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.
(Ah, ah)
There was a time when I was in a hurry as you are
I was like you
There was a day when I just had to tell my point of view
I was like you
Now I don't mean to make you frown
No, I just want you to slow down
Have you never been mellow?
Have you never tried to find a comfort from inside you?
Have you never been happy just to hear your song?
Have you never let someone else be strong?
Running around as you do with your head up in the clouds
I was like you
Never had time to lay back, kick your shoes off, close your eyes
I was like you
Now you're not hard to understand
You need someone to take your hand
Have you never been mellow?
Have you never tried to find a comfort from inside you?
Have you never been happy just to hear your song?
Have you never let someone else be strong?
(Ah)
There was a time when I was in a hurry as you are
I was like you
There was a day when I just had to tell my point of view
I was like you
Now I don't mean to make you frown
No, I just want you to slow down
Have you never been mellow?
Have you never tried to find a comfort from inside you?
Have you never been happy just to hear your song?
Have you never let someone else be strong?
Running around as you do with your head up in the clouds
I was like you
Never had time to lay back, kick your shoes off, close your eyes
I was like you
Now you're not hard to understand
You need someone to take your hand
Have you never been mellow?
Have you never tried to find a comfort from inside you?
Have you never been happy just to hear your song?
Have you never let someone else be strong?
(Ah)
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The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
It looks like I am the 1st to comment on this great song.
They lyrics are interesting as they broach a subject which really hasn't been covered too much in rock/pop literature. Basically there is somebody with a Type A personality who is running around all frantic and the singer is saying "Hey man. It is OK to stop and smell the roses a bit. Relax and enjoy life. The simple things are what counts."
It isn't all just about achieving goals and making the cash. They joys of Inner Peace are not to be underestimated.
Deceivingly simple lyric, with an unusual point of view. The singer is almost reprimanding the listener for being delusionoid and ego-driven ("There was a time when I was is a hurry as you are", "There was a time when I just had to give my point of view", while immediately softening the blow with humbling self-awareness and identification: ( "I was like you".) The message is never "I'm better than you", but rather, "C'mon, wake up allready!"
The singer has a quiet self-awareness, "been there/done that", yet never shies away from pointing up her friends' endrenched denial. (Friend? Current or forner lover? New but transparent acquaintance?) Deliberately unlcear, and nice that a romantic relationship iis NOT assmed. (That's OUR assumption, based on the alluring melody. It's not in the lyrics.) The singer reads some serious inventory ("Now you're not hard to understand",) but isn't out to make the other feel "less-than" . She simply sees right thru him, and isn't afraid to say so.
Finally, "Have you never trired to find a comfort from inside you?" and the zinger "Have you never let someone else be strong?" introduce self-reflection and vulnerability (of all things!) as being the ironic keys to happiness that have apparently eluded "the other". Still, there are no ego-driven demands. The singer is offers a chance for salvation, but doesn't engage in co-dependent expectations. Even the strident "You need someone to take your hand" rightly emphasises the word "someone". It will not necessarily be the singer. A possible romantic subtext is there, but not necessarily. WE read that into this song because we're distracted by a strong,,alluring melody. But the lyricist makes no promises. Just as likely, the denial is too deep, there is no epiphany, and the 2 never speak again. ONJ's original, bitter-sweet interpretation recognizes this as a possible and likely outcome.
It seems to describe all the benefits of meditation (from what I hear about mediation).
"Have you never tried to find a comfort from inside you? "
"...lay back, kick your shoes off, close your eyes"
One can be productive and mellow at the same time. In fact, higher productivity likely results in the long run.
This song, both lyrically and performance wise, is the logical antecedent to Anarchy In The U.K