i usually dont bother posting my interpretations, but I haven't seen anyone with mine yet for this song and I wanted to get it out there. I think this song is not about a relationship that is ending, but about one that has not begun, and never will. It's about realizing and accepting that it could never work ("its not like the movies") because while Thom (assuming he is the narrator) sees his object of affection as beautiful in an almost angelic way, and adores that person and the way they make him feel, he knows deep down he has too much baggage, or feels inadequate or "not good enough", or knows his own depression will just get in the way. (cheap sex and sad films help me get where I BELONG) The person he is singing to obviously wants to be closer to him because they are pursuing him, but he humbly declines knowing that he would just end up destroying this beautiful thing. (stop sending letters, letters always get burned) despite the seemingly depressing theme, he gives some hope with the last line ("I think you're crazy, maybe...I will see you in the next life) saying that while it woudn't work out in the life, maybe it will in the next one. This song has a lot of meaning to me personally, I have felt this same emotion before, and been in the same situation. But I could always be wrong, and I know Thom likes his songs to have multiple meanings. I just definetely pick up on that theme.
i usually dont bother posting my interpretations, but I haven't seen anyone with mine yet for this song and I wanted to get it out there. I think this song is not about a relationship that is ending, but about one that has not begun, and never will. It's about realizing and accepting that it could never work ("its not like the movies") because while Thom (assuming he is the narrator) sees his object of affection as beautiful in an almost angelic way, and adores that person and the way they make him feel, he knows deep down he has too much baggage, or feels inadequate or "not good enough", or knows his own depression will just get in the way. (cheap sex and sad films help me get where I BELONG) The person he is singing to obviously wants to be closer to him because they are pursuing him, but he humbly declines knowing that he would just end up destroying this beautiful thing. (stop sending letters, letters always get burned) despite the seemingly depressing theme, he gives some hope with the last line ("I think you're crazy, maybe...I will see you in the next life) saying that while it woudn't work out in the life, maybe it will in the next one. This song has a lot of meaning to me personally, I have felt this same emotion before, and been in the same situation. But I could always be wrong, and I know Thom likes his songs to have multiple meanings. I just definetely pick up on that theme.
I always got that same feeling. Someone living a Hollywood-esque dream of a relationship that will never come true.
I always got that same feeling. Someone living a Hollywood-esque dream of a relationship that will never come true.