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.
The streets of persuasion
Are plated with gold
Your heart's in the right place,
But you travel down the wrong road
Like so many before you
The gates open wide
Here come the rising tide (rising tide)
Let's go out tonight
There's a mystery underneath the neon light
Before life and dreams collide
'Cause the truth's gonna come and cut me open wide
And you can't escape the rising of the tide
Keep up your appearance; you're joining the choir
With everybody singing out "Glory, Hallelujah" (Hallelujah)
The time came for your solo
But there was nowhere to hide
Here come the rising tide (rising tide)
And the company you keep,
Well they plan your crucifixion as we speak
So, baby 'til life and the dream collide
There's gonna be a mystery underneath those neon lights
If you can't decipher just who's on your side
You will not escape the rising of the tide
Can you tell me brother? Was I deceived, or in denial?
I was there, in the back of the room, when you testified
With your pitchfork tongue, you licked your lips and lied
We're never gonna know how hard you cried
When you petitioned and your access was denied
'Til the venom in your veins is satisfied
'Til you suffocate and swallow down the pride
Well you can't escape
(You can't escape)
Yeah, you can't escape
(You can't escape)
No, you can't escape the rising of the tide
Are plated with gold
Your heart's in the right place,
But you travel down the wrong road
Like so many before you
The gates open wide
Here come the rising tide (rising tide)
Let's go out tonight
There's a mystery underneath the neon light
Before life and dreams collide
'Cause the truth's gonna come and cut me open wide
And you can't escape the rising of the tide
Keep up your appearance; you're joining the choir
With everybody singing out "Glory, Hallelujah" (Hallelujah)
The time came for your solo
But there was nowhere to hide
Here come the rising tide (rising tide)
And the company you keep,
Well they plan your crucifixion as we speak
So, baby 'til life and the dream collide
There's gonna be a mystery underneath those neon lights
If you can't decipher just who's on your side
You will not escape the rising of the tide
Can you tell me brother? Was I deceived, or in denial?
I was there, in the back of the room, when you testified
With your pitchfork tongue, you licked your lips and lied
We're never gonna know how hard you cried
When you petitioned and your access was denied
'Til the venom in your veins is satisfied
'Til you suffocate and swallow down the pride
Well you can't escape
(You can't escape)
Yeah, you can't escape
(You can't escape)
No, you can't escape the rising of the tide
Lyrics submitted by phoebe9261
The Rising Tide Lyrics as written by Dave Brent Keuning Brandon Flowers
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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.
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The intro to this song is like a lot of the intros in their lives stuff. It quickly goes from abstract synth melodies to a clear rock sound. Like a rising tide, this song builds very quickly and becomes quite chaotic, musically.
The first bit "the streets of persuasion/Are plated with gold" is about how tempting certain avenues become once one becomes successful. "Like so many before you/The gates open wide." Like so many people, success happens all at once and, like a rising tide, it can easily carry you away.
"Let's go out tonight/There's a mystery underneath the neon light Before life and the dream collide/Because the truth is going to come and cut me open wide." shows the protagonists attitude to this new found success. He wants to "swim" in the mystery of his new success and power. He's a smart guy and realizes that he will probably regret this in the long run, but maybe he thinks he can have his cake and eat it too? Regardless, he can't escape the rising of the tide, life will have its way if he's not careful.
"Keep up your appearance; you're joining the choir..." is about becoming a member of society. It's about functioning in a world where you are a part of a larger group. Like a choir, we all have solos, or times where we're expected to "shine" and the protagonist is obviously unprepared. He is expected to act noble and has instead been acting like an ass. Perhaps partying too hard? Missing deadlines? Regardless, it's starting to catch up with him.
"And the company you keep/Well they plan your crucifixion as we speak" is about how his new "friends" are starting to plot against him. "I was there in the back of the room when you testified (oh oh!)/With your pitchfork tongue, you licked your lips and lied".
This song reminds me of the success of the early Killers. They had several members and one of them claimed to have written Mr. Brightside and tried to sue them over it. They also had another legal dispute over management rights. In both cases, people that helped celebrate The Killers' early success turned on them. At the same time, Brandon may have felt like the success and party life was getting out of hand (he's Mormon, after all). Regardless, it's a very personal song that has wonderful biblical imagery. I don't think the nature is religious as any good songwriter can't help but use such powerful imagery in their work. There are instant parallels to when Jesus was on trial and it shows how Brandon's upbringing has always influenced everything he does.
There possibly is some religious meaning, since Brandon's religious.
I love the fact that Brandon Flowers is a faithful man and loves his wife and only one! :) I have great respect for him, he's my role model!
I once found an interview with Brandon Flowers where he was talking about his work in the casinos in Los Vegas. The way he described it was he remembered looking and working underneath the "neon lights."
So I think this song might be about gambling addiction. Between the images of the streets plated with gold (promise of fortune), the venom in the veins (addiction), and finally the realization that you are not winning money (the rising tide).
Just a thought and some input.
Brandon Flowers doesn't seem to be enjoying the Killers like he used to. He looks like he's lost his passion for the band. I wouldn't be surprised if the Killers split.