This track is a breakup song where the narrator tries to get over his ex by demonizing her, casting her as a monster.
The song appears on the “Overboard and Down” EP, which sits as a transitional album in the Okkervil River discography between the theatrical narrative of “Black Sheep Boy” and “Blac...
[Verse 1]
Lover, now that you've left me, I'm glad you're unlovely
Because if you could take all the heat in your heart and just hang it from you
I wouldn't be able to bear the way you cannot love me
It's much easier of me make a monster out of you
[Verse 2]
And so here I go, substituting the glow from your temples
All our sighs and our trembles, and each last letter sent you
From the cheap little pen of this weak little man
The one singing out his jangling, ringing
And hopefully stinging attack upon you
[Verse 3]
Yeah, so here I go, just exploding the hope we'll be speaking
Someday, years from now, seeking friendship and understanding
Yeah, I hope you get angry, and hurt, and have the hardest of landings
And I hope your new man thinks of me when he sees what a number I did on you
[Verse 4]
I grow tired of this song, turn my eyes to the blond in the bleachers
She's a lovely young creature, I think she's seeking adventure
I think she's ready to see that the world isn't so sweet or so tender
I won't break her, just bend her, and make her into my new ringer for you
[Verse 5]
I stay in the same comfy town, write the same old songs down, drive the same streets
Seek the same sense of dull peace, whisper the same sweet words to the chippies
The same walk by the road and where the same muddy snow's finally leaving
But I'll fight off the spring; I don't want lovely things, I don't want the earth new