An Experiment

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a peculiar plea for a relationship to intentionally endure hardship, framed as a deliberate choice to "go dry." This isn't about natural progression, but a conscious decision to create a state of lack or difficulty now, so that the future can be framed as a success of "holding on." The narrator seems to be seeking a shared experience of struggle, perhaps to validate the relationship's longevity or to manufacture a sense of shared accomplishment. The central tension lies in this manufactured adversity. The narrator asks, "Do you want to go dry now / So that I can say we're holding on tomorrow?" This suggests a desire to control the narrative of the relationship, to create a past hardship that can be referenced as proof of their endurance. The repetition of "unforgivable faults, nonsense" juxtaposed with "unforgettable starts" highlights a potential disconnect between past perfection and present, perhaps self-inflicted, flaws. The most striking image is the desire to "tie the ocean to you knees." This is a surreal, almost violent, metaphor for overwhelming someone with difficulty or emotion, yet it's immediately softened by "if you please" and a shift to a "bath at your feet." This oscillation between extreme imagery and domesticity underscores the experimental, perhaps even manipulative, nature of the narrator's proposal. The core of the plea is explicitly stated: "'Cause it's an experiment, experiment with me." This lyrical construction is effective because it taps into a complex emotional landscape. It’s not a straightforward declaration of love or pain, but a calculated invitation to a shared, potentially painful, process. The narrator’s repeated assertion that "we all get older" and the plea to "Don't put up a fight" suggest a fear of time and decay, and a desperate attempt to solidify the present by creating a shared, challenging past. The effectiveness comes from this unsettling blend of vulnerability and control, posing a relationship not as a natural unfolding, but as a deliberate, almost scientific, endeavor.