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Know by Heart
The American Analog Set Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

you are a book for me to read,
line after line I read on and on.
you are a film for me to see,
a string of frames the just goes on and on and on.

and of all the places that i've been,
name after name it just goes on and on.
you are a song for me to sing,
a string of verses that goes on and on and on.

Overall Meaning

The American Analog Set's song Know by Heart is a beautiful and poetic expression of love and devotion. The lyrics of the song highlight the various ways in which the singer's lover is like different forms of media – a book, a film, and a song. They are constant, unrelenting, and always present in the singer's life.


The first stanza begins with the singer describing their lover as a book to be read. They read line after line, never wanting to stop. The second stanza switches to a film, with the singer seeing a string of frames that go on endlessly. The repetition of the phrase "on and on and on" emphasizes the constancy of the lover's presence in the singer's life.


The final stanza brings the poem together, as the singer compares their lover not only to a book and a film, but also to all of the places they've ever been and all of the names they've ever heard. The lover is like a song to be sung, with endless verses that just keep going. The song captures the essence of love as an ever-present force in our lives, a constant that we can always turn to in times of joy or sorrow.


Line by Line Meaning

you are a book for me to read
You are the story of my life, that I read over and over again.


line after line I read on and on
Every detail of my life with you is worth rereading again and again.


you are a film for me to see
You are the reel of my memories that I endlessly replay in my mind.


a string of frames that just goes on and on and on
Each moment with you is a frame that joins the reel and never-ending stories of our life.


and of all the places that I've been
I've been several places, but none compares to the story of my life with you.


name after name it just goes on and on
I have seen several people, but none can compare to my time with you.


you are a song for me to sing
Your love is like a melody that keeps me singing, it never fades away.


a string of verses that goes on and on and on
Each stanza of my love story with you, inspires the next verse and my love for you grows every day.




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@thegracienetwork7847

I discovered this wonderful band coming down from an acid trip. Just popped on my friends ipod (this was back in the day) as I was floating on his couch...perfect place, perfect time

@tymmac007

One of the most underrated bands/albums in the history of music!! This album is a top ten ever in my book. So chill.

@mrdankhimself

I found a bootleg copy of this album underneath a chair in a lecture hall freshman year at college. The rest is history.

@MCN309

Once upon a teenage scene. My friends and I playing this album on repeat. Lying in a dark room, 4 boys 3 girls. Greenery was consumed and colorful imaginary scenes from the mind swirled...that scene and feeling forever comes back to me...just by listening!

@KidCorporate

Sucks for the odd dude out haha.

@danmitchell3482

I've been listening to this album for almost 20 years on and off and it's still as amazing as the first time I listened

@whammo64

a hidden gem, to be sure

@shamanllama

thank you for uploading one of my favorite albums in full. ♥️

@davidkorman2995

Simply perfect and beautifully recorded. Know by Heart casts a spell.

@MsAJChase

One of my favorite albums. Seriously. 2008 is when I discovered your band - many many many many many nights at night with a very small group of friends. This was our favorite way to end the night. Thank you. I wish you guys would keep making music.

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