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I'll Not Contain You
The Microphones Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I won't look for you in my own room
Through lengthy talks I'll not contain you
through climbing arms I'll reach my loft
through rotting skin I'll leave my coffin
through calloused work I will grow soft

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I'll Not Contain You" by The Microphones seems to be about recognizing the limitations of one's own efforts to hold onto someone, and the acceptance of the inevitability of separation. The opening line "I won't look for you in my own room" sets the tone for this exploration. The singer acknowledges that the person they are referring to is not confined to their own space, and seeking them out there would be futile. The subsequent lines suggest that no matter how much they may attempt to keep them close (through lengthy talks, climbing arms, and calloused work), they will eventually slip away.


Through the line "through rotting skin I'll leave my coffin," the song almost suggests that death itself will not even keep someone from leaving. The final line "through calloused work I will grow soft" feels as though it could mean that although the singer will continue to put in the effort to hold onto this person, they will ultimately accept the situation and soften their grip.


Overall, the lyrics of "I'll Not Contain You" deal with the theme of acceptance and letting go. The singer recognizes that no matter how tightly they may try to cling onto someone, ultimately they cannot control their actions or decisions.


Line by Line Meaning

I will not search for you in the sanctuary of my personal space
The singer will not attempt to find or cling onto the person they desire within the confines of their own room.


I won't try to hold on to you with lengthy conversations
The singer will not attempt to keep the person they desire near through prolonged dialogue.


Instead, I'll take refuge in my loft by climbing up high
The singer will retreat to their personal sanctuary by ascending upwards rather than relying on the person they desire.


I'll leave my mortal shell, which decays and becomes diseased
The artist will let go of their physical form, which inevitably deteriorates and rots away over time.


I'll grow tender and sensitive, despite my rough exterior
The artist will soften and become more emotionally open despite maintaining a hardened exterior due to their difficult past or current circumstances.




Contributed by Savannah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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