![]() The Airborne Toxic Event (2008) [ larger cover art ] |
And it starts, sometime around midnight
Or at least that's when you lose yourself
For a minute or two
As you stand, under the bar lights
And the band plays some song
About forgetting yourself for a while
And the piano's this melancholy sound check to her smile
And that white dress she's wearing
You haven't seen her for a while
But you know that she's watching
She's laughing, she's turning
She's holding her tonic like a cross
The room's suddenly spinning
She walks up and asks how you are
So you can smell her perfume
You can see her lying naked in your arms
And so there's a change, in your emotions
And all these memories come rushing
Like feral waves to your mind
Of the curl of your bodies
Like two perfect circles entwined
And you feel hopeless and homeless
And lost in the haze of the wine
Then she leaves, with someone you don't know
But she makes sure you saw her
She looks right at you and bolts
As she walks out the door
Your blood boiling
Your stomach in ropes
Oh and when your friends say,
“What is it? You look like you've seen a ghost.”
Then you walk, under the streetlights
And you're too drunk to notice
That everyone is staring at you
You just don't care what you look like
The world is falling around you
You just have to see her
You just have to see her
You just have to see her
You just have to see her
You just have to see her
You know that she'll break you in two
| GarageDragon | Posted: May 20, 2013 - 19:39 I never really listened to the lyrics until recently. This is heartbreaking. Anyone who's ever been through this should instantly understand what the feeling being described. Sniff. 5 --> 8 |
| dkwalika (Upper Midwest) | Posted: May 19, 2013 - 07:42 Yes, indeed. |
| onelittlemoose (Mooseville, Canada) | Posted: Apr 19, 2013 - 12:19 ShaunJ wrote: Actually, I use the term "pissed" for expressing anger and being intoxicated ![]() Ditto. Although I have found that using the term "schloshed" expresses the latter without confusion. |
| BrightonGuy | Posted: Apr 10, 2013 - 00:30 Shades of Blur's Common People? |
| On_The_Beach (The Blue Planet) | Posted: Apr 02, 2013 - 17:33 |
| linden (Santa Cruz, CA) | Posted: Apr 02, 2013 - 14:36 horseplayer wrote: Guy seems wrapped pretty tight. Maybe that's why she left him? |
| michaelgmitchell (Stirling, ON) | Posted: Mar 30, 2013 - 06:21 ziggytrix wrote: When Canadians say "pissed" does it mean "angry" like in American English or "intoxicated" like in British English? Either way, the answer to your question is "yes", so would you please return the favo(u)r and answer mine? Ha! Good point. I meant angry as hell. Could be a bit of the second meaning too in this case... |
| martinc (Ottawa Canada) | Posted: Mar 30, 2013 - 06:17 This Canadian uses pissed off when ticked off, maybe sometimes just pissed. I use pissed more often to describe being drunk. I also think of pissed whenever I hit the PSD button at RP |
| misterbearbaby (Marina del Rey, California) | Posted: Mar 17, 2013 - 13:05 The guy can sing, but it sucks when he's holding back - trying to achieve some "style" perhaps? Let it rip, dude! THIS IS ROCK-N-ROLL. =3 |
| horseplayer (Lincroft, NJ) | Posted: Mar 09, 2013 - 12:46 Guy seems wrapped pretty tight. Maybe that's why she left him? |
| dirtbagpook | Posted: Mar 04, 2013 - 16:08 This song still grips me when it comes on. Damn near perfect psalm of unrequited, unfulfilled love. |
| Ballzak | Posted: Mar 04, 2013 - 16:07 I'm hearing Ziggy Stardust... |
| paradisepig (Inverness-Scotland) | Posted: Feb 20, 2013 - 23:59 Sounds like...ohhh so many things... Pulp, U2, Big Country, Glasvagas etc etc |
| suesblues (Sydney, Australia) | Posted: Feb 09, 2013 - 17:42 this guy needs to get a grip....4 from me (and that's because the bass line's not too bad) |
| von_Hayek (Land of the early birds) | Posted: Feb 06, 2013 - 04:47 8 |
| citizenkeith | Posted: Feb 01, 2013 - 08:16 I'd turn this off but my girlfriend likes this song. Ugh... |
| JHZ (between Clark and Hilldale) | Posted: Jan 26, 2013 - 12:08 Gryn wrote: Man I know I've heard this song somewhere else, with the vocalist singing it in a higher voice. I read the comments below about "arcade fire" but I didn't see the title of the song in any arcade fire song. Anybody know? It was also a bit faster tempo. I liked it much more. There is an acoustic version of this song, which was also picked by Starbucks for one of its products. Maybe you are thinking of that? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ5A3Q0Ks-U |
| JHZ (between Clark and Hilldale) | Posted: Jan 26, 2013 - 12:02 rdo wrote: Delillos white noise is one of the most overrated books evah! I disagree! very much so, actually. |
| Gryn (Oregon) | Posted: Jan 01, 2013 - 00:29 Man I know I've heard this song somewhere else, with the vocalist singing it in a higher voice. I read the comments below about "arcade fire" but I didn't see the title of the song in any arcade fire song. Anybody know? It was also a bit faster tempo. I liked it much more. |
| martinc (Ottawa Canada) | Posted: Dec 29, 2012 - 11:32 ShaunJ wrote: Actually, I use the term "pissed" for expressing anger and being intoxicated ![]() and even more so if followed by on or off. |
| rdo (DC) | Posted: Dec 29, 2012 - 11:30 Delillos white noise is one of the most overrated books evah! |
