This is a brilliant couplet. Mercer references the current state of his relationship using unpleasant, ugly-looking phrasing like “colossal mass.”
Here, for reference, is a colosal mass of garbage
He then states the impetus for this piece-of-shit relationship’s dissipation: his “moat.”
A moat is a man-made body of water surrounding a residence (usually a fucking castle), traditionally to keep off intruders and potential threats. Mercer uses a moat as a metaphor for his standoffish personality and unwillingness to make himself appear vulnerable to most people. This impersonal attitude probably had a very large impact on his relationship.
Appealing to the hip, urban portion of his fan base, Mercer provides imagery of a meager living situation that most young adults suffer with until they hit 35.
We smell bullshit, James Mercer!
Exhibit A: Here you are, wearing a coat, and it’s not even snowing
As is seen on Chocolate, vernacular is subject to change throughout regions of the world. The English members of the 1975 probably use the term “spliff” as any old marijuana cigarette. The girl in question, probably of the Americas, is most likely using “spliff” to refer to a marijuana joint that also contains tobacco.
For more on Rap Genius’s Marijuana Education™, visit Snoop Dogg’s artist page!
During games of chance at casinos, a number of variables are often at play by the house (the casino) in an attempt to inadvertently screw players out of money.
These “luscious mix” of factors are used to break the concentration of players and gain the casino money.
Mercer uses this as analogous to a failing relationship, in which neither party knows that it’s time to quit.
To cram something down one’s throat is a euphemism for forcing something. So essentially, Shins frontman James Mercer is contradicting himself, stating that even if he chooses to give a situation some thought, he will end up being forced regardless
To wear the cowboy hat…or not to wear the cowboy hat…
Sometimes the things we long for aren’t as flawless as we think when looked at under close scrutiny.
Dr. Murphy recommends suppressing bad memories through barcrawling!
