Neither Nor

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone entangled with a figure who is both alluring and destructive, a "pretty poison" hiding "in the wings." This "you" seems to be caught in a cycle of self-harm and isolation, "burning patterns in to your skin" as a grim form of identification. The narrator observes this, feeling a desperate but ultimately futile connection, noting "I could always call you back from the black but you can't hear me now." The central tension arises from the narrator's desire to connect with this damaged individual, contrasting their past "beautiful noise" with their current lost voice. There's an acknowledgment of the "war" and "easy living" that might have led to this state, but the overwhelming feeling is one of distance and inability to reach them. The narrator's own dreams are haunted by this figure, "trailing tears in my dreams," suggesting a deep, perhaps unhealthy, preoccupation. The most striking aspect is the lyrical exploration of an "in-between" state, a "neither nor" existence. The narrator proposes "we will leave in neither nor, where we can flow lazily," a liminal space beyond past and future, a "purgatory" where they can "dance." This abstract realm is presented as a potential refuge, a place to "live in neither nor if we suspend disbelief," highlighting the fragile, almost fantastical nature of this proposed escape. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their ability to evoke a sense of profound, melancholic detachment. The narrator’s longing and helplessness are palpable, particularly in the repeated refrain of "I can't hear you now." The abstract, almost spiritual language of the "neither nor" space creates a haunting atmosphere, suggesting a desire for an escape that is as ethereal and unattainable as the connection itself.