Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship defined by constant opposition, a push-and-pull dynamic where every action or state is met with its opposite. The narrator lists a series of contrasting pairs, from simple directional differences like "up" and "down" to more abstract concepts like "charge" and "cash." This relentless opposition suggests a fundamental incompatibility, yet the narrator also notes a "grand puppeteer" holding it all together, hinting at an external force or an underlying connection that defies their disagreements. The core tension lies in how these opposing forces manage to coexist.
The central paradox emerges in the chorus: "We added up to zero zero." This phrase powerfully encapsulates their relationship's outcome – despite all their differences and the effort to "add up," they effectively cancel each other out. Yet, immediately following this, the lyrics shift to describe a strange intimacy: "Your hands my hips your grip / What a fit of exhausting inexhaustables." This juxtaposition highlights how their constant friction, while exhausting, also creates a unique, albeit difficult, kind of closeness. The narrator seems to acknowledge that their disagreements are, in a peculiar way, what makes them a "pair."
The most striking craft element is the extended use of contrasting metaphors, creating a dizzying effect that mirrors the relationship's instability. The narrator employs a rapid-fire series of "If I was X, you were Y" constructions, ranging from simple animal comparisons ("cat you were a dog") to more abstract economic and sensory contrasts ("charge then you were cash," "loud then you were shhhhh"). This technique emphasizes the pervasive nature of their opposition, making it feel almost cosmic. The final lines introduce a surprising resolution, suggesting that "love binds the world," offering a potential explanation for how such a fundamentally disagreeable pair can remain connected, even if it's a "fit of exhausting inexhaustables."
