Antony and the Johnsons - Fistful of Love
Blipped this song before but there’s only so much you can gush about a song via a blip. I know Antony Hegarty(’s voice) is really an acquired taste, but this song made me tear on first listen, except that when I heard it I thought it was about those one-sided love affairs. Then I listened to it again and realized OMIGAWD, IT’S EVEN WORSE THAN THAT, it’s about someone in an abusive relationship and deluding themselves that the person is doing it cos he loved them! Then I felt sadder and I guess may or may not have teared a little more. Ha ha.
In the studio version, the spoken bit in the beginning is done by Lou Reed, but I am partial to this live arrangement with strings even though the lady (Julia Kent?) doing the Lou Reed bit is doing it (intentionally?) vacantly and detachedly. I don’t know how Antony can appear so joyful to be singing about something so sad; when he goes “We live together in a photograph of time…” I am not even kidding, my heart starts to feel a little heavier. And that’s just the beginning of the song. :(
We live together in a photograph of time
I look into your eyes and the seas open up to me
I tell you I love you, and I always will
And I know that you can’t tell me
So I’m left to pick up the hints,
the little symbols of your devotion
I feel your fists, and I know it’s out of love
And I feel the whip, and I know it’s out of love
I feel your burning eyes burning holes
Straight through my heart, it’s out of love
I accept and I collect upon my body
The memories of your devotion
SOBZ. Ok so that’s just one interpretation. I’ve read a others, and while the readings may differ, THEY ARE ALL HEARTBREAKING NEVERTHELESS. *wails*
