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.
Hey
Hey
Hey
Your lipstick stains
On the front lobe of my left side brains
I knew I wouldn't forget you
And so I went and let you blow my mind
Your sweet moonbeam
The smell of you in every single dream I dream
I knew when we collided
You're the one I have decided who's one of my kind
Hey, soul sister
Ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo?
The way you move ain't fair, you know
Hey, soul sister
I don't wanna miss a single thing you do
Tonight
Hey
Hey
Hey
Just in time
I'm so glad you have a one-track mind like me
You gave my life direction
A game show love connection we can't deny
I'm so obsessed
My heart is bound to beat right out my untrimmed chest
I believe in you, like a virgin, you're Madonna
And I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind
Hey, soul sister
Ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo?
The way you move ain't fair, you know
Hey, soul sister
I don't wanna miss a single thing you do
Tonight
The way you can cut a rug
Watching you's the only drug I need
So gangster, I'm so thug
You're the only one I'm dreaming of, you see
I can be myself now finally
In fact there's nothing I can't be
I want the world to see you be with me
Hey, soul sister
Ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo?
The way you move ain't fair, you know
Hey, soul sister
I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight
Hey, soul sister
I don't wanna miss a single thing you do
Tonight
Hey
Hey
Hey
Tonight
Hey
Hey
Hey
Tonight
Hey
Hey
Your lipstick stains
On the front lobe of my left side brains
I knew I wouldn't forget you
And so I went and let you blow my mind
Your sweet moonbeam
The smell of you in every single dream I dream
I knew when we collided
You're the one I have decided who's one of my kind
Hey, soul sister
Ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo?
The way you move ain't fair, you know
Hey, soul sister
I don't wanna miss a single thing you do
Tonight
Hey
Hey
Hey
Just in time
I'm so glad you have a one-track mind like me
You gave my life direction
A game show love connection we can't deny
I'm so obsessed
My heart is bound to beat right out my untrimmed chest
I believe in you, like a virgin, you're Madonna
And I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind
Hey, soul sister
Ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo?
The way you move ain't fair, you know
Hey, soul sister
I don't wanna miss a single thing you do
Tonight
The way you can cut a rug
Watching you's the only drug I need
So gangster, I'm so thug
You're the only one I'm dreaming of, you see
I can be myself now finally
In fact there's nothing I can't be
I want the world to see you be with me
Hey, soul sister
Ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo?
The way you move ain't fair, you know
Hey, soul sister
I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight
Hey, soul sister
I don't wanna miss a single thing you do
Tonight
Hey
Hey
Hey
Tonight
Hey
Hey
Hey
Tonight
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Hey, Soul Sister Lyrics as written by Espen Lind Amund Bjorklund
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
P.S. I love the part where he says 'The way you move aint fair you know'
Its super-fantastic!
Seems to have a lot of 80's pop culture references: Soulsister (an 80's group who had a couple songs out), Madonna's "Like a Virgin", Mr. Mister, maybe even Huey Lewis's "I want a new drug" ("Watching you's the only drug I need"... maybe?), Love Connection (the game show), New Kids on the Block's "Didn't I Blow Your Mind" ("I'm always gonna want to blow your mind")
Maybe I'm reading too much into this song!!
Going along with your 80's references...how about "You're the one I have decided who's 'one of my kind'". A nod to "Need You Tonight" by INXS??<br /> <br /> And who cares if you're reading into it too much, I'd rather read that than how much a song makes you think of your ex!
Oh wow! There are so many more references than I caught. Maybe this really was what he was going for.
You're not reading too much in, I don't think. I noticed this from the first listen; the song is rife with 80's references, ie. "untrimmed chest", your references, even the desire to "blow" her mind (the term became popular for cocaine in the era during which the drug exploded in popularity). I like to envision this as the speaker's memory of one of his early, possibly first, true love-esque experiences, and perhaps the event occurred in the 80s, which explains the references. A simple, upbeat and wholly inspiring celebratory look at the beauty and joy of budding affection.
I think you're right, these are explanatory meanings..
I completely agree with you jayger, especially when you consider that the band members pretty much grew up in the 80's. And what's kind of disappointing is how many people don't recognize the references. Like whitenoise above who had no idea who Mr. Mister was, and frankly Grim's response looks like it's right out of a google search. Mr. Mister is a great band along with just about every other musician in that decade and it's a real shame that those memories are fading out of American life, but I like songs like this that have deeper meanings and at the same time remind you of other great things.
What about if it´s not about love and a woman, but all about cocaine? Try listening again, seems to fit.
I think it's just about him finding a kindred spirit, a girl who's just like him. And he likes her.
waiiit a minutee... why is many people talking about suiside.. or getting head? is it so hard to believe that certain people just fall hard for love??
thank you! i completely agree with you. this is clearly just a cute love song. anyone who thinks its about prostitutes or getting head or suicide is just thinking wayyy to much into it.