| DaidyBoy (Bristol, UK) | Posted: Dec 20, 2012 - 07:46 Love this one. Know exactly where this guy is and how difficult it is to lose those special places. Angry bloke. |
| Proclivities (Paris of the Piedmont) | Posted: Dec 20, 2012 - 07:43 ShaunJ wrote: Actually, I use the term "pissed" for expressing anger and being intoxicated ![]() Simultaneously? I guess that would be "doubly pissed". |
| Hippostar (Portland, OR) | Posted: Dec 05, 2012 - 11:47 This song just illustrates so well, a "bad night". |
| ShaunJ (Tsawwassen, BC) | Posted: Nov 30, 2012 - 15:39 ziggytrix wrote: When Canadians say "pissed" does it mean "angry" like in American English or "intoxicated" like in British English? Either way, the answer to your question is "yes", so would you please return the favo(u)r and answer mine? Actually, I use the term "pissed" for expressing anger and being intoxicated ![]() |
| bam23 (Berkeley) | Posted: Nov 30, 2012 - 15:28 icemang wrote: A band named for something in a Don DeLillo book. I hate Don DeLillo. Perhaps if they had gone for the title of the book (White Noise) and just played that, I might like it more. You seriously evaluate music based on your feelings about the author of a book that supplied the name for the band? That's pretty petty. And anyone who hates DeLillo can't have much to offer, anyway. If the band was named Bucky Wunderlick, would that be an improvement? |
| mistabird (frei republik allgäu) | Posted: Nov 28, 2012 - 02:40 yeah is great !!! |
| ziggytrix (Dallas, TX) | Posted: Nov 13, 2012 - 14:37 michaelgmitchell wrote: The guy's pretty pissed, huh? When Canadians say "pissed" does it mean "angry" like in American English or "intoxicated" like in British English? Either way, the answer to your question is "yes", so would you please return the favo(u)r and answer mine? |
| richlister | Posted: Oct 30, 2012 - 07:24 10 points for the one that can tell me what the song that sounds similar. |
| rdo (DC) | Posted: Oct 30, 2012 - 07:17 In Rock music, passion is more important in vocals than technique. |
| rdo (DC) | Posted: Oct 27, 2012 - 18:07 Sings with passion. A good thing. |
| toomanyollys | Posted: Aug 28, 2012 - 06:59 leafmold wrote: I love this song—and feel so bad for that guy. I have to PSD on this song now because every time I hear it "that guy" sounds more pathetic. For God's sake man, snap out of it. |
| Byronape ("post-capitalist wreckageville") | Posted: Aug 15, 2012 - 07:02 kingart wrote: Love the music. Got it on my pod. But the song's character is on a major bummer. Don't go to bars where the perfume-y ex picks up men. This brings up the question of who gets the favorite bar in the separation. I was dating this chick many years ago and there was this one quite little place that we both liked going to. She got it, so I have never went back. Makes me a little sad (I was about a year from people shouting "NORM!!" when I walked in, which would have only weird because my name is not Norm), but it is worth it not to have to have that awkward moment. |
| niccca | Posted: Aug 15, 2012 - 06:42 always brights up my day |
| michaelgmitchell (Stirling, ON) | Posted: Aug 15, 2012 - 06:39 The guy's pretty pissed, huh? |
| michaelgmitchell (Stirling, ON) | Posted: Aug 15, 2012 - 06:36 burdell wrote: An intense, powerful song. Great music inspires emotion. This one has plenty. Terrific stuff, this. Nicely put. Agreed. |
| TerryS (Another SW) | Posted: Jul 27, 2012 - 21:06 The Airborne Toxic Event — Sometime Around Midnight The name is evidence that the stalker was in the vicinity of my bathroom last night. |
| kingart (Brooklyn NY) | Posted: Jul 25, 2012 - 08:24 Love the music. Got it on my pod. But the song's character is on a major bummer. Don't go to bars where the perfume-y ex picks up men. |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Jul 14, 2012 - 20:15 missyanneb wrote: Ah. The song that never reaches any sort of musical climax.... almost.... nope. Almost!...nope etc There are thousands of songs which do not have crescendos (or what you call musical climaxes). It's never been mandatory for music. |
| dw (PHill, CA) | Posted: Jul 10, 2012 - 18:20 Reminds me of Arcade Fire; singer has lower voice. |
| WayUpNorth | Posted: Jul 09, 2012 - 06:40 |
| Ferox (Kernow) | Posted: Jul 01, 2012 - 08:12 ![]() |
| leafmold | Posted: Jun 26, 2012 - 10:40 I love this song—and feel so bad for that guy. |
| kingart (Brooklyn NY) | Posted: Jun 07, 2012 - 13:22 Crescendo. Big sound. Fab-u-lous! Speakers cranked. But about 20 minutes too short...! |
| 1wolfy (Mission Viejo California) | Posted: May 25, 2012 - 13:59 well written |
| Xstar (Florence, Kentucky) | Posted: May 23, 2012 - 01:58 ![]() |
| sjmo2 | Posted: May 12, 2012 - 10:13 i just love this song. volume goes up, the vocals start, and my neighbors start pounding on the the walls. good times. |
| burdell (Atlanta, GA) | Posted: May 08, 2012 - 06:52 An intense, powerful song. Great music inspires emotion. This one has plenty. Terrific stuff this. |
| Bobert_ParkCity (Park City Utah) | Posted: Apr 28, 2012 - 16:50 definitely not toxic - great guitar work and jumps! The emotion in his voice reminds of Ian Curtis - that's saying a lot! I love this song. (and Bill, you could play more Ian Curtis...) |
| laozilover (Left of Chicago and up) | Posted: Apr 21, 2012 - 08:37 Hearing this song just now, I fell moved to up my rating from 7 to 8. Weird how the song comments don't match the ratings distribution! |



