Modern Love
Kevin Johansen Lyrics

I don't want to go out
I am not interested in going out

I wont stay in
I am not interested in staying in either

Get things done
I want to be productive despite not leaving the house

I catch a paper boy
I am observing the normal routine of the outside world and the people who inhabit it

But things don't really change
Despite the passage of time, the world outside remains essentially the same

I'm standing in the wind
I am a passive observer of the world

But I never wave bye-bye
I am isolated from the world, but not actively avoiding it

But I try, I try
Even as I remain isolated, I want to connect with others

There's no sign of life
The world outside appears lifeless and dull

It's just the power to charm
I recognize that appearing charming is important, even if that charm has been lost in the world at large

I'm lying in the rain
I am metaphorically out in the world, but not an active participant

But I never wave bye-bye
Despite my detachment, I remain connected to the world in some way

But I try, I try
Even if I am not actively participating, I continue to strive to connect with others

Never gonna fall for modern love - walks beside me
I am not interested in superficial or fleeting connections, preferring something deeper and more meaningful

Modern love - walks on by
I am disconnected from the modern world in some respects

Modern love - gets me to the church on time
Despite my detachment, there are still some cultural norms that apply to me, such as the expectations surrounding church attendance

Church on time - terrifies me
The prospect of such social expectations and obligations is frightening

Church on time - makes me party
Despite my anxiety, I still feel pressure to participate in cultural rituals

Church on time - puts my trust in god and man
I am torn between my discomfort with social obligations and my faith in the importance of community and religion

God and man - no confessions
Despite my religious faith, I am also uncomfortable with the expectation of confessing one's sins and struggles to others

God and man - no religion
I am not interested in blindly following religious dogma or tradition

God and man - don't believe in modern love
I am skeptical of the superficial and ephemeral nature of modern romance and dating

Modern love - walks beside me
I continue to feel disconnected from modern society and its expectations of dating and relationships

Modern love - walks on by
Despite my skepticism, I remain curious about the world outside and the people who inhabit it

Modern love - gets me to the church on time
I try to balance my isolation with the expectations of society

Church on time - terrifies me
The cultural expectations surrounding church attendance and other rituals continue to cause me anxiety

Church on time - makes me party
Despite my reservations, I am still willing to participate in order to maintain social connections

Church on time - puts my trust in god and man
I recognize the importance of community and faith, but am not fully comfortable with all the rituals and expectations that come with them

God and man - no confessions
I am skeptical of the cultural expectation of confessing one's sins to others

God and man - no religion
While I believe in the value of community and faith, I am not interested in following religious dogma blindly

God and man - I don't believe in--
I continue to struggle with my own beliefs and doubts, but am willing to engage with them in search of deeper meaning

puts my trust in god and man
Ultimately, despite my skepticism and reservations, I still believe in the importance of community and faith, and seek to balance those values with my isolation and detachment

god and man - no confessions
I remain wary of the cultural expectation of confessing one's sins and struggles to others