I accidentally posted half of this earlier - here is the full version.

READ TO THE BOTTOM FOR A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SONGS MEANING - YOU WILL BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED =]

The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
*This song is about how close we come in everyday life to horrible things. We must make choices - whether they are right or wrong, to continue living.


The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
*This song is about forgiving people of mistakes/bad choices made in their pasts.


Metric - Gimme Sympathy
*Here's a breakdown of the lyrics and their meanings.


*The first half refers to The Rolling Stones point of view in the song Gimme Shelter, in comparison to Gimme Sympathy.

"Ooh, see the fire is sweepin
Our very street today
Burns like a red coal carpet"
---The Rolling Stones

"Get hot
Get too close to the flame"
---Metric

~~~~~These lines are pretty self-explanatory.


"Oh, a storm is threatning
My very life today
If I dont get some shelter
Oh yeah, Im gonna fade away"
---The Rolling Stones

"Wild open space"
---Metric

~~~~~Wild open space contrasts to shelter.


"Rape, murder!
Its just a shot away"
---The Rolling Stones

"Talk like an open book"
---Metric

~~~~~Say what you want to say - life is too unpredictable to remain quiet.


"War, children, its just a shot away
Its just a shot away"
---The Rolling Stones

"Sign me up
Got no time to take a picture
I'll remember someday
All the chances we took"
---Metric

~~~~~The Rolling Stones repeat "Its just a shot away" throughout the entire song - reinforcing the fact that "War, Flood, Fire, Rape, Murder" could be an instant away.




*The second half refers to The Beatles point of view in the song Here Comes the sun, in comparison to Gimme Sympathy.


"Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right"
---The Beatles

"Don't go
Stay with the all unknown
Stay away from the hooks
All the chances we took"
---Metric

~~~~~The Beatles use the sun as a metaphor for a new beginning and "the ice" represents all the choices they regret. Metric takes this idea and adds more to it - new beginnings wont come unless mistakes were made in the past (avoid familiarity/hooks and experience the unknown). No mistakes = no experience/gain/growth.



*Chorus

"We're so close to something better left unknown
We're so close to something better left unknown"
---Metric

~!~!~!~THIS LINE IS KEY IN UNDERSTANDING THE SONG (and how convenient that it is said twice).
I'll present this as if The Rolling Stones and The Beatles were both saying the same line.

The Rolling Stones - We're so close to something that we would be better off not knowing.
The Beatles - We're so close to something better, which is currently unknown.

Say the line a few times with each point of view in mind... then smile at the genius of Metric.

Thanks

The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
This song is about how close we come in everyday life to horrible things. We must make choices - whether they are right or wrong, to continue living.


The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
This song is about forgiving people of mistakes/bad choices made in their pasts.


Metric - Gimme Sympathy
Get hot
Get too close to the flame
Wild open space
Talk like an open book
Sign me up
Got no time to take a picture
I'll remember someday
All the chances we took

We're so close to something better left unknown
We're so close to something better left unknown

1 Reply

I think it's about being spun out. Line up some ck, give it another listen, and get back to me.

I think it's about taking chances and making choices in the music industry. Like in the end, when it's all over, would you rather end up like the Rolling Stones? Or the Beatles?
Yet you still have to stay with the "all uknown" you have to take chances and have fun.

"Frontwoman Emily Haines told Drowned in Sound that this song was inspired by a conversation between her and guitarist/producer James Shaw. She explained: "We opened for The Rolling Stones two nights at Madison Square Garden in NYC and since then analyzing what they represent has become a favorite theme of band conversations. In this song we ask the age-old question, 'Who would you rather be: The Beatles or the Rolling Stones?' Here's Jimmy's answer: 'Neither. One is dead and the other is corporate.'"

In my opinion this song is about them critiquing their own music. (lines from the song will be in parentheses)

In a nutshell, I think this song is all about how they feel about their current standing in the music world. They continue to gain popularity as they move from the underground into the limelight. But as they do so, they realize that there will be consequences of pushing their music to the next level.

As a band, they are pushing their music more and more with each song they write. They crave the status of bands like The Rolling Stones and the Beatles. (Who would you rather be? The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?)

They feel like they are almost there, but are afraid of the consequences that will come from taking the further risks to push their music to that unknown that they desire. (We're so close to something better left unknown)

I think that they are saying that inevitably, they will take risks with their music, which will lead to some mistakes. (Oh seriously. You're gonna make mistakes you're young.)

As they pursue the next stage of their music, we need to realize that there is a chance that they will go to far and end up failing. (Get hot. Get too close to the flame)

But in the end, they accept that probability, and are going to take the risk.
(Like Here Comes The Sun)

They are stating in this song that they cant stop now, they have to keep going and going until they reach the unknown, and they will stop and look back at what they could have done in hindsight later. (Got no time to take a picture. I'll remember someday all the chances we took)

So yeah, in the end, they are asking for the sympathy of their fans after their risk taking is over with and the consequences of those risks have all played out. No matter what happens, they hope their fans will sympathize and understand the reasons why they took the risks they did. (Gimme sympathy. After all this is gone.)

1 Reply

"we're so close to something better left unknown"

it's about taking risks and chances even if they might not be the right ones. i definitely get the sense it's about a relationship, like a moth to a flame, two people that it's not gonna work out between but there's something there so she wants to go for it, no matter how bad it might end up being.

I like metric alot.
Got in to 'em along with all the other artsy-pop canadian bands that brokeout a few year's back. arcade fire, new pornographers, the whole broken social scene, the dears, etc.
I have a thing for a chick right now. But she was planning to move out of town in a few month's, which I didn't know, before we had started getting to know each other. So, I totally dont want to hold her back or change her plan's. Not my intention. I've had a crush on her for over half a year. But I hadn't seen her in a while since I'd quit working at a place we used to worked together. Come to find out, she's been living around the corner in the same apartment complex as me. And we're sort of friendly now.
Anyways... dont mean to talk to much.
But I'd rather be the beatles. I'm scared just like anyone else can be in life. But I know that when you don't look at the sun when it's right in front of you, you may move away without seeing a light that coulda' been found.
And it's true, just because I made some sense, it doesn't mean thing's couldn't workout perfectly ok if we were to leave our feelings from taking over. And she could still move. And she can be fine. And I'm sure I would be too. But I dont have time for logic all the time. We are so close to something that could be better left unknown. But I think that line in this song is saying, 'yeah, I'm smart too. and I'm not a fool, I know the option's.'. But I think it's also sort of a taunt saying, 'ya' wanna' be scared. Fine. at least I've learned to be honest. I'd just hoped not to find out you'd give up, without even trying.'.
We all have a past, and probably a bad relationship or two. But you can't let those asshole's stop you from believing in the opposite sex. Gimme sympathy. Because, I might actually be worth it. Even though all the other's acted so caring at first, it doesn't mean that I have to be just another two-faced spiteful lover. My aim is true. You're gonna' make mistakes you're young. And they could already be behind you. And it could be scary to try again. But if you don't try, you wont find what you thought was a lie. Happiness. I like this chick, because she's really good-hearted. She's had a screwy family life in her childhood, but so did I. And I had my own bad relationship's in my past. Even took part in making the bad sometimes. It made me get sick for a while too, and stop believing in possibilities. But now I know that if I'm going to allow myself to be into someone and go into something along with them, then I'll only do it if I'm willing to take care of someone else. I took my time. Got happy with myself. And this girl and my idea of us having something is a fantasy of mine. Fantasies are something that can come true if you are willing to take responsibility. And I'm not scared anymore. But I also, dont want to hurt... and I dont want anyone else to get hurt either.

Get hot
Get too close to the flame
Wild open space
Talk like an open book
Sign me up
- dont be afraid of the butterflies in your stomach. they are like a spidey sense. and they serve a purpose. just to be smart and make sure to listen to your heart and remember what you've learned.
If you've got any want to pursue whatever made your tummy feel all dizzy. Then just let the buterflies fly wild into the space between you and your pursuit. Open your heart and dont be afraid to be honest with yourself. It's better to have tried, than to keep yourself from starting.

