Well, in my opinion this song is about being a young & maybe a little naive &/or introverted girl and finding yourself loving a man who is at first very charming, carefree & outgoing, and seems at first to be without limits, as in
"There was a time
you opened up every doorway
you didn't mind if everything
wasn't your way"
then that man starts to gradually become more introverted & shows their more possessive/obsessive side to you as the relationship progresses, even while they keep up the appearance of being carefree & outgoing to everyone else,
"Don't pull away
that goes against what you told me
I look in your eyes
I realize what you've sold me
is love in a vacuum"
so you confront them about the way they're acting and of course they deny it,
"I think you've changed
but you insist that
that's not true"
quite possibly they are an addict of some sort, my guess would be cocaine, &/or showing very obsessive behavior towards you (early on in the video for this song we see the man hanging a picture up, it is a very large portrait of Aimee & it is prominently displayed in his/their apartment for the duration of the song), thus their "love in a vacuum",
"You look so strange, so distant
that you're hardly you
Now I can see
how you have been acting different
You say it's me
but I know
that it isn't
it's love in a vacuum"
but still you are in love with them and don't want to leave them and you know that they are truly in love with you and they don't want you to leave them either, maybe they are convinced you can save them from themself, maybe they are so broken that the possibility of an overdose &/or suicide attempt is very real and you want to get through to them that their behavior not only dangerous but it is also just pissing you off and if they don't wise up they run the risk of loosing you, as in the lines
"You will be lonely
if you leave me alone", so you want to save them but can't get through to them due to the addiction &/or emotional problems they have,
"Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
love in a vacuum
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
You will be lonely
if you leave me alone
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough"
you want them to understand that the love they are giving you is not enough when it is filtered through the vacuum of their drug addiction &/or emotional impairment,
"You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough
and just wait
you will be lonely
Love in a vacuum
Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
Love in a vacuum".
'Love In A Vacuum' for me is a hauntingly truthful acute argument on the loneliness of obsession and almost inevitable loss of love that follows people who are broken in some way or another; the obsessives, the coke heads, the drunks, addicts or the just-plain-old emotionally broken; a razor sharp, lyrically driven, deceptively poppy, yet ultimately-depressing-in-the-best-way song.
Quintessential Aimee Mann.
Hello, you fool, I love you
C'mon join the joyride
I hit the road out of nowhere
I had to jump in my car
And be a rider in a love game
Following the stars
Don't need a book of wisdom
I get no money talk at all
She has a train going downtown
She's got a club on the moon
And she's telling all her secrets
In a wonderful balloon
She's the heart of the funfair
She's got me whistling a private tune
And it all begins where it ends
And she's all mine, my magic friend
She says, "hello, you fool, I love you
C'mon join the joyride"
Join the joyride
She's a flower, I could paint her
She's a child of the sun
We're a part of this together
Could never turn around and run
Don't need no fortune teller
To know where my lucky love belongs, whoa no
'Cause it all begins again when it ends, yeah
And we're all magic friends (magic friends, magic friends)
She says, "hello, you fool, I love you
C'mon join the joyride"
Join the joyride
She says, "hello (hello), you fool (you fool), I love you (I love you)
C'mon join the joyride"
Be a joyrider, ow
I'll take you on a sky ride
I'm feeling like I'm spellbound
The sunshine is a lady
Who rocks you like a baby
She says, "hello (hello) you fool (you fool) I love you (I love you)
C'mon join the joyride"
Join the joyride
Hello, you fool, I love you
C'mon join the joyride
Join the joyride
Hello, hello, you fool, I love you
C'mon, c'mon join the joyride
Be a joyrider
Roxette
C'mon join the joyride
I hit the road out of nowhere
I had to jump in my car
And be a rider in a love game
Following the stars
Don't need a book of wisdom
I get no money talk at all
She has a train going downtown
She's got a club on the moon
And she's telling all her secrets
In a wonderful balloon
She's the heart of the funfair
She's got me whistling a private tune
And it all begins where it ends
And she's all mine, my magic friend
She says, "hello, you fool, I love you
C'mon join the joyride"
Join the joyride
She's a flower, I could paint her
She's a child of the sun
We're a part of this together
Could never turn around and run
Don't need no fortune teller
To know where my lucky love belongs, whoa no
'Cause it all begins again when it ends, yeah
And we're all magic friends (magic friends, magic friends)
She says, "hello, you fool, I love you
C'mon join the joyride"
Join the joyride
She says, "hello (hello), you fool (you fool), I love you (I love you)
C'mon join the joyride"
Be a joyrider, ow
I'll take you on a sky ride
I'm feeling like I'm spellbound
The sunshine is a lady
Who rocks you like a baby
She says, "hello (hello) you fool (you fool) I love you (I love you)
C'mon join the joyride"
Join the joyride
Hello, you fool, I love you
C'mon join the joyride
Join the joyride
Hello, hello, you fool, I love you
C'mon, c'mon join the joyride
Be a joyrider
Roxette
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its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
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The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
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good song... God, im 19, but even i'll admit that the 80's and early 90's had some great music.
We'd listen to this cassette driving up to soccer games blaring. Great album. :)
This song is about too people being madly in love with each other. A classic rock song that was excellent played live.
what no comments?
this song is classic
Love the whistle part - Dam Swedes know how write a catchy tune!
I think this song is about drugs. Many people who take drugs, particularly uppers, often refer to it as a joyride.
"and we're all magic friends." Perhaps the drugs were taken with a group of people.
Not all songs are about being in love, a good song writer has an amazing way with words.
heard this at a gas station the other morning and loved it immediately. Only to find out that it was done by the group who sings one of my favorite songs of all time "The Look". score.
This is about a guy who has fallen madly in love with an unusual and sponateous fun-loving girl, and he is swept along in her adventures and the crazy, fun things she does and can't believe his luck that she loves him too.