Phony Love Stories
Just Nick Lyrics
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But then I remembered
all the best nihilists are dead
hangin' out in a slaughterhouse near dresden or breaking records on an icy central park bench
but that was so long ago,
it's been two years since then.
Their spines were ruined,
but I still loved them.
I thought I liked myself, but then I met you.
You liked Fitzgerald, I hated The Great Gatsby, but I still liked you anyway.
and now I love myself, because I look through those big brown eyes
but all those neo-teenage romance novels suck because there's werewolves,
love triangles, and vampiric kind.
A wise man said the sun comes out,
but only when it feels like comin' out.
There's this box in my room that's packed up for school, full of friendly faces, and timeless rules.
There's no phony love stories or deathless prose,
But there's some dead philosophies, hey, so it goes.
I thought I liked myself, but then I met you.
let's leave the takers alone and maybe one day I might just find that perfect home.
And now I love myself because I looked through those big brown eyes. Lets hope we can read Hemingway and our troubles might go away, the spanish civil war has never seemed so romantic.
The lyrics to Just Nick's "Phony Love Stories" explores the themes of love, friendship, and individuality. The first stanza delves into the aftermath of a show and the loneliness that comes with it. The singer wonders where their friends are but then remembers their nihilist friends who are possibly dead. The image of them "breaking records on an icy central park bench" suggests their rebellious nature. The nostalgia is underscored by the fact that it has been two years since then. The singer acknowledges their friends' shortcomings, such as their ruined spines, but still loves them. This suggests that the singer values authenticity over perfection.
The second stanza compares the singer's self-love before and after they met the person referred to as "you." Initially, the singer thought they liked themselves, but meeting "you" caused them to question their taste as "you" liked Fitzgerald and they hated "The Great Gatsby." Despite this difference in opinion, the singer still liked "you." However, meeting "you" caused a shift in their perception, and now they love themselves because they "looked through those big brown eyes." This suggests that "you" helped them see themselves in a better light. The last two lines of the stanza criticize "neo-teenage romance novels" for their lack of substance.
The final stanza describes a box full of memories that is packed for school. The contents include friendly faces, timeless rules, and dead philosophies. This suggests that the singer values authenticity and morality over fleeting trends. The stanza reiterates the idea of the singer loving themselves because they looked through "those big brown eyes." The final line of the song, "let's hope we can read Hemingway, and our troubles might go away," offers a glimmer of hope amidst the struggles of life.
Line by Line Meaning
After the show I wondered "where are my friends?"
After a social event, I noticed that my friends were not around and questioned their whereabouts.
But then I remembered all the best nihilists are dead
I recalled that some of my friends who hold a nihilistic philosophy are no longer alive.
hangin' out in a slaughterhouse near dresden or breaking records on an icy central park bench
The nihilistic friends I recall were known to gather in unconventional locations like a slaughterhouse or engage in unusual activities like breaking records in a cold park.
but that was so long ago, it's been two years since then.
However, it has been a long time since those memories were made, about two years ago.
Their spines were ruined, but I still loved them.
Despite the harm inflicted on my friends' spines, I still held affection for them.
I thought I liked myself, but then I met you.
I believed that I had a positive perception of myself, but upon meeting you, my thinking may have changed.
You liked Fitzgerald, I hated The Great Gatsby, but I still liked you anyway.
Despite disagreeing on literature preferences, I still held a liking for you.
and now I love myself, because I look through those big brown eyes
Being able to see myself through your positive perspective has improved my self-image and I have grown to love myself.
but all those neo-teenage romance novels suck because there's werewolves, love triangles, and vampiric kind.
I hold a negative view towards modern teenage romance novels due to their incorporation of supernatural themes and complex romantic relationships.
A wise man said the sun comes out, but only when it feels like comin' out.
There is a saying that the sun only shines when it wants to, suggesting that we cannot always control circumstances.
There's this box in my room that's packed up for school, full of friendly faces, and timeless rules.
There is a box that I prepared for school that contains pictures of my friends and reminders of my values.
There's no phony love stories or deathless prose, But there's some dead philosophies, hey, so it goes.
The contents of the box do not contain fake romantic stories or immortal writing, but there are some outdated philosophical beliefs, which is just how things happen.
let's leave the takers alone and maybe one day I might just find that perfect home.
Let's distance ourselves from those who take advantage of others, and perhaps someday I will find my ideal place in life.
And now I love myself because I looked through those big brown eyes.
Again, by seeing myself through your kind gaze, I have learned to appreciate who I am and grown to love myself.
Lets hope we can read Hemingway and our troubles might go away, the spanish civil war has never seemed so romantic.
Perhaps reading literature by Hemingway will help alleviate our problems, and even the tragic events of the Spanish Civil War may take on a romantic quality through his writing.
Contributed by Logan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.