When I loved this song as a teenager I did understand that it was about the girlfriend’s suicide, but I missed the abortion piece. I assumed the “baby’s breath” referenced wedding flowers and “shoe full of rice” was like the rice you throw on newlyweds.
Turns out the only true part of the story is the abortion, which is a rough topic but not inherently tragic. TBH these days a song about abortion could be considered wishful thinking. (Or even celebratory? Cue the Sextina Aquafina abortion song from Bojack.) The suicide is poetic license, but does make for a beautiful narrative of guilt and naïveté.
I stopped explaining to people why they were selling their gifts, and where he was dropping her off…After a while, I felt as though I was just ruining something that made people happy.
Same with “Pumped Up Kicks” - although that one, I thought, was pretty self explanatory. I guess people just jam to the beat, and don’t pay attention to the lyrics
“Freshmen” by the Verve Pipe
When I loved this song as a teenager I did understand that it was about the girlfriend’s suicide, but I missed the abortion piece. I assumed the “baby’s breath” referenced wedding flowers and “shoe full of rice” was like the rice you throw on newlyweds.
Turns out the only true part of the story is the abortion, which is a rough topic but not inherently tragic. TBH these days a song about abortion could be considered wishful thinking. (Or even celebratory? Cue the Sextina Aquafina abortion song from Bojack.) The suicide is poetic license, but does make for a beautiful narrative of guilt and naïveté.
Contemporary to that one is “Brick” by Ben Folds Five…
I stopped explaining to people why they were selling their gifts, and where he was dropping her off…After a while, I felt as though I was just ruining something that made people happy.
Same with “Pumped Up Kicks” - although that one, I thought, was pretty self explanatory. I guess people just jam to the beat, and don’t pay attention to the lyrics