Well, in my opinion this song is about being a young & maybe a little naive &/or introverted girl and finding yourself loving a man who is at first very charming, carefree & outgoing, and seems at first to be without limits, as in
"There was a time
you opened up every doorway
you didn't mind if everything
wasn't your way"
then that man starts to gradually become more introverted & shows their more possessive/obsessive side to you as the relationship progresses, even while they keep up the appearance of being carefree & outgoing to everyone else,
"Don't pull away
that goes against what you told me
I look in your eyes
I realize what you've sold me
is love in a vacuum"
so you confront them about the way they're acting and of course they deny it,
"I think you've changed
but you insist that
that's not true"
quite possibly they are an addict of some sort, my guess would be cocaine, &/or showing very obsessive behavior towards you (early on in the video for this song we see the man hanging a picture up, it is a very large portrait of Aimee & it is prominently displayed in his/their apartment for the duration of the song), thus their "love in a vacuum",
"You look so strange, so distant
that you're hardly you
Now I can see
how you have been acting different
You say it's me
but I know
that it isn't
it's love in a vacuum"
but still you are in love with them and don't want to leave them and you know that they are truly in love with you and they don't want you to leave them either, maybe they are convinced you can save them from themself, maybe they are so broken that the possibility of an overdose &/or suicide attempt is very real and you want to get through to them that their behavior not only dangerous but it is also just pissing you off and if they don't wise up they run the risk of loosing you, as in the lines
"You will be lonely
if you leave me alone", so you want to save them but can't get through to them due to the addiction &/or emotional problems they have,
"Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
love in a vacuum
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
You will be lonely
if you leave me alone
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough"
you want them to understand that the love they are giving you is not enough when it is filtered through the vacuum of their drug addiction &/or emotional impairment,
"You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough
and just wait
you will be lonely
Love in a vacuum
Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
Love in a vacuum".
'Love In A Vacuum' for me is a hauntingly truthful acute argument on the loneliness of obsession and almost inevitable loss of love that follows people who are broken in some way or another; the obsessives, the coke heads, the drunks, addicts or the just-plain-old emotionally broken; a razor sharp, lyrically driven, deceptively poppy, yet ultimately-depressing-in-the-best-way song.
Quintessential Aimee Mann.
It's empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you've left behind
The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
'Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I'll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind
So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker's hand
So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say
'Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be
And I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you've left behind
The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
'Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I'll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind
So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker's hand
So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say
'Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be
And I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
Lyrics submitted by Nobody-special, edited by 1770, dodgerblue
The Cave Lyrics as written by Edward James Milton Dwane Benjamin Walter David Lovett
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
I agree with what most people are saying, except the relationship aspect (guy/girl). I feel like the whole essence of this song goes far beyond the pain/joy of being with someone else. It's a song about self discovery in ways that transcend the actual concept of self. I definitely think the whole song is an overall reference to Plato's Allegory of the Cave. "It's empty in the valley of your heart The sun, it rises slowly as you walk Away from all the fears And all the faults you've left behind
The harvest left no food for you to eat You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see But I have seen the same I know the shame in your defeat" This is his view of fellow "cave dwellers". He sees and understands the pain that they are enduring, but he ends this verse/sings the chorus to show that the difference isn't in people's situations, but in their view and response to them. "Cause I have other things to fill my time You take what is yours and I'll take mine Now let me at the truth Which will refresh my broken mind
So tie me to a post and block my ears I can see widows and orphans through my tears I know my call despite my faults And despite my growing fears." It is in the second verse that he, in a way, becomes fed up with feeling sorry for himself and takes a step towards perspective. And although this song, overall, has very strong Christian, Biblical undertones, this verse is probably the most profound. There is a spiritual determination here. "Now let me at the truth which will refresh my broken mind." The second part of the second verse is my absolute favourite lyric. I am a huge fan of The Odyssey, his allusion is perfect for this song. Again, it calls to mind a sense of urgency, especially when bonded to it's unmistakable Biblical reference. He's so determined to see beyond himself and his "negative situation" to see the hurt and need in the world that is represented by the ones who have lost loved ones (widows and orphans). This is so significant because in Hebraic culture, the widow and the orphan represent the lowest of the low as far as social status goes. They represent the ones who are in the utmost need. The ones who have life's noose around their necks, if you will. "So make your siren's call And sing all you want I will not hear what you have to say
Cause I need freedom now And I need to know how To live my life as it's meant to be" This song comes full circle by him being so compassionate, that he invites those in the "negative situations" to join his point of view (upside down - I Corinthians 1:25), and see that there are others who have less than they. But even though he is compassionate, he will not be dragged down by their complaints and their ideas of what is fair and what is unfair. Until this point, I have neglected to mention one the most key aspect of this song. In the chorus, he says, I'll know my name as it's called again. Although it can mean many things, I think that it goes along perfectly with the rest the clear Christian theme of this song. All throughout the Bible, when people would be called to higher purpose, out of their former situations, many times God would change their names as their lives and characters would also change. So his name would be called again as he changed his ways. Overall, no matter how you interpret this song, it is amazing. It is encouraging. It is just beautiful. Mumford & Sons is an amazing group of musicians.
Awesome that you could relate so well to a marvelous piece of music. Think it is great how people can relate to the songs in different ways without putting to much thought in it. I, on hte other hand, love to analyze and find out what my deepest thoughts can draw out a beautifully lyrical piece. I like to test my intelligence a bit. I think it is nice that people still see love in this world, eventhough love has run aground on a massive island called sexual liberalism. <br /> <br /> Don't know why I'm writing this here, just felt like it.
I love this interpretation. <br /> <br /> Not all songs that involve the idea of love have to be about relationships. For a song with this much depth and intensity, I think it sullies the concept to apply it to a simple relationship between two people. To me, it seems obvious that the idea of this song transcends that.
The song is firstly, wonderful. Secondly, it is taken nearly directly from Chapter V of GK Chesterton's biography of St. Francis of Assisi, about Francis' conversion to being radically Catholic. Marcus Mumford has a book club and says he has read Chesterton-a prominent Catholic theologian, philosopher, journalist, poet. It clearly has a Christian and Catholic undertone, no point in arguing that. I am glad Christians and non-Christians alike enjoy the song. Truth attracts by its own splendor.
A wonderful analysis! I love Odysseus and Plato and God - so I ate this song right up! These boys are deep. I think of Steely Dan's song "Home at Last" which says "Still I remain tied to the mast." I think the sirens are the world's woes and he is saying I could drown in the sorrow of the world, but I need to get to the bottom of WHAT I'M HERE TO DO FOR GOD, and it might not be what everyone else THINKS he should do. In order to be effective, we have to meditate, pray and find out what we're here to do, otherwise we flail and drown to the siren's calls (we either self-medicate with drugs and booze or become terrorists - forgetting that LOVING those around us and finding our own calling is the best way to do God's Will). But I think he is also saying that he won't abandon any of his brothers - the noose around your neck. He will love them unconditionally and be there for them, but not be sucked in to their dramas that don't aid his own purpose that God is giving him. Which in this case? To write great songs!!! Keep it up Mumford and Sons - I think you've found your purpose!
This is a well thought out analysis and I wholeheartedly agree. The lyrics were created with care and thought and so it is refreshing to see that they have found their mark in some of their audience.
Beautiful analysis! This is basically what I was going to say, except you were a lot more intelligent about it :P Yup, I agree wit you completely.