Song Meaning
The lyrics open with a vivid sense of physical unease and a fragmented memory. A "sickness grabs" the speaker, while a "cramp warns" of something unsettling. This immediate discomfort quickly gives way to a pervasive mental state, where even forgotten details like "blue polish" hint at deeper, unresolved thoughts.
A core tension emerges from the speaker's struggle with memory and the inescapable presence of another person. The line "probably a lot of things that i should remember Or maybe not after all" reveals a conflicted desire to either recall or actively forget. This internal battle is immediately consumed by "nightmares" that are "all about you," suggesting a subconscious preoccupation that overrides conscious control.
The lyrics cleverly blend internal turmoil with external urban imagery to amplify this obsession. An "L-train full of hipsters is rushing towards me," creating a sense of being overwhelmed by the city's anonymous crowd. Yet, even amidst the "tight jeans and the second-hand scarves," the speaker perceives "a way to bump into you," illustrating how this individual permeates every aspect of their perception, turning the generic into a potential encounter.
What makes these lyrics so effective is their portrayal of a mind utterly consumed. From the intimate space of physical pain and forgotten memories to the public sphere of a coffee shop, where even the speaker's own "songs" would be "all about you," the lyrics paint a picture of relentless mental saturation. The repetition of "all about you" acts as a haunting refrain, solidifying the idea that this person is not just a thought, but an inescapable filter through which the speaker experiences the world.