These Things Take Time (David Jensen Session 26/06/83)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a clandestine meeting, a secret rendezvous behind a disused railway line, where the narrator is given a profound, unforgettable experience. The initial awe at a "sacred wunderkind" quickly shifts to a sense of isolation and self-doubt. The narrator feels utterly inadequate, proclaiming, "I know that I'm / The most inept that ever stepped." This stark self-assessment is amplified by the perceived indifference of the other person, who the narrator believes will "never care." The central tension lies in the narrator's desperate clinging to a past experience and the painful realization of its ephemerality. The "alcoholic afternoons" spent in rooms are elevated to a status more significant than "any living thing on earth," highlighting a deep, perhaps unhealthy, emotional investment. Yet, this intense feeling is contrasted with the other person's apparent forward momentum and detachment, as they "know where you're going" and will ultimately "leave me behind." The writing crafts a potent sense of vulnerability through stark, almost bleak imagery. The "hills are alive with celibate cries" offers a bizarre, unsettling contrast to the narrator's intense personal experience, suggesting a world that is both vibrant and emotionally barren. This juxtaposition underscores the narrator's feeling of being alone in their profound emotional response, even amidst supposed shared moments. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their raw, unflinching portrayal of insecurity and unrequited emotional depth. The repeated assertion of ineptitude and the certainty of being left behind create a palpable sense of heartbreak. It’s the specific, almost desperate elevation of shared, secret moments against the backdrop of an indifferent world that makes the narrator's plight so resonant.