As I see it, the song is indeed about resignation by the letter-writer, but not just at the fact that his love for Elise is gone. He also - a most importantly - seems to have realized that, back when his love was whole, he loved Elise more than she loved him and that, no matter how hard he tried or how well she pretended, he had never been able to change that. He makes it as clear as poetic language will allow that it was due to this imbalance in the relationship that he let his heart move away (Oh Elise it doesn't matter what you do / I know I'll never really get inside of you / To make your eyes catch fire / The way they should The way the blue could pull me in / If they only would / If they only would / At least I'd lose this sense of sensing something else / That hides away / From me and you).
He´s painfully reminded of that imbalance at breakup, when she was obviously more capable than he was of keeping her cool and holding herself together (Yesterday / I stood and stared / Wide-eyed in front of you / And the face I saw looked back / The way I wanted to / But I just can't hold my tears away / The way you do). She managed because her pain was simply not as huge.
In short, what this song tells you, in my view, is that love´s gotta be returned in the exact same amount it is given, otherwise it goes sour.
As I see it, the song is indeed about resignation by the letter-writer, but not just at the fact that his love for Elise is gone. He also - a most importantly - seems to have realized that, back when his love was whole, he loved Elise more than she loved him and that, no matter how hard he tried or how well she pretended, he had never been able to change that. He makes it as clear as poetic language will allow that it was due to this imbalance in the relationship that he let his heart move away (Oh Elise it doesn't matter what you do / I know I'll never really get inside of you / To make your eyes catch fire / The way they should The way the blue could pull me in / If they only would / If they only would / At least I'd lose this sense of sensing something else / That hides away / From me and you).
He´s painfully reminded of that imbalance at breakup, when she was obviously more capable than he was of keeping her cool and holding herself together (Yesterday / I stood and stared / Wide-eyed in front of you / And the face I saw looked back / The way I wanted to / But I just can't hold my tears away / The way you do). She managed because her pain was simply not as huge.
In short, what this song tells you, in my view, is that love´s gotta be returned in the exact same amount it is given, otherwise it goes sour.
Man this is so well put. thanks
Man this is so well put. thanks
@lostinrio very well explained. I have the exact same interpretation.
@lostinrio very well explained. I have the exact same interpretation.
@lostinrio Commenting on an ancient post - but well done :)
@lostinrio Commenting on an ancient post - but well done :)
@lostinrio
@lostinrio
Glad you liked it! I love the song and the more I listen to it, the more I’m convinced it’s about love dying because it’s unrequited.
Glad you liked it! I love the song and the more I listen to it, the more I’m convinced it’s about love dying because it’s unrequited.
@lostinrio THANK YOU and beautiful song. SO The Cure. Love this song.......
@lostinrio THANK YOU and beautiful song. SO The Cure. Love this song.......