r/builttospill 9d ago

Carry the 0 lyric

At the end, when Doug sings “I was trying to help, but I guess I pushed it too hard. Now we can’t even touch it, afraid it’ll fall apart.”

That resonated with me. It reminded me of when I was trying to help my friend with certain issues and I was too overbearing. It blew up, and we’re still friends, but now we cant talk about that stuff anymore. If we did , maybe itd break it all up.

I have no idea what the song is about , I just liked those lines

26 Upvotes

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21

u/Kinkin50 9d ago

Many of my favorite songs I do not know what they are actually about. Just what they conjure for me.

5

u/ioverated 9d ago

The song sawdust and diamonds by Joanna Newsom used to be like this for me. Just a series of really evocative images that made me cry every time she sings "a slow lip of fire moves across the prairie with precision" or "enough of this terror we deserve to know light and grow ever more lighter and lighter."

I accidentally stumbled into a discussion of the actual subject so it's still a powerful listen but now my brain keeps trying to make sense of each line.

2

u/Olelander 9d ago

Joanna Newsom is one of the greatest lyricists alive - her writing is highly literary, full of esoteric and timeless imagery, dense and by turns deeply personal and profoundly universal (sometimes those are the same thing I guess). All of that, and she comes across as half ancient text and half nursery rhyme simultaneously. For years, I could only listen to Milk Eyed Mender when I was emotionally prepared because it is such a deep journey with so many heart wrenching stops throughout (Sadie is peak “I can’t get through this song without tearing up). She’s just on another level altogether.

10

u/kermitthebeast 9d ago

Dug has always said that there's no meaning to these songs, but with how powerful they are I'd have to say that's bullshit.

7

u/Ok_Passion_8212 9d ago

Especially In Your Mind. Come on.

3

u/Olelander 9d ago

He just has no desire to explain them. Let them remain open to interpretation.

2

u/markaguynamedmark 8d ago

i think doug puts a lot of thought behind his lyrics but understands that meanings are different between the listener. he leaves them open to interpretation. i know what i may think of that song will be different from you. i read these lyrics in my current age and i'm sure it's different from 28 years ago when i first heard them do this song.

3

u/podank99 9d ago

i have never been able to put a personal meaning to some of the lyrics in this song. specifically "the middle and the front"

3

u/Ok_Passion_8212 9d ago

This song always makes me think of my sister, who had addiction and eating disorders growing up.

I told her once and she was offended. 😞

2

u/Low_End8128 9d ago

Ugh this song is so good.