Past Tame Impala releases were done by Kevin Parker purely for his own enjoyment. InnerSpeaker marks the first time Parker has "recorded something for an intended release. In the past just recorded a song, then done another two weeks later and eventually put them together." While Tame Impala tour as a band, it is Parker's personal music project in which he writes and records all the music to. Commenting on this, Parker said "Tame Impala is just one sliver of the giant amount of noise-making that we do as a circle of friends. I don't feel bad doing the recording by myself because I don't expect that input in their bands...to us Tame Impala is just Kevin Parker's project and everyone has a project" and "Tame Impala has always been a solo project. It has two halves: one half is the recording side which is very calculated and pieced together, and the other side is the live side, where we take what's been recorded and turn them into live songs." Parker has been recording music solo for a long time, as he explains "I’ve always recorded music. When I was 12, I used to set up two tape machines and multi-track myself. First, I’d record a beat on the drums, then, I’d play that tape into another tape recorder while playing keyboard; then I’d take that tape and play bass guitar along with the drums and keyboard. I’d keep adding instruments. I did that for a long time until my dad bought me an 8-track, and then I continued recording music by myself, even if I was in other bands at the same time." Parker's father "played a lot of music as a hobby" and was a "big influence" on Kevin.
It Is Not Meant to Be
Tame Impala Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanted her
But she doesn't like the life that I lead
She doesn't like the life that I lead
Doesn't like sand stuck on her feet
Or sitting around smoking weed
I must seem more like a friend in need
And I boast that it is meant to be
But in all honesty
I don't have a hope in hell
I'm happy just to watch her move
And in all honesty
I don't have a hope in hell
I'm happy just to watch her move
And she doesn't like the friends that I make
Doesn't make friends for friendship's sake
She just gets bored sitting by the lake
Her soul won't surface and her heart won't ache
And I boast that it is meant to be
But, in all honesty
I don't have a hope in hell
I'm happy just to watch her move
And I thought they could cure his disease
But, in all honesty
He didn't have a hope in hell
Now we'll never see him move
The lyrics to Tame Impala's "It Is Not Meant to Be" tells the story of a man who desires a woman but realizes that they are not compatible. Although he wants her, she does not share his interests in smoking weed or spending time lounging around. He recognizes that their views on life do not align, and although he believes that they are meant to be, he knows that it is not true. The man is content just watching her from afar and admiring her movements. The woman does not enjoy the company of the man's friends and does not make friends for the sake of it. Rather than taking pleasure in the simple things in life, she appears to be cold and unresponsive.
The lyrics speak to the universal experience of heartache and unrequited love. Although the man wants the woman, he recognizes that they do not have a future together. He resolves to continue watching her from afar, knowing that he cannot have her. The song touches on themes of loneliness, unfulfilled desires, and bemusement with life's mystery. The man recognizes that his advantage is being a spectre, which implies that he has developed newfound appreciation and respect for the woman he admires.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanted her, I wanted her
I had a strong desire to be with her
But she doesn't like the life that I lead
She doesn't enjoy the way I live my life
She doesn't like sand stuck on her feet
She dislikes feeling uncomfortable or dirty, like when getting sand in her shoes
Or sitting around smoking weed
She doesn't approve of my use of marijuana to relax
I must seem more like a friend in need
I come off as needy and dependent on her rather than a desirable partner
And I boast that it is meant to be
I try to convince myself and others that we are destined to be together
But, in all honesty, I don't have a hope in hell
I undeniably have no chance with her
I'm happy just to watch her move
I enjoy being around her and observing her even though it won't lead to anything more
And she doesn't like the friends that I make
She is disapproving of the people in my social circle
Doesn't make friends for friendship's sake
She doesn't bother making friends with people she doesn't see a connection with
She just gets bored sitting by the lake
She becomes uninterested and restless when not being actively engaged
Her soul won't surface and her heart won't ache
She doesn't have deep emotions or passions that are easy to reveal
And I thought they could cure his disease
I had hope that they could help someone overcome their problems or challenges
But, in all honesty, he didn't have a hope in hell
It was clear that the person had no chance of getting better or surviving
Now we'll never see him move
He has passed away, and we will never see him live or act again
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kevin Richard Parker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ann Simpson
on The Less I Know the Better
warren's vocals and guitar.pull the song up to the.intensity it deserves. HAs is true of all his work, his. immense capacity to encompass the.musicality and the authenticity of his vocals and!amnva awesome ands guides