Past members included Peggy Wang (vocals, keyboards), Alex Naidus (bass), and Kurt Feldman (drums, programming). Feldman currently works as an engineer and producer at Winter Station Studios and leads the synthpop group Ice Choir and the sophisti-pop group Roman a Clef, which also features current Pains member Jen Goma.
On November 4, [yearended]2019[/yearended] they announced they were breaking up.
Young Adult Friction
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Lyrics
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Not like anyone stopped to see
We came, they went, our bodies spent
Among the dust and the microfiche
Dark winters wear you down
Up again to see the dawn
In your worn sweatshirt
And your mother's old skirt
It's enough to turn my studies down
Now that you feel, you say it's not real
Now that you feel, you say it's not real
I never thought I would come of age
Let alone on a moldy page
You put your back to the spines
And you said it was fine if there's nothing really left to say
You're taking toffee with your Vicodin
Something sweet to forget about him
If you go your own way I can go my own way
And we'll never speak of it again
Now that you feel, you say it's not real
Now that you feel, you say it's not real
Don't check me out
Don't check me out
Don't check me ou-ou-out
Don't check me out
Don't check me out
Don't check me ou-ou-out
Don't check me out
Don't check me out
Don't check me ou-ou-out
Don't check me out
Don't check me out
Don't check me ou-ou-out
Don't check me out
Don't check me out
Don't check me ou-ou-out
Don't check me out
Don't check me out
Don't check me ou-ou-out
Don't check me out
Don't check me out
Don't check me ou-ou-out
"Young Adult Friction" is a song by The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, released in 2009. The song's lyrics follow a story of secretive and forbidden love between two individuals who find comfort in each other amidst the dusty and isolated world of library stacks. The first verse sets the scene as a solitary location, one where no one would have expected to find them. The line "Our bodies spent/ Among the dust and the microfiche" hints at a physical relationship that they are trying to hide. The second verse describes how dark winters wear the singer down while the third verse describes how an addiction to toffee and Vicodin helps them forget about a past lover, explaining their willingness to indulge in something that is not healthy for them.
The chorus of the song, "Now that you feel, you say it's not real," suggests the characters are struggling with their feelings for each other, unsure of whether it is a fleeting infatuation or something more significant. In the conclusion of the love story, the lyrics suggest that both of them are ready to make a choice that will lead them to different paths in life. The line "If you go your own way, I can go my way, and we'll never speak of it again" shows the inevitability and acceptance of separation.
Overall, "Young Adult Friction" discusses a taboo love affair and the various struggles that come with it. The isolation of the library and the characters' dependence on pills signify their desperation for comfort, both physical and emotional. The lyrics showcase how one may get entangled in situations where what they believe is the best for them turns out to be wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
Between the stacks in the library
We were hidden away in the library shelves
Not like anyone stopped to see
Nobody noticed our secret rendezvous
We came, they went, our bodies spent
After they left, we gave into our desires
Among the dust and the microfiche
We were surrounded by old books and forgotten knowledge
Dark winters wear you down
The cold, dreary winter weather can take its toll on you
Up again to see the dawn
Despite feeling worn down, we continue to face each new day
In your worn sweatshirt
You find comfort in your familiar, well-worn clothing
And your mother's old skirt
You hold onto the past by wearing a piece of your mother's clothing
It's enough to turn my studies down
Your presence is so distracting that I can't focus on my studies
Now that you feel, you say it's not real
You deny your feelings once they become too complicated
I never thought I would come of age
I never imagined I would reach my current stage of life
Let alone on a moldy page
Much less, in the midst of musty, old books
You put your back to the spines
You leaned against the library shelves to be closer to me
And you said it was fine if there's nothing really left to say
You were content with just being together in silence
You're taking toffee with your Vicodin
You're trying to forget your pain with medicine and sweets
Something sweet to forget about him
You're attempting to erase the memory of a former love
If you go your own way I can go my own way
If you choose to live your life apart from me, I'll do the same
And we'll never speak of it again
We'll bury our memories and pretend they never happened
Don't check me out
Don't overlook me or underestimate my significance
Don't check me ou-ou-out
Don't ignore me or dismiss me
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KIP BERMAN, KURT FELDMAN, ALEXANDER ARTHUR NAIDUS, PEGGY WANG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind