Parallel Horizontal

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship where physical closeness doesn't equate to emotional connection. The opening lines, "Makeup is staining the pillow / I move close closer still," establish a scene of attempted intimacy, but the persistent "dream never shifts" suggests an internal barrier or a lingering presence of a past love that prevents true engagement. This past love is described as "long gone" yet "never threatening," creating a strange emotional stasis where the present partner is kept at a distance, perhaps out of fear of repeating past hurts or a general inability to fully commit. The central tension lies in the narrator's internal struggle between wanting to connect and the partner's perceived emotional unavailability. The partner is characterized as "crazy and hazy," "toothy and goofy," and "lucidly elusive," all suggesting a person who is present but not fully engaged. The repeated internal cry, "What's it about this time?" reveals the narrator's frustration and confusion, a desperate plea for clarity in a relationship that feels perpetually out of reach. This internal shouting contrasts sharply with the narrator's outward attempt to "try not to mind." The most striking imagery is the desire to "cuddle / Up like cutlery / Two spoons cupped close close together." This metaphor powerfully conveys a yearning for a simple, almost instinctual form of intimacy and unity, a stark contrast to the current fragmented connection. The repeated phrase "Parallel horizontal" becomes the lyrical anchor for this disconnect. It evokes a sense of two entities existing side-by-side, never quite touching or merging, mirroring the physical proximity without emotional depth the narrator experiences. The question "Has our affection run so dry?" underscores the fear that this parallel existence is the new, bleak reality. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their raw portrayal of emotional distance within physical closeness. The specific, almost mundane details like stained pillows and the "hot and buttery" weather ground the abstract feelings of longing and confusion. The contrast between the narrator's internal turmoil and the partner's detached demeanor, coupled with the stark finality of "Parallel horizontal," creates a poignant and relatable sense of unfulfilled connection.