I think this song is about how stubbornness and arguements can cause a relationship to die.
"I'll get tired of the heart attacks
Every time it rings."
To me the heart attack is referring to the pain and fear of the "ring" which is a phone call as it's going to lead to a row.
"I'll put myself on the waiting list
And get it all cleared up"
I think this refers to the positive effect a break can have on a relationship.
The first verse seems to be using hospitals as a way of describing relationships. Maybe because our life starts in a hospital, we go there when we have health problems and often die there. I think Snow Patrol have used this to link to the start, the problems with and the end of a relationship.
"You're the one with the attitude
Don't try and make me out
To be the root of the evil in
The whole rotten affair"
I think these lyrics refer to the stubbornness of his ex-partner and the "rotten affair" refers to how the relationship turned sour.
"Lie back and suffer now
We've both earned our reward "
This is satirical as it's basically saying "Look what we've done, it's not we wanted but it's our fault."
"Buried deep in the telegram
I'm sure I never got
Was any clue of the whereabouts
Of all the things I'd lost"
A telegram is a way of sending of a message. I think this refers to the lack of communication in the relationship.
"Just because you were right before
Doesn't mean you're right
To make up now would just vindicate
Every doubt I had"
Stubbornness again.
It's not as simple as
How much you think you care
You would never know
When to take the hint
Broken glass aside
My feelings stay the same
Covered head to toe
In blood and fear and spite
And this refers to the bad feeling at the end of the relationship. Broken glass makes me think of destruction. Once it's been destroyed he's still in spite.
As with most of Snow Patrol lyrics you can take these in a number of ways. The above is just what I think. It would be nice to see other people's opinions on the song.
I think this song is about how stubbornness and arguements can cause a relationship to die.
"I'll get tired of the heart attacks Every time it rings."
To me the heart attack is referring to the pain and fear of the "ring" which is a phone call as it's going to lead to a row.
"I'll put myself on the waiting list And get it all cleared up"
I think this refers to the positive effect a break can have on a relationship.
The first verse seems to be using hospitals as a way of describing relationships. Maybe because our life starts in a hospital, we go there when we have health problems and often die there. I think Snow Patrol have used this to link to the start, the problems with and the end of a relationship.
"You're the one with the attitude Don't try and make me out To be the root of the evil in The whole rotten affair"
I think these lyrics refer to the stubbornness of his ex-partner and the "rotten affair" refers to how the relationship turned sour.
"Lie back and suffer now We've both earned our reward "
This is satirical as it's basically saying "Look what we've done, it's not we wanted but it's our fault."
"Buried deep in the telegram I'm sure I never got Was any clue of the whereabouts Of all the things I'd lost"
A telegram is a way of sending of a message. I think this refers to the lack of communication in the relationship.
"Just because you were right before Doesn't mean you're right To make up now would just vindicate Every doubt I had"
Stubbornness again.
It's not as simple as How much you think you care You would never know When to take the hint Broken glass aside My feelings stay the same Covered head to toe In blood and fear and spite
And this refers to the bad feeling at the end of the relationship. Broken glass makes me think of destruction. Once it's been destroyed he's still in spite.
As with most of Snow Patrol lyrics you can take these in a number of ways. The above is just what I think. It would be nice to see other people's opinions on the song.