Try It On by Interpol Lyrics Meaning – A Deep Dive Into the Song’s Emotional Labyrinth

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Interpol's Try It On at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

I need the sunlight
To keep me above you
These moderations
I always hoped for
Did all this work for
Some piece of mind just because
On this side
You wanna see that
There’s no change
And somewhere to stay
But if your right
I’ll put my keys back
There’s no change
And no hand to play

Please explore my loves endurance
And stay, stay
Please endure my loves exploitations
No way, no fucking way no
On this side
You wanna see that there’s no change
And somewhere to stay
On this side
Your gonna see that there’s no change
And nowhere to stay

Try it on
Try it on
Try it on
Try it on
Try it on
Try it on
Try it on
Try it on
Try it on
Try it on
Try it on

On this side
Your gonna see that there’s no change
And nowhere to stay
But if your right
I’ll put my keys back
There’s no change
And nowhere to stay
There’s nowhere to stay

Interpol’s ‘Try It On,’ from their self-titled fourth studio album, is a mesmerizing track that juggles opaque symbolism and melancholic introspection. This isn’t just another post-punk revival piece; it’s a poetic exploration of perseverance, identity, and the gossamer thread that tethers us to hope – all delivered in Paul Banks’ haunting baritone.

But to ascribe a single narrative to ‘Try It On’ is to miss the forest for the trees. The song’s strength lies in its layers, both musically and lyrically. Each listen peels back a layer, revealing a complex web of emotions and questions that refuse to be neatly answered.

A Tapestry of Light and Dark: Contrasting Imagery in Lyrics

Right from the opening line, ‘I need the sunlight / To keep me above you,’ we’re plunged into a duality of light and dark. The ‘sunlight’ symbolizes clarity, hope, and possibly an upper hand in an ambiguous relationship. However, this light is not just comforting. It’s a necessity, a means of survival – one must stay above to not be drowned by the metaphorical ‘you.’

This push-and-pull imagery continues throughout the song. The daylight metaphors battle with nocturnal allegories, crafting a chiaroscuro landscape where certainty and doubt cohabitate.

The Sisyphean Struggle in ‘Try It On’: A Melody of Metaphysical Malaise

The phrase ‘these moderations / I always hoped for’ alludes to a quest for balance that seems just as elusive as a mirage. Interpol paints a picture of someone toiling for ‘some piece of mind,’ only to be met with the refrain ‘there’s no change.’ It’s a stark reminder of the multitude of efforts that lead to stagnation, echoing the myth of Sisyphus pushing his boulder eternally.

This repetition – like the insistent, rhythmic tapping in the song’s undercurrent – conjures an almost meditative state, highlighting the monotony of a quest that always circles back to the starting point.

Enduring Love or Enduring Exploitation? The Duality of Bonds

When the lyrics plead, ‘Please explore my love’s endurance / And stay, stay,’ there’s a desperate clinginess juxtaposed with stoic acceptance. Contrast this with the following line, ‘Please endure my love’s exploitations,’ and the relationship morphs into something more sinuous, complex, and even toxic.

The track then embarks on a pendulum swing between two perspectives – one that invites examination and one that exposes exploitation – underlining the ebbs and flows of emotional dependency.

Unlocking ‘Try It On’s’ Hidden Meaning: An Allegory for Transformation

The chorus of ‘Try It On,’ repeated like a mantra, suggests the act of attempting new roles, identities, or perspectives. These words become the focal point, inviting listeners to step outside of their comfort zones, if only temporarily. This idea may serve as a metaphor for the band itself experimenting with new sounds and directions, or perhaps for any person’s journey through various self-discoveries.

This simple phrase, delivered with such an earnest and repetitive intonation, hints at an openness to change, and yet the verses seem to argue that ‘there’s no change.’ It’s this contradiction that makes the song an enigmatic expedition into the human psyche.

Memorable Lines Filled with Emotive Resonance: ‘There’s No Change and Nowhere to Stay’

As the lyrical journey of ‘Try It On’ winds to a close, the line ‘There’s no change / And nowhere to stay’ emerges as both a bleak assessment and a heartbreaking confession. These words resonate long after the track has ended, lingering as a poignant testament to the disillusionment and search for solace that riddles the song.

By acknowledging a lack of change and an absence of place, Interpol crafts a narrative of dislocation and drifting – a universal sensation woven into the fabric of contemporary existence.