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.
Sorry I didn’t call
Before I showed up here drunk and all
Messed up from the last time we talked
When you hung up on me
It’s Saturday, it’s three a.m.
But I’m not sorry that I’m here again
And I’m going crazy thinking you’re with him
And I don’t wanna leave
You alone for another minute
In that bed without me in it
I've tried all there is to try
I’m not ever saying a lie
To make myself believe in something
I know isn’t true
I've drank all there is to drink
I've thought all there is to think
I’ll disappear forever, if you want me to
And I’ll find somebody new
But I can’t love anyone but you
Oooh
Anyone but you
(I can’t love anyone)
I know you said we need a little break
But that was six months ago, yesterday
And it ain’t like I counted the days
But I can’t take one more
That’s why I’m out here in the rain
That’s why I’m willing to take the blame
That’s why I only ever wanna say your name
I've tried all there is to try
I’m not ever saying a lie
To make myself believe in something
I know isn’t true
I've drank all there is to drink
I've thought all there is to think
I’ll disappear forever, if you want me to
And I’ll find somebody new
But I can’t love anyone but you
(Anyone but you)
If this is want you want
Then look me in the eye
But I’m praying you won’t
Say your last goodbye
I've tried all there is to try
I’m not ever saying a lie
To make myself believe in something
I know isn’t true
I've drank all there is to drink
I've thought all there is to think
I’ll disappear forever, if you want me to
And I’ll find somebody new
But I can’t love anyone but you
(I can’t love anyone)
Ooh
(I can’t love anyone)
Anyone but you
(I can’t love anyone)
(I can’t love anyone)
Anyone but you
You said we need a little break
But that was six months ago, yesterday
I can’t love anyone but you
Before I showed up here drunk and all
Messed up from the last time we talked
When you hung up on me
It’s Saturday, it’s three a.m.
But I’m not sorry that I’m here again
And I’m going crazy thinking you’re with him
And I don’t wanna leave
You alone for another minute
In that bed without me in it
I've tried all there is to try
I’m not ever saying a lie
To make myself believe in something
I know isn’t true
I've drank all there is to drink
I've thought all there is to think
I’ll disappear forever, if you want me to
And I’ll find somebody new
But I can’t love anyone but you
Oooh
Anyone but you
(I can’t love anyone)
I know you said we need a little break
But that was six months ago, yesterday
And it ain’t like I counted the days
But I can’t take one more
That’s why I’m out here in the rain
That’s why I’m willing to take the blame
That’s why I only ever wanna say your name
I've tried all there is to try
I’m not ever saying a lie
To make myself believe in something
I know isn’t true
I've drank all there is to drink
I've thought all there is to think
I’ll disappear forever, if you want me to
And I’ll find somebody new
But I can’t love anyone but you
(Anyone but you)
If this is want you want
Then look me in the eye
But I’m praying you won’t
Say your last goodbye
I've tried all there is to try
I’m not ever saying a lie
To make myself believe in something
I know isn’t true
I've drank all there is to drink
I've thought all there is to think
I’ll disappear forever, if you want me to
And I’ll find somebody new
But I can’t love anyone but you
(I can’t love anyone)
Ooh
(I can’t love anyone)
Anyone but you
(I can’t love anyone)
(I can’t love anyone)
Anyone but you
You said we need a little break
But that was six months ago, yesterday
I can’t love anyone but you
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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.
Good song! One of their sweeter ones.
@HELENz what do you like most about it? What does it mean to you (why is "sweet")?