Thank you for sharing these insights. There's so many different ways to interpret a song, but hearing the personal perspectives behind the lyrics adds a lot of depth.
My favorite thing about writing is how vulnerable writers allow themselves to be. It's a skill I'm envious of. I also love how Tegan's interpretation represents how we often take from a piece of work what we need. Crazy how the most vulnerable things can be reflective of so many people's individual experiences.
This dialogue between the both of you in the annotations summarizes perfectly the relationship listeners have with the music from the bands they love. Even though Tegan has insight, she can only guess what Sara meant with the lines she wrote, and can't help but project herself onto them. As an outsider to the band, I first try to understand what the song is about, and then I just let myself attach to it emotionally and find how the lyrics apply to me and what parts of the songs resonate with me, and why. But the curiosity and the longing to know what the songwriter meant are always there, I can never escape wanting to know what actually is behind a song. Tegan said at some point that So Jealous was about a "complicated love triangle", so that's the lens I've been using to understand it. But now reading Sara's notes, turns out it's so much more about something internal. You can totally feel that in the music and the delivery, but in all these years I had not gotten this from the lyrics alone.
Please, please, do annotations like these for Like O, Like H, my favorite song, probably of all time.
"When I wrote the song The Ocean on our album Sainthood, I deliberately used a reference to The Ocean to harken back to So Jealous."
Well that's a fun fact. When I watch the Making of So Jealous and the Making of The Con documentaries side by side there is such a stark contrast in basically every way. The Con is more of an elaborate setup with both of you and the guest musicians working on songs, doing "Fone" conversations in a fake forest with friends and family, but what mostly stands out is a lot of dicking around and having fun along the way. You've talked a lot about being sad at the time and having problems, but at least when the cameras were rolling, there was clearly fun and joy to be had during the time and it's something that couldn't be hidden.
Watching So Jealous on the other hand is a whole different thing. It's an interesting artifact of your band's history but it's no fun to watch at all. Between the practice and recording scenes it's nonstop fighting about everything and even the easier moments have this built up tension where watching it, you just know someone's gonna say something at any moment. Nobody is happy and nobody seems to like their job at all.
The reason I bring this up is because when you break down each other's lives and experiences, the things you were going through when you wrote these So Jealous songs in particular it really opens a window into what exactly you were going through at the time that was causing all the anxiety and the strife (aside from just being siblings and coworkers). So it provides a more interesting context looking back and watching this stuff having a better understanding of not only what was happening, but why. These analyses of your lyrics are pretty cool and I'd be interested in seeing some more in the future myself.
i have had the lyrics in front of my face so many times and i never unabsorbed hearing "i WALK the ocean right now". which clearly is against intention, but it's what i always heard.
The rawness of the emotions in the annotations still feel so real and ooen even after all these years. When you have conflict during the writing process now does it still feel raw like this or is it easier to deal with now you are older and more settled in your own lives?
Also those photos, that haircut! Iconic hair! “Where does the hair go”
I think I need to re-listen to the entire album and put it into the context you describe here. The separation, the anger, depression, anxiety. It’s good to reevaluate old assumptions. Thank you.
I love how real and raw this was to read. I love reading how people interpret lyrics, but to have you both giving your take is a whole new level of awesomeness. Thanks for being vulnerable with us. I have been around since This Business of Art. I would love to see a pay to view livestream concert 🎶 Also, come back to Houston, Texas when you can. ❤️
These annotations really do add so much to this song. I loved this song anyway, now there’s so much emotion and pain to go with it. Really quite powerful stuff.
PS: I really am loving this space 🙂 just thought you should both know.
I went through a phase of baby bangs... actually, several. it happens to the best of us, truly.
Thanks so, so much for this.
Having an opportunity to peek behind the curtain and enjoy this back and forth over an old track is really unique and interesting! Loved this
Thank you for sharing these insights. There's so many different ways to interpret a song, but hearing the personal perspectives behind the lyrics adds a lot of depth.
