Bigger Than Love
Ben Gibbard Lyrics

It's bigger than love
The feeling being described is much more intense and all-encompassing than love.

Brighter than all the stars combined
The feeling is incredibly bright and luminous, even compared to the vast expanse of the stars.

It's dwarfing the sun
This feeling is so intense that it makes the sun, which is the center of our solar system and incredibly powerful, seem small by comparison.

Burning within my heart and mind
The feeling is experienced both physically and mentally, and is all-consuming.

I live with my memories,
The artist is reminiscing about past experiences they have had.

The bustle and fervor of New York
The singer is remembering the intense energy and excitement of the city of New York.

Where on 59th street
The specific location in New York that the singer is thinking of.

We quarreled and broke the bathroom door
The artist and their partner had a physical fight and damaged part of their living space.

'Cause you were just drinking
The partner was intoxicated and this contributed to the fight/dispute.

Drinking'til you could hardly see
The partner was drinking to excess and it was affecting their ability to function normally.

Oh how much I loved you
Despite these challenges and difficulties, the singer still had strong feelings of love for their partner.

But I couldn't bring myself to leave
Despite the challenges in the relationship, the artist is unable or unwilling to leave their partner at this time.

Our summers in Paris,
The singer is now reminiscing about a different time and place where they spent time with their partner.

The Seine overflowing with champagne
The singer and their partner enjoyed themselves in Paris, indulging in luxurious experiences like drinking champagne and enjoying the scenery along the Seine river.

And I knew you stepped out
The singer is aware that their partner had cheated on them at some point.

But you knew that I had done the same
The artist is admitting that they also cheated on their partner at some point during this time.

And we had a child there
The artist and their partner had a child during this time in Paris.

But we couldn't raise her on our own
They were not able to care for the child without additional help/support.

So our house got crowded
With the addition of a child and likely other factors, the living situation became cramped and difficult.

And I'd never felt so all alone
Despite being surrounded by others, the artist still felt deeply alone and isolated.

Stranded in Asheville
The artist is now in a different location, feeling stuck or trapped in some way.

Failing to fix a broken head
The artist is having trouble resolving an issue or problem that they are experiencing.

You're in California
The partner is now in a different location, separate from the singer.

Doing the work of lesser men
The artist feels that their partner is now engaging in tasks or duties that are below their level of potential/ability.

Oh what of our daughter
The singer is now concerned about the welfare of their child.

Oh what of the love that we once shared?
The singer is reflecting on the past and expressing disappointment or sadness about the way things have turned out in their relationship.

It's living inside us
Despite the challenges and obstacles they have faced, both the singer and their partner still feel the intense emotion described earlier.

Battered but not beyond repair
The relationship may be damaged or struggling, but there is still hope for it to be restored and improved in some way.

Our fate decreed,
The course or direction of their relationship was predetermined in some way.

A singularity
The singer alludes to a scientific concept which refers to an event or moment where something dramatic or transformative happens.

A solemn tune
The singer describes the music they play at night as serious or grave in tone.

I play at night and dance around the room,
The artist is expressing their emotional experience through performance or movement.