Who Do You Think by Interpol Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Layers of a Modern Rock Enigma
Lyrics
Who do you think that is there?
I came to fight; I am in the air
I know you follow the body; let go now
To the coast of your body we go
I only call them when I know I don’t see them
I only call them when I know I don’t see them
Who do you think that is there?
I should be young, slow beyond compare
I always fall in these fights, I know why
Always fall in these fights, I know why
Controlling the age, it takes a toll on my brain
Now, who do you think that is there?
I only call them when I know I don’t see them
I only call them when I know I don’t see them
Slow decay, I won’t!
Who do you think that is there?
Mine’s a stripe bleeding out of despair
I know you follow the body; let go now
To the coast of your body, I won’t stop now
You think you can taste or we can make it your own way
Now who do you think; I said, who do you think now?
Oh, how I passed the days
You know how much I care
Oh, through the wax and wind
You know I will be there
Oh, that’s your faded grace
You know now not to stare
But, slow decay, I won’t stop fighting you!
Who do you think that is there?
I came to fight; I am in the air
I always fall in these fights, I know why
And from the best strains of life, I don’t write
Controlling the age, it takes a toll on my brain
Now who do you think that is there?
Only call them when I know I don’t see them
I only call them when I know I don’t see them
Interpol has consistently been crafting the introspective soundtrack to the loves and lives of the disenchanted urbanite. With ‘Who Do You Think’, a track from their critically acclaimed album ‘Our Love to Admire’, they take their audience into a deep dive of self-reflection and the innate struggle of the human condition juxtaposed over haunting melodies and brooding rhythms.
This song is as much an incantation as it is a query, a relentless pursuit for meaning inside the labyrinth of the human psyche. Parsing the veiled poetry of Interpol’s lyrics, one could find a myriad of interpretations – a task worthy of a musical detective. Below, we dissect the meat of the song through a series of provocative and tantalizing musings.
The Eternal Struggle in Melody: Fighting the Inevitable Slow Decay
The opening line, ‘Slow decay, I won’t stop fighting you!’ sets a tone of defiance against the natural decline that life promises. It’s perhaps an allusion to the inexorable aging process or the gradual loss of innocence and idealism as time grinds on. Or it could be a more personal battle – the kind we all fight within ourselves, against our own flaws and failings.
Interpol, with their signature blend of moody instrumentals and oblique lyrics, crafts a Universalist hymn to resistance, urging listeners to question the notion of surrender. This is no mere resignation to fate; this is a war-cry, a refusal to go gentle into that good night.
Hidden in Plain Verse: Who is the Enigmatic Opponent?
The repeated question, ‘Who do you think that is there?’ suggests a sense of uncertainty or paranoia. It could represent an external adversary or it could symbolize the internal ‘other’ – the version of ourselves that we wrestle with in moments of doubt. The line blurs the distinction between friend and foe, the known and the unknown.
This ambiguity is a genius stroke – compelling us to confront who or what we perceive as antagonists in our narratives. Are they truly external pressures, or are the enemies lies within? The existential anchor of the song twists deeper: Do we know ourselves at all?
The Irony of Connection: Only Calling the Unseen
‘I only call them when I know I don’t see them,’ the lyric repeats almost paradoxically, dabbling in the modern paradox of perceived connectedness amidst true distance. In today’s digital age, we join in rituals of communication that imply closeness but often breed isolation.
Interpol touches on this theme of ephemeral connections, perhaps suggesting that we often reach out not to connect, but to confirm our solitude, to assert our existence to an audience we know isn’t there. It’s a sardonic look at contemporary social relationships, distilled in a poetically relentless loop.
The Allure of Wax and Winds: Unwavering Devotion Amidst Change
The song pivots from its combative stance in the lines, ‘Oh, through the wax and wind, You know I will be there,’ which evoke a sense of steadfast loyalty that endures despite the changes — wax and wind being metaphors for the shifting, malleable aspects of life.
In a world where everything is subject to change and decay, the mere act of perseverance becomes an act of defiance in itself. This phrase in the lyrics promises presence and constancy, an assured beacon in the flux that confronts us.
The Commitment to Conflict: Refusing to Cease the Fight
Interpol builds the song’s narrative to a fierce climax with a final definitive assertion, ‘But, slow decay, I won’t stop fighting you!’ Here lies the crux of ‘Who Do You Think’ – a commitment to stand against the erosion of the self or perhaps against the societal currents that threaten to sweep individuality away.
These memorable lines encapsulate the song’s essence: the struggle is ceaseless, and surrender is not an option. The lyrics distill an ongoing battle that resonates on a deep personal level for listeners, serving as an unofficial anthem for those who battle against the dimming of their spirits.