My favorite thing about writing is how vulnerable writers allow themselves to be. It's a skill I'm envious of. I also love how Tegan's interpretation represents how we often take from a piece of work what we need. Crazy how the most vulnerable things can be reflective of so many people's individual experiences.
This dialogue between the both of you in the annotations summarizes perfectly the relationship listeners have with the music from the bands they love. Even though Tegan has insight, she can only guess what Sara meant with the lines she wrote, and can't help but project herself onto them. As an outsider to the band, I first try to understand what the song is about, and then I just let myself attach to it emotionally and find how the lyrics apply to me and what parts of the songs resonate with me, and why. But the curiosity and the longing to know what the songwriter meant are always there, I can never escape wanting to know what actually is behind a song. Tegan said at some point that So Jealous was about a "complicated love triangle", so that's the lens I've been using to understand it. But now reading Sara's notes, turns out it's so much more about something internal. You can totally feel that in the music and the delivery, but in all these years I had not gotten this from the lyrics alone.
Please, please, do annotations like these for Like O, Like H, my favorite song, probably of all time.
Wow, this is so awesome. All the lyrics and thoughts, wow, I just love this so much. Keep em coming!
This was a nice Sunday read :) I’m here for the annotations.
I love the different interpretations of the lyrics here.
"When I wrote the song The Ocean on our album Sainthood, I deliberately used a reference to The Ocean to harken back to So Jealous."
Well that's a fun fact. When I watch the Making of So Jealous and the Making of The Con documentaries side by side there is such a stark contrast in basically every way. The Con is more of an elaborate setup with both of you and the guest musicians working on songs, doing "Fone" conversations in a fake forest with friends and family, but what mostly stands out is a lot of dicking around and having fun along the way. You've talked a lot about being sad at the time and having problems, but at least when the cameras were rolling, there was clearly fun and joy to be had during the time and it's something that couldn't be hidden.
Watching So Jealous on the other hand is a whole different thing. It's an interesting artifact of your band's history but it's no fun to watch at all. Between the practice and recording scenes it's nonstop fighting about everything and even the easier moments have this built up tension where watching it, you just know someone's gonna say something at any moment. Nobody is happy and nobody seems to like their job at all.
The reason I bring this up is because when you break down each other's lives and experiences, the things you were going through when you wrote these So Jealous songs in particular it really opens a window into what exactly you were going through at the time that was causing all the anxiety and the strife (aside from just being siblings and coworkers). So it provides a more interesting context looking back and watching this stuff having a better understanding of not only what was happening, but why. These analyses of your lyrics are pretty cool and I'd be interested in seeing some more in the future myself.
love seeing each of your thoughts on what the lyrics mean!! always loved the continuous ocean themes
i have had the lyrics in front of my face so many times and i never unabsorbed hearing "i WALK the ocean right now". which clearly is against intention, but it's what i always heard.
occasionally i also still want an ocean.
The rawness of the emotions in the annotations still feel so real and ooen even after all these years. When you have conflict during the writing process now does it still feel raw like this or is it easier to deal with now you are older and more settled in your own lives?
Also those photos, that haircut! Iconic hair! “Where does the hair go”
I think I need to re-listen to the entire album and put it into the context you describe here. The separation, the anger, depression, anxiety. It’s good to reevaluate old assumptions. Thank you.
I love how real and raw this was to read. I love reading how people interpret lyrics, but to have you both giving your take is a whole new level of awesomeness. Thanks for being vulnerable with us. I have been around since This Business of Art. I would love to see a pay to view livestream concert 🎶 Also, come back to Houston, Texas when you can. ❤️
I would 100% pay for a livestream concert
These annotations really do add so much to this song. I loved this song anyway, now there’s so much emotion and pain to go with it. Really quite powerful stuff.
PS: I really am loving this space 🙂 just thought you should both know.