Got no time to take a picture
I'll remember someday
All the chances we took
- Could be bad again. or it could be really good. I'll know later on. Right now, I'm diving in head first.

Come on baby play me something,
- please believe. cuz I believe.

Don't go
Stay with the all unknown
Stay away from the hooks
All the chances we took
- "these all seem like opposing lines. sort of a kidding yourself kind of idea. being ready for it to work. or to lose possibly, again... this album does have a poppier sound, more mellow production. I don't know wether the lyrics are sort of not as heart-felt as prior metric records or in a different formula. or if maybe they're just from a different time in the artists' lives. it seems different. but I will accept change. and I do see sense in the lyrics, and think of the album as a metric album. a band I appreciate a lot."

I can feel it in my bones
- whatever happen's in the end I'll know after looking back. but right now, it feel's right to live my life and to give it a shot. I'm going to let the person know that I have liked her for a while, still do. And all I want is to show her that, before she run's away from this dumb black-hole of a small-town. Because I dont see other people like her around here. And once she leaves, she may never know someone like me.

I like the stones and the beatles. They both continued on as long as they could. the beatles did even until almost everyone in the band had died. and before that happened, they all contributed in speaking there own original points of view through their band's music. they weren't scared. and I think paul mccartney(being the only one left) is a wealthy man now, because of all of it. Lol.

So, if you can make it...
every thing in your entire life will be a part of your big story. From accepting that life is hard but you've got to live, to being able to live your dream's as long as you can deal with reality, pace for pace.

Music is very universal. I think if you can feel a connection to the music, then your perspective is probably very true. You'll never really know what the person who wrote a song meant exactly. Unless they wander by on the street and just seem to want to tell any random person everything about themself.

But for now, I think every comment on this page is brilliant. And I don't think my comment is necessarily correct. But blood flow's through my vein's and I want to experience life. And it honestly wouldn't be quite a matter of living for me, without music existing.

It's something that I only try to match, in creating good in my life by being strong and honest with myself. And not being afraid of anything, especially the unknown.

3 Replies

I think the title is an obvious reference to "Gimmie Shelter" by the Stones. I find this song to be more about just being a band in general such as "we're so close to something better left unknown". I think this line is saying that they are so close to perfection/total collapse it's better "left unknown". She is asking would the band rather be like the Beatles who were so creative they self imploded or the Rolling Stones who stayed around forever. Her reference to "Here Comes The Sun" seems more like she is asking that she be creative but be able to "make mistakes". Kind of a answer to critics who expected her to do so much after her solo album....just my two cents anyways.

absolutely agree with the 'burn out or fade away' feeling. thats the first thing i thought when i heard this song.

and the title has to come from gimme shelter + sympathy for the devil.

i dig the song, its incredibly catchy.

"Who would you rather be
The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?"

my first reaction to this line was that she is asking "would you rather burn out or fade away?" i mean, the beatles were certainly not a blip or anything, but they were active for a much shorter time than the rolling stones. a common reaction to the current activity of the rolling stones is that they were great in their prime but are now dinosaurs and should probably give it a rest, whereas people regret that the beatles were around for such a short time and consider their oeuvre to be pretty sacrosanct.

the rest of the lyrics fit into this mold, too. "We're so close to something better left unknown" -- should they just quit while they're in their prime, or should they keep going to see if they reach something better? "Get hot, Get too close to the flame" -- how can you judge when you've hit your apex? is it possible to get just close enough to the flame without burning?

in the end, i'm not sure which she chooses. "Stay with all the unknown" sounds like they decide to keep moving until they fade out, but the fact that she says "stay" instead of "go" makes me unsure. "Gimme sympathy" is clearly a rolling stones reference, but the fact that the chorus ends with "Play me 'Here Comes the Sun'" makes me think she wants to go the beatles burning-out route.

i don't know what the "they" i keep referring to is, haha. possibly the band, possibly a relationship, maybe just a person's life in general. also, i've only listened to this song once so my interpretation might change, but this idea really struck me so i thought i'd share it here :]

2 Replies

I think this song is a peice of advice Emily gives to anyone who knows what she is talking about... that may sound a bit crpytic. Let me explain.

Metric has really been struggling the past couple years on their album, Emily has been apologetic saying she has writers block. I think this is a song about what she was going through at this time.

Get hot
Get too close to the flame
Wild open space
Talk like an open book
Sign me up
Got no time to take a picture
I'll remember someday
All the chances we took

she talking about how she was before getting up to this point. On top of the world sort of attitude. This song is about when you lose that feeling of freedom, speaking freely, and good times.

She asks for sympathy, because she is full of despair.

Her advise is to "stay with the all unknown". To not do what she did. To take chances, go with the all unknown and to "stay away from the hooks"

What it is she got "hooked" on I have no idea and won't disrespect anyone from speculating about. drugs,sex,boose,depression any one of these things could have that effect of getting "hooked" on something.

Now this is still a cheerful song because Emily is giving her advise to someone because she cares for him/her and wants to hear "here comes the sun" because it is a song that may evoke feelings of happyness and looking at the world through new eyes (with the sun shining).

I think alot of the comments on here are mistaken about things. It wasn't untill i listened to the song without any distractions (including reading the lyrics!) that i felt true meaning open up, I was buzzing with excitment and rushed home to write on it.

i think it's a song about the band taking a step back from everything and seeing the big picture (i.e. what they've accomplished, the mistakes they've made, how'd they want to be perceived etc..) since they haven't had the opportunity to do so. but it is also looking into the future and how its uncertainty is okay with them.

really dig the original and acoustic versions of this song.

This song is about taking LSD.

"Wild open space
Talk like an open book"
Very common LSD imagery and feelings during the experience.

"Got no time to take a picture
I'll remember someday
All the chances we took"
Your friends always want to document what happens, but usually everyone gets too gone.

"We're so close to something better left unknown"
When you're thinking and exploring your mind, you get ever closer to grasping what that "eternal discontent" is. Every person has it. You can never feel happy, because there's this infinite desire for more. But it really is better left unknown,


The Beatles and Stones references just come up between musicians. So do requests for playing certain songs, (Here comes the sun). I always trip with an instrument, usually guitar.


Well anyways that's my interpretation of it. I don't think it's a love/life song or anything cliché like that.





2 Replies