Vacuum
Elke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I could give you anything,
I'd give you this
It's the best vacuum cleaner
You've ever put your hands on
Because you haven't touched much apart from the door
Watch the dust leave your apartment floor
Because the name of the day
When you walk to your car
It's staring you in the face
Wondering where you are
And when you realize
Where you come from
Maybe you'll be okay in your own home
Falling ins and falling outs,
And falling ins and falling outs
Falling ins and falling outs,
And falling ins and falling outs
If I could give you anything,
I'd give you this
It's the best vacuum cleaner
You'll ever put your hands on
Because you only live
By the things that you know
But the least you could do is clean your home
Falling ins and falling outs,
And falling ins and falling outs
And falling ins and falling outs
Falling ins and falling outs,
And falling ins and falling outs
And falling ins and falling outs
Mmm, mmm, mmm
At its core, Elke's song Vacuum talks about the struggles of maintaining one's own home in the midst of life's many ups and downs, as represented by the repetitive refrain of "falling ins and falling outs." The first stanza establishes the titular vacuum cleaner as a symbol of cleanliness and order amidst the chaos, with the singer asserting that it is the "best" vacuum cleaner the listener will ever find. The following lines suggest that the listener's surroundings are in dire need of cleaning and dusting, as evidenced by the fact that they haven't "touched much apart from the door." By using the vacuum cleaner, the listener can "watch the dust leave [their] apartment floor" and reclaim some sense of control and comfort in their own space.
The second stanza shifts the focus to the bigger picture of the listener's life, with references to the "name of the day" and the act of walking to their car. Though it's unclear exactly what these references mean, they suggest that the listener is feeling lost or overwhelmed. The line "Maybe you'll be okay in your own home" hints that the singer believes that a clean and organized living space can be a source of comfort and stability in turbulent times.
Overall, Vacuum is a song that celebrates the power of a tidy home to provide a sense of order and comfort in chaotic times. The use of a vacuum cleaner as a symbol of this order is clever, as it's a mundane tool that most people can relate to, but it takes on a greater resonance in the context of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Mmm, mmm, mmm
Non-lyrical vocalization, no specific meaning
If I could give you anything,
Expressing a desire to be generous and helpful
I'd give you this
Referring to a specific object, which is the subject of the song
It's the best vacuum cleaner
A statement regarding the superior quality of the object
You've ever put your hands on
Suggesting that the listener has not experienced something of this quality before
Because you haven't touched much apart from the door
Implicating that the listener's experience with cleaning technology is limited
Watch the dust leave your apartment floor
Anticipating a visual and sensory improvement of the listener's living environment
Because the name of the day
A reference to the specific day in question
When you walk to your car
Indicating that the listener is in a specific location
It's staring you in the face
Suggesting that the object in question is prominent and noticeable
Wondering where you are
Personifying the object in question, lending it emotional or human-like characteristics
And when you realize
Anticipating a moment of recognition or epiphany
Where you come from
Regaining a sense of perspective, acknowledging one's history and context
Maybe you'll be okay in your own home
Suggesting that personal satisfaction and well-being can be related to creating a clean and welcoming home environment
Falling ins and falling outs,
Repetition of a phrase, potentially related to interpersonal relationships
And falling ins and falling outs
Continued repetition of the phrase, possibly emphasizing the idea of instability or uncertainty
If I could give you anything,
Repeating a sentiment from earlier in the song
I'd give you this
Repeating the subject of the song
It's the best vacuum cleaner
Repeating an earlier assertion
You'll ever put your hands on
Repeating the suggestion that the listener lacks experience with high-quality cleaning technology
Because you only live
Implicating a potential limitation in the listener's experience or worldview
By the things that you know
An assertion that one's knowledge and beliefs shape one's experience and perspective
But the least you could do is clean your home
Suggesting that hygiene and household cleanliness are relatively simple and achievable tasks
Falling ins and falling outs,
Repetition of an earlier phrase
And falling ins and falling outs
Continued repetition of the phrase
And falling ins and falling outs
Further repetition of the phrase, emphasizing its importance in the song
Contributed by Gavin W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@micaelapazsalazar4541
Me enamoré de ella ayer, no la conocía hasta verla tocar previo a Paramore en Argentina 💕
@Henry39000
This video gives me such an early 90's MTV vibe and i love it
@epop44
I'm so into this it's Twin Peaks dreamy.
@emssmith4107
This is absolutely amazing and I’m utterly obsessed!
@karlaosoriofigueroa6589
I LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH!!!!
@arianatorres7163
I love her voice!
@petalsforshannon3985
catch me deciphering this for the rest of my life <3
@Beldelrey_
I have become your fan 🥰 I love your songs and I barely met you
@mattteovids
Super sounds like something that should be featured in a noir movie soundtrack - like requiem for a dream almost. A movie would be lucky to have that song in there for sure. Tyfs this and hope you’re doing well!!
@itspaulayall
THIS SONG IS SO GOOD ??!!?!