Lyrics for A Diamond and a Tether as interpreted by dlt1987

A Diamond and a Tether Lyrics
Pity, take pity on me
Because I'm not the man that I should be
I'm always turning to run
From the people I should not be afraid of
And darling, you should know
That I have fantasies about being alone
It's like love is a lesson
That I can't learn
So I make the same mistakes at each familiar turn

I know you can't hold out forever
Waiting on a diamond and a tether
From a boy who won't swim
But who will dip his toe in
Just to keep you here with him

I've got this habit I abhor
When we go out, I'm always watching the door
As if there's someone I'm going to see
Who could out-do the things that you do to me

I know you can't hold out forever
Waiting on a diamond and a tether
From a boy who won't fly
But who will take to the skies
If he thinks you're about to say goodbye

Pity, take pity on me
Because I'm not half the man that I should be
And I don't blame you, you've had enough
With all these empty promises and countless bluffs

I know you can't hold out forever
Waiting on a diamond and a tether
From a boy who won't jump
When he falls in love
He just stands with his toes on the edge
And he waits for it to disappear again

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  • 13 Comments
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annamocity
03-26-2009

Rated +1 
Someone has commitment issues.
It's okay, Ben.
We understand.

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4 Replies
sych0
03-31-2009

Rated +2 
its:

From a boy who won't swim
But who will dip his toe in
Just to keep you here with him

and

From a boy who won't fly
But who will take to the skies
If he thinks you're about to say goodbye

Great song. Gibbard once again proves hes a musical genius and can paint amazing images with his words

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1 Reply
ethanhammock
04-02-2009

Rated 0 
I agree with annamocity

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lizzie88
04-09-2009

Rated 0 
a guy who's half-hearted towards his relationship, and is just waiting on a "better" opportunity; only mustering the effort when suspects he's about to lose her.

pretty straightforward lyrics, but with clever metaphors in true gibbard-style.

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Squimpy
05-08-2009

Rated +1 
My fav. song off of Open Door. This is how I interpret it:
-Relationship after half-hearted relationship, he seems to fall into the same pattern: loses interest and dreams of being single/ being with girls with more to offer.
-Meanwhile, the girl is waiting for him to commit to marriage (the diamond) which he sees more as a ball and chain (a tether).
- As soon as he feels like he's going to lose her, he temporarily puts just enough energy and passion into it to keep her there (From a boy who won't fly..But who will take to the sky ..if I think you're about to say goodbye).
Saw him in concert last week and they did this song. Totally amazing.

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2 Replies
zidididane
05-08-2009

Rated +1 
This song is about commitment issues but it's a little more complicated.

The person seems to be willing to make small commitments, as a last resort as you can see at the end of every chorus when he contradicts himself like

"From a boy who won't swim
But who will take to the skies
If he thinks you're about to say goodbye "

or

"From a boy who won't swim
But who will dip his toe in
Just to keep you here with him"

He is willing to do small things that he doesn't like to keep the relationship going, however the last chorus is different, in that he ultimately doesn't do the thing that would save it.

"From a boy who won't jump
When he falls in love
He just stands with his toes on the edge
And he waits for it to disappear again"

The jump seems to be an obvious reference to a leap of faith, or a large commitment significantly more dangerous and frightening than the ones before it. This could be getting married, moving in, or simply saying I love you. The point is, when it comes time for a leap of faith, that is one thing he refuses to do to save the relationship.


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Bootscooper
05-16-2009

Rated +1 
I love this song so much. The last line always makes me sad. "And he waits for it to disappear again". I always think of a guy who really does love a girl, but is in denial, and doesn't want to commit or get to close, because he always thinks that he will leave her. But in truth it's the non-committing that destroys their relationship.

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sgs791
06-01-2009

Rated 0 
in my interpretation, this boy obviously cannot commit, despite the fact that he really cares about this certain girl, maybe even to the extent that he thinks he really loves her. he may never have felt this way before so he gets scared and leaves her to be with other girls yet always comes back to her, and she always accepts it. the girl finally realizes that she cannot take his on and off feelings with her, and decides to leave him. the boy wants her to "take pity" on him because he knows he doesn't want to be this way but doesn't know how to really commit and keeps making mistakes with her: "It's like love is a lesson that I can't learn so I make the same mistakes at each familiar turn." he understands that she cannot always hold out for him and that he's fucked up so many times that enough is enough. the last few lines of the last stanza is is particularly strong because although the boy realizes he may really be in love, he doesn't know what to do with it, so he waits for it to merely disappear.

i can completely relate to this song.

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QuietFlutist
06-12-2009

Rated 0 
I agree, i think its about commitment issues. Im pretty sure the diamond refers to a ring diamond, right? and the tether is like... a ball and tether (as in a nickname for a spouse) so i think the girl wants to get married but he doesnt.

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twistedlogic317
09-13-2009

Rated 0 
isnt the lyric

"because i'm not half the man that i should be"?

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shockdelica
10-03-2009

Rated 0 
Wow. What a brilliant song. This has to be one of the best DCFC songs I've heard in a long time.

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RosieJune
11-16-2009

Rated 0 
his lyrics speak to my soul.

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