I've always heard this song as being about writer's block, and the pressure the band (and in particular the lyricist) feel to provide new albums. It all harks back to the line 'The English are waiting' in 'Mr November'. The English are of course the band's label (4AD/Beggars):
'Feeling I've lost today' - Writer's Block
'You must be somewhere in London,you must be loving your life in the rain' - forlorn feelings about the label, and resentment at the pressure they are causing.
'Walking Abbey Lane' - a further image of music in England, he meant of course Abbey Road, hence the next line, 'I don't even think to make corrections.'
'Famous angels never come through England, England gets the ones you never need' - a dig at the England's Anglicanism; saying that all the well known saints are revered by (or come from) other countries and other religions.
Carrying on the religious theme, the lyricist is now 'in a Los Angeles cathedral' and the choir is singing ('minor singing airheads sing for me').
The lyricist then realises that the problem isn't the record label in England, but himself:
'Put an ocean and river between everybody ever, between everything, yourself and home' — it is his own difficulties at relating to people.
'Afraid of the height cause they're desperate to entertain' - his fear of having to perform and the fame it might bring.
(The lyricist then goes on to write 'High Violet'. Much to England's delight.)
I've always heard this song as being about writer's block, and the pressure the band (and in particular the lyricist) feel to provide new albums. It all harks back to the line 'The English are waiting' in 'Mr November'. The English are of course the band's label (4AD/Beggars):
'Feeling I've lost today' - Writer's Block
'You must be somewhere in London,you must be loving your life in the rain' - forlorn feelings about the label, and resentment at the pressure they are causing.
'Walking Abbey Lane' - a further image of music in England, he meant of course Abbey Road, hence the next line, 'I don't even think to make corrections.'
'Famous angels never come through England, England gets the ones you never need' - a dig at the England's Anglicanism; saying that all the well known saints are revered by (or come from) other countries and other religions.
Carrying on the religious theme, the lyricist is now 'in a Los Angeles cathedral' and the choir is singing ('minor singing airheads sing for me').
The lyricist then realises that the problem isn't the record label in England, but himself:
'Put an ocean and river between everybody ever, between everything, yourself and home' — it is his own difficulties at relating to people.
'Afraid of the height cause they're desperate to entertain' - his fear of having to perform and the fame it might bring.
(The lyricist then goes on to write 'High Violet'. Much to England's delight.)
Good work CCammy. Best explanation on here in my opinion.
Good work CCammy. Best explanation on here in my opinion.