Do You Follow
Navigating the Maze of Love: Belle and Sebastian's 'Do You Follow' Explained
Lyrics
Everybody says you're a lot like me
Comparison between two people with uncertainty about similarity
But I don't know if I feel the same way
Uncertainty about reciprocating feelings
You're not a jailer, but I'm not free
Not constrained by someone but not entirely free
I still hang on every word that you say
Still deeply affected by the other person's words
I don't know what's you and what is me
Unclear boundaries between identities
We're points along a line, but I don't see a boundary
Suggesting lack of clear distinction between individuals
We are all punched out from the same old cast
Shared experiences shaping everyone similarly
And we are all vessels, and we contain the past
People as carriers of history and experiences
So I stick around for the spring, you see
Staying around during positive times
But then summer comes, I go free-ranging
Leaving when things become more freeing
You can still be you, I can try to be me
Striving for individuality amidst change
Is it me or just the world that's changing?
Questioning personal change or external change
My money's on you, I have no doubt
Deep belief in the other person
Of all the things we worship, we are the most devout
Humans' self-worship as the most intense devotion
When we kneel at the altar of ourselves
Idolizing oneself
But today I would give my ragged self away
Willingness to sacrifice oneself for the other
When you gonna call me?
Desire and anticipation for communication from the other
When you gonna want me?
-I'm waiting like a coiled spring
-For the telephone to ring
-Far away, you call me
-I've got a song to sing, I've got words I can borrow
Expression of having something to share despite circumstances
It really doesn't matter if it's raining tomorrow
-I've got a song to sing, I've got pain, I've got sorrow
-It really doesn't matter what I say, do you follow?
-I've got a song to sing, I've got words I can borrow
Reiteration of the previous sentiment
It really doesn't matter if it's raining tomorrow (really doesn't matter, really doesn't matter, no)
-I've got a song to sing, I've got pain, I've got sorrow
-It really doesn't matter what I say, do you follow?
-When you gonna call me?
Repetition of the longing for communication and connection
When you gonna want me?
-I'm waiting like a coiled spring
-For the telephone to ring
-When you gonna call me?
-When you gonna want me?
-I'm waiting like a coiled spring
-For the telephone to ring
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