Music to Walk Home By

my life down to the letter.. when you're strange, falling in love with someone who isn't takes a lot of changes to make the whole thing work, it doesn't take much to make you wonder why you're doing the things you;re expected to do, especially being a dreamer and a loner..very accurate song..as are most of Tame Impala's joints..

One of the most beautiful parts of this song isn't listed in these lyrics...it's a distant sound in the background during the breakdown. He says:

But you don't know do you? I'm in love with you You just won't believe In anything I do

I've yet to find any song that captures the effects of crippling social anxiety as well as this one. It's about feeling like you don't belong no matter what you do, and the unbearable pain of actively trying so hard just to be "normal" - something that comes easy to everyone else, especially when the people you encounter on a regular basis constantly feel the need to remind you that you're not normal. This is done with stares, social exclusion, talking behind people's backs, etc. When you have to deal with these things, living life to the fullest is impossible, because simply leaving your house can be terrifying:

Can almost stand competing with the others Can almost hear the fun that I should be having Instead of all this dreaming

Few things are worse than feeling afraid to be happy and live your life because of other people's reactions. You can be having a good day where things are going well, and all it takes is one snide remark from a stranger or someone staring too long to send it all crashing down. A lot of Kevin's music takes on similar subject matter (Desire Be Desire Go, Why Won't They Talk to Me?, Solitude is Bliss, etc.) but this song just captures social anxiety perfectly. The chorus is especially crippling:

I just don't know how to fell right...

I'm playing the part of somebody else While trying so hard to be myself

The narrator is trying desperately to fit in and avoid being made to feel like an outcast, but is also terrified of losing the things that make him/her unique. This can be an incredibly difficult struggle, since no one wants to feel like they're being constantly judged/scrutinized by others, but at the same time you don't want to give in completely to conformity and lose your identity. Anyone who has dealt with anxiety and/or depression can probably relate to this feeling. This song leads into the album's next track, Why Won't They Talk to Me?, perfectly. While that track is more direct, this one approaches the same subject matter with more subtlety and depth. It's also much sadder, and you can really hear the panic and despair in Kevin's voice. "I just don't know how to feel right"

In my eyes as someone with Borderline Personality Disorder, I think this song can be interpreted as referring to the relationship between a 'Favourite Person' and one's self.

"But that's only when I think of you Some vision that I hold on to": Referring to the inability to easily see flaws/toxic behaviours in a FP

"The mover I could turn into There must be something I can do Yeah, there must be something I can do": A symptom of BPD regarding FPs is warping yourself/your personality to match/cater to your FPs

"A beautiful girl Is wasting my life": FPs can consume your life whether they mean to or not - you can be aware of this yet be powerless

"While trying so hard To be myself": This can refer to shallow dating advice such as 'just be yourself' or it can represent the struggle of finding your personality back

"I just need to hear Somebody say That this will make sense one day": A symptom of BPD is the constant need of re-assurance and clear binary answers

"But you don't know the truth I really love you You just don't believe Anything I do" : People with BPD usually show more/less love than the average person. The narrator may be hiding all his love to avoid coming off as overbearing or clingy towards his FP - this can result in pushing them away

my life down to the letter.. when you're strange, falling in love with someone who isn't takes a lot of changes to make the whole thing work, it doesn't take much to make you wonder why you're doing the things you;re expected to do, especially being a dreamer and a loner..very accurate song..as are most of Tame Impala's joints..

Any loner or socially awkward person will have an easy time connecting to this song. I interpret it as someone who's just basically driving themselves crazy over a girl by trying so hard to get them to like you while also being discreet and not actually making moves on the person a lot. Almost friend zoned in a way. You're stuck on wanting them to know about your affection at at the same time are too scared to do anything about it. You spend your time making scenarios in your head or overthinking it while others are making their move and it's just frustrating.

In my eyes as someone with Borderline Personality Disorder, I think this song can be interpreted as referring to the relationship between a 'Favourite Person' and one's self.

"But that's only when I think of you Some vision that I hold on to": Referring to the inability to easily see flaws/toxic behaviours in a FP

"The mover I could turn into There must be something I can do Yeah, there must be something I can do": A symptom of BPD regarding FPs is warping yourself/your personality to match/cater to your FPs

"A beautiful girl Is wasting my life": FPs can consume your life whether they mean to or not - you can be aware of this yet be powerless

"While trying so hard To be myself": This can refer to shallow dating advice such as 'just be yourself' or it can represent the struggle of finding your personality back

"I just need to hear Somebody say That this will make sense one day": A symptom of BPD is the constant need of re-assurance and clear binary answers

"But you don't know the truth I really love you You just don't believe Anything I do" : People with BPD usually show more/less love than the average person. The narrator may be hiding all his love to avoid coming off as overbearing or clingy towards his FP - this can result in pushing them away