Measure me in metered lines, in one decisive stare,
the time it takes to get from here to there.
My ribs that show through t-shirts and these shoes I got for free;
I'm un-consoled, I'm lonely.
I am so much better than I used to be.

Terrified of telephones and shopping malls and knives,
And drowning in the pools of other lives.
Rely a bit to heavily on alcohol and irony.
Get clobbered on by courtesy, in love with love, and lousy poetry.

And I'm leaning on this broken fence between Past and Present tense.
And I'm losing all those stupid games that I swore I'd never play.
But it almost feels okay.

Circumnavigate this body of wonder and uncertainty.
Armed with every precious failure, and amateur cartography,
I breathe in deep before I spread those maps out on my bedroom floor.

And I'm leaning on this broken fence between Past and Present tense.
And I'm losing all those stupid games that I swore I'd never play.
But it feels okay.

And I'm leaving. Wave goodbye.
And I'm losing, but I'll try, with the last ways left, to remember.
Sing my imperfect offering.



Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by EmmaBlwgns

Track duration: 03:21


Aside song meanings
Add your thoughts

55 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    My Opinion:When I was a kid, my Mom used to listen to this song all the time, and I used to think that the lyrics went "And I'm LEAVING, on this broken fence..." etc. So I thought that it was about a teenager who was running away, or just moving out, but in any case was going to be on his own for the first time. But even after seeing what the real lyrics are, I think the song still could be about that. Especially the "Spread those maps out on the bedroom floor" part.
    Flag MagusMirificuson April 28, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I suspect that the closing of the song ("Losing, but I'll try, with the last ways left, to remember. Sing my imperfect offering.") is a reference to Leonard Cohen's "Anthem":

    "Ring the bells that still can ring.
    Forget your perfect offering.
    There is a crack, a crack in everything.
    That's how the light gets in."
    Flag goodreverendon February 08, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is an "Aside", a muttered aside besides breaths to an other, or lover, which signifies mistakes the protagonist made in his or her lifestyle which bleed into the present tense. It doesn't have to be romantically inclined, but to be in love with love and irony is a dichotomy that Bob Dylan would admire, and probably respect and wish he wrote, because to be in love with love is in itself an ironic ideal that leads to such dichotomous interludes as this song.
    An interlude is an aside, it is a beautiful melody sung to oneself after the end and before the beginning, to be always departing without ever arriving, isn't that in itself an irony?
    A dichotomy?
    Beauty lies within oneself and can be displayed to the outside world by a major chord progression fulfilled with unreasonably happiness. Failures are not failures unless one notes them as such on a trajectory upwards through the stratosphere.....
    Flag whatsinaname86on January 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I honestly believe the song is about recovery from some kind of break up.
    A girl or just something really significant such as family.
    I belive its a girl, because he is talking about fear from Telephones and Shopping malls.
    maybe he is afraid to be contacted by her, or to walk into her in a mall.

    That throws me back to my break up I could jump from any phone call.

    and the ending.. is just perfect for the final step of recovering from a break up... the Leaving unsure but being certain it will be better than before.
    Flag novacationon March 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Here's the revised and proper lyrics:

    Measure me in metered lines,
    In one decisive stare,
    The time it takes to get from here to there.

    My ribs that show through t-shirts
    And these shoes I got for free;
    I'm unconsoled, I'm lonely.
    I am so much better than I used to be.

    Terrified of telephones and shopping malls, and knives
    And drowning in the pools of other lives.
    Rely a bit to heavily on alcohol and irony.
    Get clobbered on by courtesy
    In love with love, and lousy poetry.

    And I'm leaning
    On this broken fence
    Between past and present tense.
    And I'm losing
    All these stupid games
    That I swore I'd never play.
    But it almost feels okay.

    Circumnavigate this body
    Of wonder and uncertainty.
    Armed with every precious failure
    And amateur cartography.

    I breathe in deep before
    I spread these maps out on my bedroom floor.

    And I'm leaning
    On this broken fence
    Between past and present tense.
    And I'm losing
    All these stupid games
    That I swore I'd never play.
    But it feels okay.

    And I'm leaving.
    Wave goodbye.
    And I'm losing,
    But I'll try,
    With the last ways
    left to remember. Sing
    My imperfect offering.
    Flag AndrewIndieon September 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:We sometimes are or simply feel like total fuckups. Fact of life.
    But even when we think there's nothing worthwhile to show for ourselves and that reality has shafted us, we still try to find meaning.
    Flag g4dgetman0zanon March 24, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I hate applying half the songs I hear to love. damn it works out well for me, though. won't bother with every line but here's my take:

    To be "unconsoled. . . lonely. I am so much better than I used to be." speaks for itself. After heartbreak, nothing can make you feel better. For at least a month you're inconsolably shut off from being happy.

    "Terrified of telephones and shopping mall, and knives, and drowning in the pools of other lives. Rely a bit to heavily on alcohol and irony."
    You can be terrified of confronting someone who broke you. And you'll be terrified of confronting yourself when you're alone and maybe happen to have a knife around. Anyone who's tried it knows alcohol neeever helps heartbreak feel better, but it IS really ironic how you'll keep on trying it.

    And to be "armed with every precious failure." Well I know you feel guarded and everconscious of where you think you're a romantic screwup, after heartbreak.


    Flag sleepstudent101on November 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I saw them live just two days ago and they were absolutely amazing!
    I love the way he sings "Get clobbered on by courtesy." :)
    Flag mothtoaflameon September 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Oh John K. Samson, I love you so much, and you are the cutest Canadian I've ever met. And only few could write songs this beautiful.
    And this is one of my favorites.
    Flag BeatOnTheBraton April 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I have had everything that I've ever needed, but always at unconvenient times. I've had the one person who I could have ever needed, and let them slip away. I always dwell on it, but lately I've been feeling..ok. I've grown from it though, broken hearts hurt but they make us strong. I'm unconsoled, I'm lonely, I am so much better than I used to be.
    Flag orderbyborderon March 18, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain