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.
Well, hello let's start back again
On the same plane, in the same pane
But I'm movin', movin' in a new direction
A new section with a selection of rhymes
Hot to make you unwind
This is time to just feel fine
Well, ain't that the way it's supposed to be?
Are you feeling free?
And it goes
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Well, feeling free, release your inhibitions
Go forth, achieve your ambitions
Your goals, your aims, whatever you claim to be yours
If that's the nature of this game
The game is life and life's so hard
Even more if you get down with the wrong card
Well, play to win, don't give in
'Cause seriously, I'll tell you something
It ain't no joke 'cause if you can't cope
And your whole life's going up in smoke
Or you're feeling down
Lost and rejected
And all you want to be is respected
By society and the community
Because ain't that the way it's supposed to be
I mean feeling free
And it goes
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Well, this society is sayin' what you can and can't do
But in my mind as I say is that true?
Like the man that they said is unemployable
How could he ever live a life enjoyable?
When he faked the feelings of no use
After all take the abuse and shame recall the promenade
How could he ever be in the right frame of mind?
When his life is unkind
Nobody wants to take the time to say
Listen there's another way
You don't have to live your life in this downtrodden way
Maybe your job isn't the answer
But take a look up
And take a glance at the alternatives
And what it has to give and put that in the way
That you wanna live your life, yeah
Do what you wanna do
Really what you wanna do
Whatever comes to you naturally
I mean feeling free
And it goes
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Yo, so if you ever havin' a problem
Don't run and hide, come out and face it head on
Because you're strong enough to win
And go on to pass through the test that life has to offer
And beat it with ease and be on top of the cloud
All the while and when you finished that
Emerge with a smile upon your face and that way
We'll have a happy face and funky face for a loving race
And that's being free and you all know how it goes
It goes
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
On the same plane, in the same pane
But I'm movin', movin' in a new direction
A new section with a selection of rhymes
Hot to make you unwind
This is time to just feel fine
Well, ain't that the way it's supposed to be?
Are you feeling free?
And it goes
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Well, feeling free, release your inhibitions
Go forth, achieve your ambitions
Your goals, your aims, whatever you claim to be yours
If that's the nature of this game
The game is life and life's so hard
Even more if you get down with the wrong card
Well, play to win, don't give in
'Cause seriously, I'll tell you something
It ain't no joke 'cause if you can't cope
And your whole life's going up in smoke
Or you're feeling down
Lost and rejected
And all you want to be is respected
By society and the community
Because ain't that the way it's supposed to be
I mean feeling free
And it goes
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Well, this society is sayin' what you can and can't do
But in my mind as I say is that true?
Like the man that they said is unemployable
How could he ever live a life enjoyable?
When he faked the feelings of no use
After all take the abuse and shame recall the promenade
How could he ever be in the right frame of mind?
When his life is unkind
Nobody wants to take the time to say
Listen there's another way
You don't have to live your life in this downtrodden way
Maybe your job isn't the answer
But take a look up
And take a glance at the alternatives
And what it has to give and put that in the way
That you wanna live your life, yeah
Do what you wanna do
Really what you wanna do
Whatever comes to you naturally
I mean feeling free
And it goes
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Yo, so if you ever havin' a problem
Don't run and hide, come out and face it head on
Because you're strong enough to win
And go on to pass through the test that life has to offer
And beat it with ease and be on top of the cloud
All the while and when you finished that
Emerge with a smile upon your face and that way
We'll have a happy face and funky face for a loving race
And that's being free and you all know how it goes
It goes
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you, tu, are you
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Feeling Free Lyrics as written by Markus Friedrich Staab Claus Zundel
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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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.
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The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”