a song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget
#30daysongchallenge
The first album by She & Him was great. Good, nostalgic pop by Zooey Deschanel (you might know her from „New Girl“) and M. Ward (really so many musicians have worked with him – you probably know him). „Why do you let me stay here“ was a single and also part of the movie „(500) Days of Summer“ – so there are two music videos out. Both very different but worth a watch!
So this reminder of a person I’d rather forget – well there is no person I would like to forget. I believe every connection you make in your life is important. Sometimes you just part ways, sometimes for good. That is okay. Our own paths are weaving around paths of friends, family and other people. Sometimes you are close – sometimes you drift away.
This song is not really about the interwoven paths or the drifting away. It is about someone who is sure that the other person would be fitting into their life. So she/he is waiting (on a shelf) and wondering why the other is not responding, and keeping her/him a secret. If they just made an effort – they would see this belonging. It could be love, it could be a different kind of connection worth exploring.
Why don’t you sit right down and stay a while
We like the same things and I like your style
It’s not a secret, why do you keep it?
I’m just sitting on the shelf
(why do you let me stay here)
I guess this waiting and wanting for someone to recognize a connection is rather fruitless if the other is not picking you up. You can’t sit on a shelf and start doubting yourself. So if a connection is not picked up at the other end: Move on!
I have had this kind of situation in my teenage years and in my twenties – but I am glad that I learned how to move on and pick up connections differently. Fun fact: no connection is ever really lost; just don’t get shelved, that is not worth your time!