01-16-19
Much of Alt-J’s music revolves around pseudo-cryptic tales inspired by past literary adventures. This song, being one of their first hits, has grown to become one of the most popularly debated songs in the last several years.
The band themselves talk about how the song is in part a reference to the struggles of being within a relationship, the battle that person has to at times fight to understand their place in the relationship and the value that they put on it. The director for the video saw a similar message. However, his interpretation of this came out in a much more gruesome manner. In what appears to be a straight-forward domestic violence situation, quickly devolves into something more sinister and likened to a scene from Fatal Attraction. As the male character in the video fights to secure the safety of himself, the audience is in constant flux between who is he fighting and what is their relation to him.
The initial conclusion is that of an old lover spurred, seeking recompense for past transgressions. There have been many fans to suggest that the two women in the video are in fact one person, just different versions of the person, and the man is fighting to push back the force trying to drive their relationship apart. For the purposes of this exercise, both can be true while maintaining the same point: vigilance is an emotion that extends beyond basic survival. Through complacency, inaction, or inconsideration I still see this man having a problem with his own vigilance… he lost his focus, and in this situation, it may result in losing much more than ever anticipated.
Sometimes the most significant threats are wrapped up in the most deceitful packages, and it’s for this reason we should be careful to underestimate any challenge. It’s when we underestimate a challenge or an adversary that they will take action against us.
We must stay vigilant, not only of immediate threats but those that wait and play the “long game,” threats that wait for the first moment of weakness. We must be vigilant in our character, and our actions—even in times when no one else is watching it’s imperative we continue to be vigilant.
Lyrics:
She may contain the urge to run away
But hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks
Citrezene your fever’s gripped me again
Never kisses all you ever send are fullstops, la la la la
Do you know where the wilds things go
They go along to take your honey,la la la la
Break down now weep build up breakfast now
Let’s eat my love my love love love, la la la la
Muscle to muscle and toe to toe
The fear has gripped me but here I go
My heart sinks as I jump up
Your hand grips hand as my eyes shut
Ahhh ahhh ahhh ah ah, ahhh ahhh ahhh ah ah
Do you know where the wild things go
They go along to take your honey, la la la la
Break down let’s sleep build up breakfast now
Let’s eat my love my love love love, la la la la
She bruises coughs she splutters pistol shots
But hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks
She’s morphine queen of my vaccine my love my love love love, la la la la
Muscle to muscle and toe to toe
The fear has gripped me but here I go
My heart sinks as I jump up
Your hand grips hand as my eyes shut
And ahhh ahhh ahhh ah ah, ahhh ahhh ahhh ah ah
Ahhh ahhh ahhh ah ah, ahhh ahhh ahhh ah ah
She may contain the urge to runaway
But hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks
Germaline disinfect the scene my love my love love love
But please don’t go I love you so my lovely
Please don’t go, please don’t go, I love you so, I love you so
Please don’t go, please don’t go, I love you so, I love you so
Please break my heart, hey
Please don’t go, please don’t go, I love you so, I love you so
Please don’t go, please don’t go, I love you so, I love you so
Please break my heart, ah ha
Please don’t go, I’ll eat you whole
I love you so, I love you, so I love you so
Please don’t go I’ll eat you whole
I love you so, I love you so, I love you so, I love you so