Delicately and respectfully blending the mystical magic of Bon Iver with the raw sensibilities of the likes of Kurt Cobain and Regina Spektor, Annie Eve pours sugar and bitter spice into her angelic compositions with disturbing ease and sincerity.
Eve’s unusual grasp of language and awkward perspective bleeds into her lyrics and fuels an enchanting and haunting style of music. Deriving her influences from tormented poets to her own experiences, Eve blends her sense of the raw and the irrational to create original and evocative songs.
Dark Rooms
Annie Eve Lyrics
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Keep me occupied, distracted
When he comes outside to smoke
I'm already there by habit
He lights a cigarette & folds his coat
So I stand under it
He shivers so he shuffles until I'm touching him
And I don't know why
Another life that I can't touch
Some other face that I don't trust
Cause no one has my
Crept in a sharp clutch
Makes slow like it's shaking rust
I only want what I cannot touch
Suffer still so stay late afternoon
When I wake I'm feeling blue
Plagued by aches & thoughts of you
And I know he's thinking of it
Yeah I know he's thinking of it
Wrapped up in the idea
Of what it means to be a poet
And though it may be vague I think of only us
As though my minds (...) dust
Shaped (...) it's all lost
It's my heart
Crept in a sharp clutch
Beats fast like it's waking up
I only want what I cannot touch
I only want what I cannot touch
Oh, it comes through my mind & keeps me up
Take the time, tearing me up
I only want what I cannot touch
I only want what I cannot touch
I only want what I cannot touch
The lyrics of "Dark Rooms" seem to describe a complex relationship that's marked by unrequited love or a sense of longing that cannot be fulfilled. The singer is haunted by "voices in my head" that keep her/him preoccupied and distracted from the outside world. When the object of the singer's affection comes outside to smoke, she/he is already there by habit, indicating a sense of obsession or attachment. They share a space, represented by the smoke and the coat, but they are distant in their minds and hearts. The singer doesn't trust the other person's face, suggesting that there might be something insincere or unreliable about them. The line "Cause no one has my crept in a sharp clutch" could be interpreted in different ways, but it seems to imply that the singer has some sort of insecurity or fear that prevents them from fully opening up to others. The repetition of "Another love" and "I only want what I cannot touch" suggests a cycle of unfulfilled desires and disappointments, echoing the theme of the chorus.
The second verse of the song adds more layers of complexity to the relationship, as the singer reveals that she/he is plagued by thoughts of the other person even when they are not together. The line "Suffer still so stay late afternoon" creates an image of waiting and enduring for the sake of something that's not certain. The singer wakes up feeling blue, with aches and thoughts of the other person overwhelming her/his mind. The other person, however, seems to be more focused on their self-image as a poet or artist, wrapped up in the abstraction of it all. The singer feels disconnected from this ideal and can only think of their own feelings as something concrete and valuable. The lines "Yeah I know he's thinking of it/Wrapped up in the idea/Of what it means to be a poet" convey a sense of frustration and envy towards the other person's priorities. The last lines of the song "Oh, it comes through my mind & keeps me up/Take the time, tearing me up" suggest that the singer is caught in a loop of thoughts and emotions that don't let her/him rest or move on.
Line by Line Meaning
These voices in my head
My thoughts and distractions are always in my mind.
Keep me occupied, distracted
They help me pass the time and avoid deeper feelings.
When he comes outside to smoke
He is a person I interact with regularly.
I'm already there by habit
I always find myself near him, even if I didn't consciously decide to be there.
He lights a cigarette & folds his coat
A mundane action that I observe.
So I stand under it
I try to share his space and energy.
He shivers so he shuffles until I'm touching him
He wants and needs my warmth and presence beside him.
And I don't know why
I am confused about my own motivations and feelings.
He's just another love
He is not the first person I have felt strongly about.
Another life that I can't touch
We are separate individuals with different experiences and paths.
Some other face that I don't trust
I have trust issues and trouble connecting with others.
Cause no one has my
I am alone in my own head.
Crept in a sharp clutch
My desire is intense and painful, like a tight grip.
Makes slow like it's shaking rust
My longing is persistent and slow to fade, like rust on metal.
I only want what I cannot touch
My desires are unrealistic or unattainable.
Suffer still so stay late afternoon
I am in pain and choose to stay in this state when I have the option to leave.
When I wake I'm feeling blue
I am consistently sad and struggling with my emotions.
Plagued by aches & thoughts of you
I cannot escape the pain and thoughts related to my feelings for this person.
And I know he's thinking of it
I am unsure about his feelings towards me, but am paranoid and assume the worst.
Wrapped up in the idea
He is overly focused on an idealized version of me or our relationship.
Of what it means to be a poet
He is more invested in his own image and idea of himself than in our connection.
And though it may be vague I think of only us
I am desperate for connection and cling to the possibility of us being together, even if it is uncertain.
As though my minds (...) dust
My thoughts are veiled and unclear, like dust in the air.
Shaped (...) it's all lost
My emotions and desires are vague and undefined, making it difficult to grasp what I truly want or feel.
It's my heart
These are the deepest and truest feelings of my heart.
Beats fast like it's waking up
My heart races with longing, like it has just awakened from a deep sleep.
Oh, it comes through my mind & keeps me up
My infatuation is persistent and keeps me from rest or peace of mind.
Take the time, tearing me up
My emotional turmoil takes up much of my time and energy, causing anguish.
I only want what I cannot touch
My desires and feelings are focused on something that is beyond my reach or unrealistic to achieve.
Contributed by Hailey L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.