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.
Our bed we live, our bed we sleep
Making love and I become you
Flesh is warm with naked feet
Stabbing thorns and you become me
Oh
I'd beg for you
Oh
You know I'll beg for you
Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine
Take a bath I'll drink the water that you leave
If you should die before me ask if you could bring a friend
Pick a flower hold your breath and drift away
She holds my hand, we share a laugh
Sipping orange blossom breezes
Love is still and sweat remains
A cherished gift unselfish feeling
Oh
I'd beg for you
Oh
You know I'll beg for you
Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine
Take a bath I'll drink the water that you leave
If you should die before me ask if you could bring a friend
Pick a flower hold your breath and drift away
She tells me things, I listen well
Drink the wine and save the water
Skin is smooth, I steal a glance
Dragon flies are gliding over
Oh
I'd beg for you
Oh
You know I'll beg for you
Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine
Take a bath I'll drink the water that you leave
If you should die before me ask if you could bring a friend
Pick a flower hold your breath and drift away
Making love and I become you
Flesh is warm with naked feet
Stabbing thorns and you become me
Oh
I'd beg for you
Oh
You know I'll beg for you
Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine
Take a bath I'll drink the water that you leave
If you should die before me ask if you could bring a friend
Pick a flower hold your breath and drift away
She holds my hand, we share a laugh
Sipping orange blossom breezes
Love is still and sweat remains
A cherished gift unselfish feeling
Oh
I'd beg for you
Oh
You know I'll beg for you
Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine
Take a bath I'll drink the water that you leave
If you should die before me ask if you could bring a friend
Pick a flower hold your breath and drift away
She tells me things, I listen well
Drink the wine and save the water
Skin is smooth, I steal a glance
Dragon flies are gliding over
Oh
I'd beg for you
Oh
You know I'll beg for you
Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine
Take a bath I'll drink the water that you leave
If you should die before me ask if you could bring a friend
Pick a flower hold your breath and drift away
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He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
when rules change
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Techno Ted may be a person who caused Chris incredible emotional pain & trepidation as well as moments of peace & happiness but now is removed and awaiting his fate. Darling may be a different person who is also free of him and can live her life free of Ted's tyranny. "In between all the laughing, and daydreams ... lies: a desert of truth" Lies are like a desert or the omission of Truth: Where there were Lies then Truth was absent. The song, "Techno Ted", may be a cathartic celebration of the downfall of this person.
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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.
"Take a bath, I'll drink the water that you leave. If you should die before me ask if you can bring a friend." Absolutely the two best lines about being in love I've ever heard.
Jesus... not everything is in reference to drugs. I would smack you upside the head if I could...
a simple love song, Weiland loves a girl so much he will do anything for her..
Scotts lyrics are CHARACTERIZED by double meanings and double messages/meanings, but look under love song in the dictionary and you'll find this song. I'd like to think history will look back and find Scott Weiland up there with not only the greatest vocalists in the history of man, but also a profound song writer.
I've always believed this was Scott's goodbye song to his beloved Mary before he married Janina. Mary was about 19 when Purple was released in June of 1994, hr and Janina were married in September, 94. She had been Scott's dear friend for about four years and they had been together when their careers would allow but he was marrying another. This song speaks of his deep yet innocent love for her and I feel he was saying goodbye and letting her know he'd always have these deep feelings for her, they would "still remain". I also think he went to his grave loving Mary, Jamie was someone to love and be loved by when Mary completely turned her back on him, took his kids, and moved out of state.
Scott Weiland died of a broken heart long before December 4, 2015, it just took a while to take him away completely. I pray he is at peace and knows how loved he was by so many of his fans.
@Sour Girl @Sour Girl very well written and well received. I miss Scott. He was super talented. Just a little too on the edge. Stardom does wierd things to people but love is universal. When I hear this song now that he passed it has a sadness to it I didn’t feel before. Its sad they split and its sad hes dead. Love is so awesome and so terrible. How can something be both? Not many things in this world compare to love. We all need to love one another considering we are all similar. We are all human beings.
@Sour Girl thanks for your insight and opinion! Amazing lyrics, amazing voice, amazingly talented band. My favorite band when I was growing up in the 90's. I'm so glad I looked for the meaning of this song... the lyrics are so personal, sincere, and well written (qualities I think are missing in today's music). "Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine" is the reason I looked this up. Maybe just a swap of sing a song and pick a yellow nectarine? Or maybe it's a personal inside joke or use of words between him and the girl that is not supposed to make sense to anyone else? Well that line is what originally brought me here. Another thing that's missing in today's lyrics (mystery). But I'm glad you shared your opinion, it makes a lot of sense. Very sad song, listening to it so soon after he passed away. One of my favorite lines and I think where the song meaning comes from is "love is still and sweat remains a cherished gift, unselfish feeling... oh I'd beg for you... oh, you know I'll beg for you". I agree with you, I think he is saying his love Still Remains and to him it's a cherished gift and unselfish feeling that will always remain with him.
i think it's a song about a girl he's with, letting her know how much he loves doing things with her. it's just a beautifully written simple song, celebrating love
Definately my FAV STP song!
Does anyone else think this song has a lot to do with death?
I think a lot of it is about the person you loving dying. The name itself "Still Remains" has two completely different meanings... one is love still being there and the other is someones dead body. I think scott weiland loves writing these kind of double meaning lyrics--"too much trippin and my soul/sole s worn thin"...
Anyone know of any other death references in the song or at least agree with me? I'm not really sure, but I've been thinking about it a lot.
oh i easily agree with this. melodically and lyrically Scott's a musical genius and all. I think the song has to do with both Love and Death - the seperation of Love through Death - honestly, like with many songs from this genre, and from the astronomical fame/fortune/etc. that musicians like this had , at least for a time, it was no doubt inspired by drug usage i bet.. but yeah. i'd say this song has alot to do with death- although alot of it is physical imagery throughout the verses.. which is very much life.. but the underlying concept, yup
It has a lot of "carpe diem" stuff, which is directly related to the inevitable death, but I don't think there's a dead person already. I think it's the fear of death (yours or your loved one's) that you suddenly have when everything is perfect.
This is obviosly a love song, its not really about drugs or death. The quote " if you should die before me ask if you can bring a friend" basiclly stateing that if she "were" to die he'd follow shortly afterward. Its a beautiful song/
this is a LOVELY SONG