Phoenix says its a fantasy of Paris at end of the 19th century, but the lyrics don't lend themselves to a strictly historical interpretation. At the same time, it's hard to justify that this song is simply about a relationship a girl. I take Phoenix's comment as a hint. The intended meaning somehow merges the two themes, so here's my attempt at a synthesis.
Take an image of a couple in confrontation about their relationship. The song is portrayed from the man's perspective, and he his thoughts are detached from the moment and drifting away as she's speaking. She's talking about things that have happened between them in the past and what they have to do now to fix it. He doesn't care and is not even following her logic, because to him it all doesn't matter -- the future's been sorted out. He knows the relationship is not going to work out and has no illusions over it.
She grabs his attention, "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey." This is urgent for her -- she's on the verge of breaking up. He's still not taking it seriously. To him her troubles are trivial. He's thinking that they should just fall back to bed, have sex, and enjoy themselves like they have before. He knows the relationship won't last and won't even bother give her the impression that it will. He's going to fold this one and move on.
In between her protests, his thoughts drift away again. He's relating his situation to that of Paris in the late 19th century. Paris was bustling and great then when they built the Eiffel Tower, which they thought was an eyesore that would eventually go away -- but it didn't. Now Paris is stuck in the past while the world is moving on. In the same way, his relationship with his girlfriend was great in the past, but he knows better now. Rather than investing to build an Eiffel tower of their relationship and glorify their past, he's going avoid the fate of Paris and move on.
This is a historical metaphor for a decision about not investing in a present relationship! Wow Phoenix! Cool.
That's a a fantastic synthesis, it's the division between what things are now and what they could be in the future. We rest on our laurels or boldly move forward.
That's a a fantastic synthesis, it's the division between what things are now and what they could be in the future. We rest on our laurels or boldly move forward.
Phoenix says its a fantasy of Paris at end of the 19th century, but the lyrics don't lend themselves to a strictly historical interpretation. At the same time, it's hard to justify that this song is simply about a relationship a girl. I take Phoenix's comment as a hint. The intended meaning somehow merges the two themes, so here's my attempt at a synthesis.
Take an image of a couple in confrontation about their relationship. The song is portrayed from the man's perspective, and he his thoughts are detached from the moment and drifting away as she's speaking. She's talking about things that have happened between them in the past and what they have to do now to fix it. He doesn't care and is not even following her logic, because to him it all doesn't matter -- the future's been sorted out. He knows the relationship is not going to work out and has no illusions over it.
She grabs his attention, "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey." This is urgent for her -- she's on the verge of breaking up. He's still not taking it seriously. To him her troubles are trivial. He's thinking that they should just fall back to bed, have sex, and enjoy themselves like they have before. He knows the relationship won't last and won't even bother give her the impression that it will. He's going to fold this one and move on.
In between her protests, his thoughts drift away again. He's relating his situation to that of Paris in the late 19th century. Paris was bustling and great then when they built the Eiffel Tower, which they thought was an eyesore that would eventually go away -- but it didn't. Now Paris is stuck in the past while the world is moving on. In the same way, his relationship with his girlfriend was great in the past, but he knows better now. Rather than investing to build an Eiffel tower of their relationship and glorify their past, he's going avoid the fate of Paris and move on.
This is a historical metaphor for a decision about not investing in a present relationship! Wow Phoenix! Cool.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH, NOW I get the meanings. Thanks. I had NO clue whatsoever.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH, NOW I get the meanings. Thanks. I had NO clue whatsoever.
That's a a fantastic synthesis, it's the division between what things are now and what they could be in the future. We rest on our laurels or boldly move forward.
That's a a fantastic synthesis, it's the division between what things are now and what they could be in the future. We rest on our laurels or boldly move forward.