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.
Sound boy proceed to blast into the galaxy
Go back rocket man into the sky you'll see
Hear it all the time, come back rewind
Aliens are waiting up in the sky
Sound boy proceed to blast into the galaxy
Sound boy when you come round
Sound boy won't you stay
No one gonna harm you
They all want you to play
I watch the birds of prey
That hunt the canyon below my house
They're lookin' for a meal like a lizard or a mouse
I wonder if they appreciate the setting like me
To control your own direction, choose to be free
And I reserve the right to be as trite as I want
And you can lick but don't bite I toss you here to Vermont
I kick it lickety split
And hand it to the man in the tan van
And, as for you and your crew I don't hate you
Peace is my priority 'cause Marley said for sure-ity
Just what do you think I'm doin' I'm not only here for screwin' yo
And if it's sore take care of it perhaps from too much stucking
But anytime you're aware of it then keep on fuckin'
You know we cool (Isn't that random?)
When we come 'bout people get ready (Isn't that random? Gonna freak it national)
Sound boy is gonna rock you (Isn't that random?)
People rock steady (Isn't that random?)
To be the one who has it all is not that hard
And I'll be that type of dude in a funky car I dream of a suit that will fit my ride
When I recognize my girl from a former life
I love it when the only sound that I hear Is your infectious laughter
I will hear you again in 800 years If I'm still lucky
Go north on outpost then take a left on Mullholland
To me that's where I like it and Macapa Drive is callin'
I get up to the sun and then I stretch out
It's Beginning to look like summer
And I'm down with no doubt swing
You know we cool (Isn't that random?)
When we come 'bout people get ready (Isn't that random? Gonna freak it national)
Sound boy is gonna rock you (Isn't that random?)
People rock steady (Isn't that random?)
I break a silly peace for offering rap weasel
Then I'm boffering I'd give you an exclusive on my playlist
The vibes and rhymes I kick are from a random hat pick
That's why most radio will never play this tell 'em again
Me a rude boy from Omaha, Nebraska
Sick as a porno flick yet gold as precious laughter
Many don't agree but we can't care about that
'Cause we're never gonna wear the old hat.
Spoken
Go back rocket man into the sky you'll see
Hear it all the time, come back rewind
Aliens are waiting up in the sky
Sound boy proceed to blast into the galaxy
Sound boy when you come round
Sound boy won't you stay
No one gonna harm you
They all want you to play
I watch the birds of prey
That hunt the canyon below my house
They're lookin' for a meal like a lizard or a mouse
I wonder if they appreciate the setting like me
To control your own direction, choose to be free
And I reserve the right to be as trite as I want
And you can lick but don't bite I toss you here to Vermont
I kick it lickety split
And hand it to the man in the tan van
And, as for you and your crew I don't hate you
Peace is my priority 'cause Marley said for sure-ity
Just what do you think I'm doin' I'm not only here for screwin' yo
And if it's sore take care of it perhaps from too much stucking
But anytime you're aware of it then keep on fuckin'
You know we cool (Isn't that random?)
When we come 'bout people get ready (Isn't that random? Gonna freak it national)
Sound boy is gonna rock you (Isn't that random?)
People rock steady (Isn't that random?)
To be the one who has it all is not that hard
And I'll be that type of dude in a funky car I dream of a suit that will fit my ride
When I recognize my girl from a former life
I love it when the only sound that I hear Is your infectious laughter
I will hear you again in 800 years If I'm still lucky
Go north on outpost then take a left on Mullholland
To me that's where I like it and Macapa Drive is callin'
I get up to the sun and then I stretch out
It's Beginning to look like summer
And I'm down with no doubt swing
You know we cool (Isn't that random?)
When we come 'bout people get ready (Isn't that random? Gonna freak it national)
Sound boy is gonna rock you (Isn't that random?)
People rock steady (Isn't that random?)
I break a silly peace for offering rap weasel
Then I'm boffering I'd give you an exclusive on my playlist
The vibes and rhymes I kick are from a random hat pick
That's why most radio will never play this tell 'em again
Me a rude boy from Omaha, Nebraska
Sick as a porno flick yet gold as precious laughter
Many don't agree but we can't care about that
'Cause we're never gonna wear the old hat.
Spoken
Lyrics submitted by pen1234567
Random Lyrics as written by Douglas Martinez Chad Sexton
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
i luv this song sooooooooooooo much, to me its all abouth 311 being different than any othere band out there. thier difference is what makes them amazing!!!!!!!
-put that in your pipe and smoke it- 311
I'm surprised that no one has commented on this song yet. I've been having a hard time figuring this one out...to me, the first verse is about loving your life and being yourself...after that..i'm lost. Anyway...meaning or no meaning...it's still a damn great song.
well from what i know about this song..its about their style..having different types of songs..the last verse sums up the whole song... never wear that old hat
I honestly think they were just going for outlandish lyrics.
"I watch the birds of prey that hunt the canyon below my house they're looking for a meal like a lizard or a mouse "
hahah...hello everyone? the song is called Random lol. There isn't a theme.
It's a bunch of cool lyrics and rhymes. I think 311 does this often; most of their songs have a theme or message...but certain songs, like this one for example, are just fun and full of funny hooks and what not.
"I reserve the right to be as trite as I want and you can lick but don't bite I toss you here to Vermont"
Sing that once and tell me it's not fun. BTW, that last line is obviously fellatio related. Hey, 311 is allowed to be fun, right?
This song is about sociology and psychology. SA is obviously an alien who's trying to "pnone home." So this song is also about E.T., SA's distant relative. "I watch the birds of prey... I don't hate you, peace is my priority," Nick is trying to tell SA he doesn't need to go, things could be peacefull. "Go north on Outpost, Left on Mullholand," Nick is trying to tell you his fans where there is, supposedly, buried treasure. "Cuz we never gonna wear the old hat," I hear 311 has a big hat collection.
"I watch the birds of prey that hunt the canyon below my house they're looking for a meal like a lizard or a mouse I wonder if they appreciate the setting like me to control your own direction choose to be free "
That's surely a reference to free will. But, as the song as a whole goes, it's little pieces of insight here and there fused together with some tongue in cheek lyrics and funky beats and guitar riffs all fueled in large part by psychotropic drugs. Eh? Ehhh?
I think this is just stream of thought writing with random thoughts pieced together, hence the title. There are several good thoughts but none that relate or go in any pattern.