Pete Yorn – Closet

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  General Comment:My take was, it's definitely an obsessive nut job, a man, who was beaten as a child (and clearly, very scarred)
  He met a woman named Bilie (i have a woman friend of the same name and spelling- so I immediately mapped that right over! lol).
  Perhaps she shared that she was beaten as a child. Perhaps he just stalked a 12 step group for survivors of abuse.
  
  But he's sick, inappropriate and waaaay over obsessing about her.
  and now he has "lost control"- he's broken in to her home, wanted to be near her, even literally walking around her closet - hell, he's so creepy he's definitely been through the undies drawer!
  
  Actually, with the above construct, the "walking around your closet" is even better fit for a metaphoric construct. Dude's so far gone, he's sure to be presuming he just KNOWS the object of his obsession so well, he can mentally walk through all her hidden secrets...
  or, wait, is that just another aspect of his overblown imagination?
  The don't stop, don't turn around is just even more of the stalking behavior (be spotted would blow his cover and his twisted fantasy).
  
  in short: NO boundaries!
  
  It is so well written and constructed: it's anxiety inducing to read, while blissfully just rocks out, played very loudly in the car!
  
  HA! :o)
  
  oh yeah- last thought, if the name was spelled Billy, I would equally change all the pronouns around, including same sex construct(s)- that says a lot about how well Yorn writes dark lyrics, and tells great tales of the human condition (crazy naked apes!)

  Flag ManicMonkeyLaughinon December 17, 2007   Link

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    in his new song velcro shoes, he again refers to a billy, but spelled in that (<--) way. thoughts?

    Flag crackedpolystyrenemanon March 18, 2011  
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  General Comment:i'm 100% positive it's plus beer. i asked him myself.

  Flag chadm1010on October 10, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:I analzyed it with audio tools. He's saying "Buzz Beer", a Drew Carey show reference. At first (before scrutiny) I thought he said "lesbian", but... I know, too much time on my hands. I'm 100% positive it's "Buzz Beer".

  Flag julio5150on August 21, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:I agree with Chadm1010. I cranked up the volume to the point where my ears would explode but I heard the "plus beer". Though "fuck you" wouldn't necessarily be out of place.
  
  I think the it doesn't matter whether "billie" is a boy or girl. The song in my view is meant to be ambigeous. It could be a straight guy that meets a gay guy and doesn't get a good first impression so he abuses him, in some way, making the guy hide back inside his closet.
  
  Or of course there's the abusive relationship, could be a girl, or a child even. Abusive father trying to comfort his kid after beating him. Now the kids scared and wont come out of hiding from the closet.
  
  i like the fact this song can take on several meanings at once. Connecting with everyone.

  Flag AlaileScribeon July 28, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:it's definitely not "fuck you" at the beginning. i met him last summer at his instore in baltimore and asked him what he said. he says "plus beer" and said they were all joking around before recording and saying "such and such is good.....plus beer"

  Flag chadm1010on July 17, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:Yeps that's certainly a "Fuck You"...though why he'd say that remains anyone's guess? :) Anyway that's a great track, my favourite on the album, save "Sleep Better"...

  Flag AxelDraneon April 24, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:He definitely says "fuck you" during the distortion.

  Flag rainking06on April 21, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:At first I thought this song was about a secretive gay relationship. Now I have a different take on it. I believe it is about an abusive relationship that has ended and either the man is hiding in the closet or she is in the closet hiding from him. The "I lost control" part totally sounds like the "I'm sorry, I'll never do it again" phrase that comes up in an abusive relationship. Also the fact that he keeps saying "I want you to say my name again" gives me this creepy image of this guy going through Billie's house searching for her while he is saying this appology, and she is huddled in the closet. Ugg

  Flag Mirabella_Underhillon July 08, 2005   Link

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  General Comment:I took this song as being about an abusive relationship. The person being abused doesn't like it, but they can't get out of the relationship because they still love the abuser. the abuser keeps "[losing] control"... kinda makes sense. definately weird lyrics... but a good song.

  Flag McAuronon March 07, 2005   Link

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  General Comment:after reading this post i listened to the beginning like 8 times and it sounds to me like he's saying 'bless you'.. doesn't really make sense, but 'fuck you' doesn't really either.. just a thought

  Flag Afcutie424on December 04, 2004   Link

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