Personally, I believe this song is her side of her and Charlie Fink's break-up.
Clearly the first reason for believing this is the lyric "I'd be sad that I never held your hand as you were lowered." which I (and most people seem to) see as a direct reference to Noah and the Whale's Hold My Hand As I'm Lowered - a song which I think was written about how Charlie wanted Laura to stay with him through everything. Generally the whole of NATW's first album was written about Laura and definitely the whole of the second was. I think Laura perhaps found this a bit difficult to deal with, "You never did learn to let me be." I think she is trying to say that really it was all too much for her, she didn't so much want space or to be away from Charlie but she just wanted him to not be so clingy (as such).
I also think this song is about how she chose Marcus Mumford over Charlie Fink, she says "I couldn't turn my back on a sweet smelling blackberry stone." Blackberry stones aren't really something you hear of often - or ever! Perhaps she is suggesting that Marcus was too special for her to warrant going back to Charlie... Although she still loves him, maybe? "I'll whisper that I love this man now and for forever to your soul as it floats out of the window." I have always thought this was about Charlie, how she will always love him but she just doesn't want to be with him anymore.
Personally, I believe this song is her side of her and Charlie Fink's break-up.
Clearly the first reason for believing this is the lyric "I'd be sad that I never held your hand as you were lowered." which I (and most people seem to) see as a direct reference to Noah and the Whale's Hold My Hand As I'm Lowered - a song which I think was written about how Charlie wanted Laura to stay with him through everything. Generally the whole of NATW's first album was written about Laura and definitely the whole of the second was. I think Laura perhaps found this a bit difficult to deal with, "You never did learn to let me be." I think she is trying to say that really it was all too much for her, she didn't so much want space or to be away from Charlie but she just wanted him to not be so clingy (as such). I also think this song is about how she chose Marcus Mumford over Charlie Fink, she says "I couldn't turn my back on a sweet smelling blackberry stone." Blackberry stones aren't really something you hear of often - or ever! Perhaps she is suggesting that Marcus was too special for her to warrant going back to Charlie... Although she still loves him, maybe? "I'll whisper that I love this man now and for forever to your soul as it floats out of the window." I have always thought this was about Charlie, how she will always love him but she just doesn't want to be with him anymore.
Just my idea, though!