Science vs. Romance
Science vs. Romance | ||||||||||||
CD - USA - 1st edition. |
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Science vs. Romance is an indie rock song by Rilo Kiley. It was composed by Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett and first released as track 2 on Take Offs and Landings released on 2001-07-31. Later in 2001, a 7" vinyl single was released with About the Moon as the B-side.
Although the song's lyrics aren't very forthright, it appears to describe wanting to view the world through more innocent eyes after becoming jaded with adulthood, particularly in how it applies to relationships. I've heard it suggested the song is about coming to grips with the fact that a forced long-distance relationship isn't working out and needs to be ended; I can certainly see that from the lyrics near the end.
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Personal
This was the very first Rilo Kiley song I heard having been recommended to me by an online friend. While I didn't much care for the song at first listen, there was something about the mellow sound and depressing lyrics that drew me in and caused me to play the song on repeat a couple dozen times; it even inspired me to write a poem. Many listens later, it became a favorite of mine, and, along with Wires and Waves, Paint's Peeling, and The Good That Won't Come Out became my gateway into a love affair with Rilo Kiley.
Jenny's vocals in this song are a bit nasal and wavering at moments, and Blake's backups are also a bit off, but I find that to be part of the song's charm. I like the soft instrumental break before the "facts versus romance" section, and really like the harder break after them.
Whenever I listen to the song now, it takes me back to a time when I was dating a girl out of state, and the song, though I didn't know it at the time, became a fitting anthem for my long-distance relationship that didn't work out.
Lyrics
I used to think if I could realize I'd die Then I would be a lot nicer Used to believe in a lot more Now I just see straight ahead That's not to say I don't have good times But as for my days I spend them waiting Crash sites keep me up at night Impact division it splits in two Directly underneath you As for those things (as for those things) That act as markers in your life But in between (but in between) You can't remember And so it seems (and so it seems) That you've grown up and over me (up and over me) And these silly things (these silly things) I like to dwell on Test sites keep me up at night Chainlink and meters I talk to you It's cold out there But I'm telling you I'm lonely too Facts versus romance You go and call yourself the boss But we're not robots inside a grid Text versus romance You go and add it all you want Still we're not robots inside a grid Zeros and ones