These Things Take Time

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a fleeting, intense connection, possibly romantic, set against a backdrop of isolation and self-doubt. The narrator recalls a moment of shared intimacy, a secret rendezvous behind a "disused railway line," where they were offered an escape from the known world. This experience, described as something "I won't forget too soon," seems to have been profoundly impactful, yet it's immediately undercut by the narrator's disbelief that the other person could ever truly care. The central tension lies in this stark contrast between the perceived significance of the shared moment and the narrator's deep-seated insecurity about its reciprocal value. The repeated phrase "But I can't believe that you'd ever care" underscores a profound lack of self-worth, leading to the conclusion "you will never care." This internal conflict is amplified by the self-deprecating declaration in the chorus: "I know that I'm the most inept that ever stepped," suggesting a belief that they are unworthy of genuine affection or lasting connection. The writing employs striking imagery to convey this emotional landscape. The "sacred wunderkind" hints at an idealized, almost divine perception of the other person, while the "hills are alive with celibate cries" offers a bleak, ironic counterpoint, suggesting a world filled with unfulfilled longing or repression. The "alcoholic afternoons" spent together, though described as having "more worth than any living thing on earth," are tinged with a sense of decay and perhaps escapism, further complicating the nature of the bond. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their raw portrayal of vulnerability and the painful self-awareness that accompanies it. The narrator's conviction that they are "inept" and will inevitably be "leave[d] me behind" creates a palpable sense of impending loss, making the remembered intimacy all the more poignant. The song captures that specific, agonizing feeling of cherishing a moment while simultaneously anticipating its dissolution due to one's own perceived failings.