I don't want to knock anyone's interpretations, but as the final track of an album with extreme overtones about a failing relationship... wouldn't it seem more plausible that this song is the speaker's concession to the end? Especially coming on the heels of "All of the Ways," which is a song about the speaker's lover moving on?
The album is a concept piece. In that regards, the position of each song is terribly important for the story and can't be taken on its own. The latter half of the album, especially in "Try It On" and "All of the Ways," seems to suggest the couple was trying to maintain some sort of friendly relationship after the fall of their own romantic interlude. "The Undoing" is the speaker's sad admission that he can't pretend to be okay anymore, that he has come "undone" as a person because of this relationship. He was "chasing his damage," (damage being the partner) with the hopes he or she would change their mind. This song makes it clear that they aren't.
Being "chased, thrilled and altered," is more a testament to growing process we go through in love, although in this case, it seems for the worse. The Spanish lines are unbelievably poignant, like a detachment -- he can't bring himself to say he's lost everything in his own Native tongue -- as if this will lessen the blow of the actuality. Earlier in the album, the speaker asks his partner to release him, and at 3:04 in this song, you can clearly hear him say, "Please, please, release me." A beautiful song and album. I can only imagine it had to be written from personal experience, which is all the more heartbreaking.
I'd also like to add, the line, "I was chasing my damage/because I was chased, thrilled and altered," could also be the courting process the speaker endured with his partner, and lend credence (for him) as to why he pursued something that was so obviously over. He was altered fundamentally as a person by his partner's love, "it raised me" suggesting that their love forced him to mature and become the better person.
I'd also like to add, the line, "I was chasing my damage/because I was chased, thrilled and altered," could also be the courting process the speaker endured with his partner, and lend credence (for him) as to why he pursued something that was so obviously over. He was altered fundamentally as a person by his partner's love, "it raised me" suggesting that their love forced him to mature and become the better person.
Now I'm just harping, but I can't help it, because I'm an English grad student. What else I am gonna do? Plus, every time I listen to it, I get a new perspective.
Now I'm just harping, but I can't help it, because I'm an English grad student. What else I am gonna do? Plus, every time I listen to it, I get a new perspective.
In this song, the speaker is going to tell his partner they can't speak anymore, that he can't operate in this fabricated world of friendship, while the partner moves on. He is going to tell him/her that their "relationship," in all facets of the word, is "undoing" him as a person. But he doesn't. Sometime stops him. His co-dependency I think. That's why he begs his partner to release him, that's why the song and album ends with him begging, "Please, please... the place we're in now..." He is equating it to Hell. There is no end for him, until his partner finally leaves.
The lines: "I always thought you had great style/And style was worthwhile/Because I was
I was on my way..." suggests a superficiality when it all started (i.e. the song "Success") that the speaker was headed for "stardom" (if we operate under the notion he is an up-and-coming musician) and how their relationship has derailed him. He can no longer differentiate himself from the relationship. He is clinically co-dependent, despite his desperate attempts to stop. It's heart-breaking.
Did anybody else hear "Alone. All alone," layered underneath at 2:49. Sweet God. How depressing. Paul is a genius. I really disliked this album at first, but the more I explore the themes, the more I adore it.
I think you summed up the whole album pretty well.. nice job :) I love how Paul can sound so twisted and dark.. but at the same time very emotional. Genius! :)
I think you summed up the whole album pretty well.. nice job :) I love how Paul can sound so twisted and dark.. but at the same time very emotional. Genius! :)
I don't want to knock anyone's interpretations, but as the final track of an album with extreme overtones about a failing relationship... wouldn't it seem more plausible that this song is the speaker's concession to the end? Especially coming on the heels of "All of the Ways," which is a song about the speaker's lover moving on?
The album is a concept piece. In that regards, the position of each song is terribly important for the story and can't be taken on its own. The latter half of the album, especially in "Try It On" and "All of the Ways," seems to suggest the couple was trying to maintain some sort of friendly relationship after the fall of their own romantic interlude. "The Undoing" is the speaker's sad admission that he can't pretend to be okay anymore, that he has come "undone" as a person because of this relationship. He was "chasing his damage," (damage being the partner) with the hopes he or she would change their mind. This song makes it clear that they aren't.
Being "chased, thrilled and altered," is more a testament to growing process we go through in love, although in this case, it seems for the worse. The Spanish lines are unbelievably poignant, like a detachment -- he can't bring himself to say he's lost everything in his own Native tongue -- as if this will lessen the blow of the actuality. Earlier in the album, the speaker asks his partner to release him, and at 3:04 in this song, you can clearly hear him say, "Please, please, release me." A beautiful song and album. I can only imagine it had to be written from personal experience, which is all the more heartbreaking.
I'd also like to add, the line, "I was chasing my damage/because I was chased, thrilled and altered," could also be the courting process the speaker endured with his partner, and lend credence (for him) as to why he pursued something that was so obviously over. He was altered fundamentally as a person by his partner's love, "it raised me" suggesting that their love forced him to mature and become the better person.
I'd also like to add, the line, "I was chasing my damage/because I was chased, thrilled and altered," could also be the courting process the speaker endured with his partner, and lend credence (for him) as to why he pursued something that was so obviously over. He was altered fundamentally as a person by his partner's love, "it raised me" suggesting that their love forced him to mature and become the better person.
Now I'm just harping, but I can't help it, because I'm an English grad student. What else I am gonna do? Plus, every time I listen to it, I get a new perspective.
Now I'm just harping, but I can't help it, because I'm an English grad student. What else I am gonna do? Plus, every time I listen to it, I get a new perspective.
In this song, the speaker is going to tell his partner they can't speak anymore, that he can't operate in this fabricated world of friendship, while the partner moves on. He is going to tell him/her that their "relationship," in all facets of the word, is "undoing" him as a person. But he doesn't. Sometime stops him. His co-dependency I think. That's why he begs his partner to release him, that's why the song and album ends with him begging, "Please, please... the place we're in now..." He is equating it to Hell. There is no end for him, until his partner finally leaves.
The lines: "I always thought you had great style/And style was worthwhile/Because I was I was on my way..." suggests a superficiality when it all started (i.e. the song "Success") that the speaker was headed for "stardom" (if we operate under the notion he is an up-and-coming musician) and how their relationship has derailed him. He can no longer differentiate himself from the relationship. He is clinically co-dependent, despite his desperate attempts to stop. It's heart-breaking.
Did anybody else hear "Alone. All alone," layered underneath at 2:49. Sweet God. How depressing. Paul is a genius. I really disliked this album at first, but the more I explore the themes, the more I adore it.
I think you summed up the whole album pretty well.. nice job :) I love how Paul can sound so twisted and dark.. but at the same time very emotional. Genius! :)
I think you summed up the whole album pretty well.. nice job :) I love how Paul can sound so twisted and dark.. but at the same time very emotional. Genius! :)
@beccathelion this is the saddest interpretation
@beccathelion this is the saddest interpretation