know what is worse "the stactic or the science". Science could be interpreted, in this case, to the medical sciences, especifically psychiatry.
He goes on to sing about how "the dial isn't broken, that's the way it works": in other words, unique people aren't "damaged goods" or insane, but just different.
He then says that "for the new professionals, irregullar is normal", that is to say, modern doctors often use politically correct language to state that a mental illness is normal, even though they are basically labelling the person as, to borrow words from the song, irregular.
In the third verse, the singer mentions how he needs "stronger meds (to not) let these feelings in". This indicates how modern psychiatry is firmly rooted on pharmacology and so people need mood regulating medicine to prevent against a normal human function to feels their feelings.
The pre-verse states that, because of modern psychiatry, people must be on their toes: they can't get comfortable, or doctors will say they are lazy and suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome; they can't be sensible or someone will label them as suffering from a mood disorder.
The song poses a major question presented in the bridge: why is everyone afraid of differences and why are they afraid of simply using the real name for thos conditions: human nature. And it is of human nature to be unique, different.
I believe the song's message is that those differences aren't always for the better, but unique people should not change. They should "swing with all (they) have".
But before we get to that, corrections.
"it's all in how you pray"
Should be:
"it's all in how you fray"
Also, the line:
"imagine we had canvas with the midnight cold"
Should be:
"imagine we had canvas with a midnight coat."
And...
"matters straight across and just for me to use"
Is...
"Ladders straight across and just for me to use"
And...
"the notes in progress float along over your candle song"
Is..
"the notes of progress float along over your candle song"
Last one...
"I'm gonna lose this love of mine"
Is:
"I'm gonna lose despite right?"
That should do it. Now for the meaning.
This song is about a divorce. What happened was that the wife was cheating and now she is leaving him to be with her other lover.
The first verse is after they both decided that they were going to split. It's kind of awkward between them, but they have to make it through the divorce before they can go on.
The point that he is trying to get when he says, "Don't get comfortable" he is saying that it wont last between the two of them and she will eventually leave him too, and either come back to him (the singer) or to another man. He says, "Swing with all you can" which to me is like saying that divorce is like a battle, and he is saying that he can hit her with everything she's got, but he will not stop loving her.
The second verse is what he is thinking of if he were still with her, he imagines that it will be beautiful and lovely just as they were before. But he says that he needs stronger meds, because he doesn't want to relive those feelings. He says that a ladder is just across for him to use, he is thinking of suicide because he loved this girl THAT MUCH, but he says that there is a better way to work things through. "the notes of progress float along over your candle song" here he is talking about the divorce papers while she is with her other man. He says, "The game is how you play, not who wears a ring" which means that it doesn't matter that she is remarrying, it doesn't mean she won.
Then he says, "I'm on the losing side, but not every time." which I think is pretty much exactly what it says, even though he is losing, it's likely to change, due to the women not being able to settle down.
"I'm going to lose despite right?" He says that regardless of what happens to her, he lost, and he wont be able to get her back, what's done is done.
"why are we still so afraid
the things we do deserve their rightful names"
Refers to the fact that what the ex-wife does deserves a name, but she is unwilling to admit that she has a problem, a problem with not being able to settle down with one person. This goes also to the title of the song. The Song is "Be Sensible" which is what the singer/ex-husband wants her to do. But in the chorus he sings, "Don't be sensible" and it means that as long as she doesn't admit to the fact that she can't settle down, she is not being sensible. And this will continue to go until she admits that she has a problem.
This is what I thought anyway. Let me know what you guys think.
This is a great song and I also enjoy the line 'the dial isn't broken...' too!
it sounds more like 'im gonna lose despite.....(something)' sounds like it could be a quite warbled 'everything'
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let's solve the lyric-ey mystery hehe
(=
when he sings that
i get shivers down my spine
his voice is fantastic
One of my fav's off CTL. However i think there are a few corrections to the lyrics, let me know if i am wrong.....
WRITTEN AS: there's so much hell to live
SHOULD BE: there's so much hell to learn
WRITTEN AS: the static or the science
SHOULD BE: the static or the silence
WRITTEN AS: it's all in how you pray
SHOULD BE: it's all in how you frame [or fray]
WRITTEN AS: imagine we had canvas with the midnight cold
SHOULD BE: imagine we had canvas with a midnight coat
WRITTEN AS: matters straight across and just for me to use
SHOULD BE: a ladder straight across and just for me to use
WRITTEN AS: i'm gonna lose this love of mine
SHOULD BE: no idea - but i cant hear the above at all
such a good song.
x