This song makes me think of "the one that got away", an unrequited love. Lines like "We tripped the light and danced together to the moon" and "I never knew her, but I loved her just the same, I loved her name" and the fact that it's written in past tense also makes me think it's about a kid in love... or at least that they were very young at the time. The first verse tells you right away that his feelings weren't returned:
"But who's to blame?
For a love that wouldn't bloom
For the hearts that never played in tune"
I think the lines "Like a lovely melody that everyone can sing, Take away the words that rhyme it doesn't mean a thing" are a metaphor for love. Anyone can fall in love, but if the person doesn't feel the same way about you, then it doesn't mean anything. So, "words that rhyme" would be a metaphor for that "connection" that two people have between each other. I don't really understand the second verse, starting from "But where was June". I agree with agentelibre; the line "If I can't have the one I want, I'll do without the best" is very powerful. It shows how much he deeply loved this woman, to set her apart from every other person and put her above anyone else despite the fact he can't have her. If you read the last two lines of every verse, I think they are the best and put the most meaning into the song. Well, that's my take. It's a bit long, but there aren't that many comments on here anyway. :P
I agree. I have always interpreted this song in terms of an unrequited love ... a love "from afar" if you will ... one of those (I've had many in my life) where you develop a passionate crush on someone from afar, and feel like you are totally completely in love with the person, even though they never reciprocate it ... you're never actually 'together' in a relationship with them. However, some of the lines have always confused me, and they do make sense if you interpret the song as being about a baby that miscarried, or was...
I agree. I have always interpreted this song in terms of an unrequited love ... a love "from afar" if you will ... one of those (I've had many in my life) where you develop a passionate crush on someone from afar, and feel like you are totally completely in love with the person, even though they never reciprocate it ... you're never actually 'together' in a relationship with them. However, some of the lines have always confused me, and they do make sense if you interpret the song as being about a baby that miscarried, or was aborted, etc. Although .. not all of the lines fit well with that interpretation either. In the end, unless the writer has explained it somewhere, we will never know. Many of the best songs in the world contain lines that are mysterious, and are only understood privately by the author alone.
@HausMaus I love your reply and interpretation of
the lyrics. You said you didn’t understand “But where was June?” I think that means the free and easy months of summer, the fun and laughter after a relationship becomes secure and safe. They never reached that part. It all fell apart to soon.
@HausMaus I love your reply and interpretation of
the lyrics. You said you didn’t understand “But where was June?” I think that means the free and easy months of summer, the fun and laughter after a relationship becomes secure and safe. They never reached that part. It all fell apart to soon.
This song makes me think of "the one that got away", an unrequited love. Lines like "We tripped the light and danced together to the moon" and "I never knew her, but I loved her just the same, I loved her name" and the fact that it's written in past tense also makes me think it's about a kid in love... or at least that they were very young at the time. The first verse tells you right away that his feelings weren't returned: "But who's to blame? For a love that wouldn't bloom For the hearts that never played in tune" I think the lines "Like a lovely melody that everyone can sing, Take away the words that rhyme it doesn't mean a thing" are a metaphor for love. Anyone can fall in love, but if the person doesn't feel the same way about you, then it doesn't mean anything. So, "words that rhyme" would be a metaphor for that "connection" that two people have between each other. I don't really understand the second verse, starting from "But where was June". I agree with agentelibre; the line "If I can't have the one I want, I'll do without the best" is very powerful. It shows how much he deeply loved this woman, to set her apart from every other person and put her above anyone else despite the fact he can't have her. If you read the last two lines of every verse, I think they are the best and put the most meaning into the song. Well, that's my take. It's a bit long, but there aren't that many comments on here anyway. :P
I agree. I have always interpreted this song in terms of an unrequited love ... a love "from afar" if you will ... one of those (I've had many in my life) where you develop a passionate crush on someone from afar, and feel like you are totally completely in love with the person, even though they never reciprocate it ... you're never actually 'together' in a relationship with them. However, some of the lines have always confused me, and they do make sense if you interpret the song as being about a baby that miscarried, or was...
I agree. I have always interpreted this song in terms of an unrequited love ... a love "from afar" if you will ... one of those (I've had many in my life) where you develop a passionate crush on someone from afar, and feel like you are totally completely in love with the person, even though they never reciprocate it ... you're never actually 'together' in a relationship with them. However, some of the lines have always confused me, and they do make sense if you interpret the song as being about a baby that miscarried, or was aborted, etc. Although .. not all of the lines fit well with that interpretation either. In the end, unless the writer has explained it somewhere, we will never know. Many of the best songs in the world contain lines that are mysterious, and are only understood privately by the author alone.
@HausMaus I love your reply and interpretation of the lyrics. You said you didn’t understand “But where was June?” I think that means the free and easy months of summer, the fun and laughter after a relationship becomes secure and safe. They never reached that part. It all fell apart to soon.
@HausMaus I love your reply and interpretation of the lyrics. You said you didn’t understand “But where was June?” I think that means the free and easy months of summer, the fun and laughter after a relationship becomes secure and safe. They never reached that part. It all fell apart to soon.