A proxy war is “a war instigated by a major power which does not itself become involved.” Bird is comparing this relationship these two have to a proxy war, a fight in which the two have never met but are at odds with each other.
[Verse 1]
He don't have to get over her
She don't to have get over him
With all their words preserved forevermore
You don't have to get over her
She don't have to get over you
It's true these two have never met before
[Chorus]
At least not in real life
Where your words cut like a knife
Conjuring blood, biblical floods
Looks that stop time
[Verse 2]
You don't have to remember
We forget what memories are for
Now we store them in the atmosphere
If you don't want to get too close
You don't have to get too close
It's just what we're calling peer-to-peer
You don't want to get over
You don't have to get over
We store them in the atmosphere
If you don't want to get over her
She don't have to get over you
It's true these two have never met before
[Chorus]
At least not in real life
Where your words cut like a knife
Conjuring blood, biblical floods
Looks that stop time
[Outro]
If you don't want to get over her
You don't have to get over her
If you don't want to get too close
You don't have to get too close
If you want to remember
If you don't want to get over
If you don't want to get over
If you don't want to get over
Proxy War was written by Andrew Bird.
Proxy War was produced by Andrew Bird & Paul Butler.
Andrew Bird released Proxy War on Fri Mar 22 2019.