The Very Thing

Song Meaning

The lyrics of "The Very Thing" paint a picture of a future defined by inevitable labor, yet haunted by a persistent longing for something more. "One day all of us will work" opens and closes the song, framing a life of duty. Despite this, the mind consistently drifts "about home," suggesting an enduring, almost wistful yearning. The central tension emerges in the chorus: "love might be the very thing / If only it could be." This conditional statement introduces a profound uncertainty, contrasting sharply with the declaration that "making love is more than anything." It's a powerful push-pull between the potential of ultimate connection and the elusive nature of achieving it. What truly hits hard is the radical dismissal of common anchors. The lyrics assert that "buildings / And places, and memories, and faces / Don't count for anything." This sweeping rejection of tangible and intangible markers of life elevates the concept of love to an almost singular, all-consuming importance. It suggests that in the grand scheme, only profound connection truly holds weight. The introduction of a specific "she" in the second verse adds a personal dimension to this universal search. While the narrator accepts drawing "the lines of duty," she "wants to have and then to hold," articulating a desire for possession and commitment beyond mere responsibility. This individual yearning underscores the song's poignant exploration of what truly matters when all else fades into insignificance.