I realize my interpretation is probably somewhat biased towards true love.
Verse 1 At first the writer seems to make an ironic comparison about suicide. The level of depression one needs to commit suicide could be the exact opposite of the glee he feels. (I would assume the lipstick was red.) I wonder if "moonbeam" is a perfume. The writer feels like he's found love at its first sight; his soul mate.
The chorus seems to allude to a one night thing, but I don't know that the rest of the song is in tune with that idea.
The second verse emphasizes how much she gets him (understands him) and how enamored he is with her. The chest hair starts a very sensual part of the song. The Madonna line is obviously a reference to her song, "Like a Virgin." However, I do think there might be a bit of heavily hidden meaning here- but i'll keep that to myself.
I don't think this song is about a one night stand. The writer talks about his dreams about her.
I think he wants to remember this night, every piece of the night.
Hmmm,sorry myIdea, but I think your answer is a little pretentious. You sound like a huge ass hole...suicide? Come on man, this song suggests nothing about death. If anything, I would say it's pretty sexual.
you may not share this view with myIdea, but you should still be polite about it devantechoward. this site is to share our ideas of what a song means, and thats exactly what they did. you can share your opinion, but still avoid insulting others.
I never meant to imply it was a suicidal song, by "ironic comparison" and then my later explanation I meant that this song was the opposite of the feelings associated with suicide.<br /> <br /> The lipstick on his head paints a picture that pairs with her "blowing his mind." The word brain was probably used because it goes along with the idea of someone shooting themself. <br /> <br /> At the very least this song is amazing in its descriptive nature. Its one of my favorite songs, and as a writer description is my focus.<br /> <br /> Again, I never meant to come off as incensitive and hope that your strong reaction wasn't expanded on by a death in your life. Though you might find no comfort in it, I lost my brother to a self inflicted shot to his head. <br /> <br /> I'm sorry again for offending you. Please take care.
=( look i really liked this girl..well i still do but the thing is i have no way of saying it.. after all it is the hardest part u know.. well, i dont seem 2 have the guts for that.. or maybe she deserves someone better than me.. this song really reminds me of her.. sigh i guess i'll never have her to my self
iFeelYouVaruni - why don't you just tell her that you like her? :( I'm pretty sure she can feel that you have feelings for her. Who knows...she might just be waiting for you to tell her..I'm kinda in the same situation right now. There's this guy who's too scared to tell me how he feels even if it's so obvious that we like each other. I'm still waiting for him to tell me that he likes me...if he's too scared to admit it, then nothing will happen. I'll just try to move on :( The sad thing is....I think I'm falling for him too and I'm also scared to admit that i love him :(
And that same guy gave me this song.....we listen to it all the time. He always sends me text messages of the lyrics to this song....I don't know if that's his way of telling me his feelings....=\
It's not suicide. The right side of the brain is often associated with logic. Lipstick on the right side of the brain means this woman is stopping him from thinking straight.
this song is about finding that girl that you are so comfortable with. a quirky, fun-loving, happy-go-lucky girl who makes him feel like he can be himself around. he's totally in love with her.
exactly. the one that empowers you to be the 'you' that you envision yourself to be. the one that laughs honestly at your corny jokes. the one who sends all of your mental 'guages' to overload. <br /> <br />
I think this song is basically about this guy who is really really down. Like, close to suicide. His life is crashing down, and he's relying on things he shouldn't have to. But then he meets this girl that totally changes his mind.
'And so I went and let you blow my mind.' Instead of taking a blow in the head, he would rather let her blow his mind.
'You gave my life direction' She gave him a reason to live.
'Watching you's the only drug I need' He was relying on drugs and alchohal, but with this girl, he needs nothing.
This probably didn't make much sense, but whatever. ;)
Soul Sister = is a soul mate if you're a male.
This song is about being in love with your best friend, which is common these days to say that a best friend is a soul mate. In the lyrics he is outlining the reason why he is in love with his soul mate, obviously of the opposite sex too. :)
According to my brother, it's about a stalker. Don't shoot the messenger! He doesn't have an account.
"Hey soul sister, I don't want to miss a single thing you do, tonight" He wants to see everything she does.
"I'm so obsessed, my heart is bound to beat right out of my untrimmed chest" He's obsessed with her, he's in love with her so much that he stalks her.
"So gangsta, I'm so thug, you're the only one I'm dreaming of" He only thinks about her.
i think it's about a guy realizing he's falling for a girl. He likes her and the unique things about her. It leaves a mark. And he likes it. He's letting her blow his mind.
"The smell of you in every single dream I dream"
"I knew I wouldn't forget you, And so I went and let you blow my mind"