As a listener and lyrics fanatic, I must come clean that I have a sweet spot. If you talk about certain topics with certain approaches, you’re going to get me.
Vertical Horizon is neither as profound nor mysterious as I’d like them to be, but because they do concern themselves with the topics that I do, some of their songs do get me though it’s borderline guilty pleasure in my book, as they just still seem a bit shallow. I hate to admit that I can be had so easily — but yet, this is a good song, with catchy chorus, inventive guitar parts and yes, a topic that’s dear to my heart: longing.
I am everything you want
I am everything you need
I am everything inside of you that you wish you could be
I said all the right things
At exactly the right time
But I mean nothing to you and I don’t know why
I hear that ending and can relate — that longing to be close to someone that you’re not, to try to manipulate the situation by trying to read her mind, trying to make myself into something she wants… And there are so many situations in life, not just longing for someone I’m infatuated with, where I do the same thing. Longing is powerful, and it can drive me mad. And make me do and say something stupid and audacious like “I am everything you want.” It was never my idea to be everything someone wants. I just wanted that person. It’s desperation.
And nothing good comes out of desperation.
So I’m grateful for this song, because it gets it out of me and keeps me from doing something desperate. As always, meaningful songs are lifesavers.