Books From Boxes
Maxïmo Park Lyrics


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Night falls and towns become circuit boards
We can beat the sun as long as we keep moving
From the air, stadium lights stand out like flares
And all I know is that you're sat here right next to me

We rarely see warning signs in the air we breathe
Right now I feel each and every fragment
This paper trail leads right back to you
You say you need me to step outside
You spent the evening unpacking books from boxes
You passed me up so as not to break a promise
Scattered polaroids and sprinkled words around your collar in the long run
Said you knew that this would happen

Well this is something new but it turns out it was borrowed too
Why does every let down have to be so thin?
Rain explodes at the moment that the cab door closed
I feel the weight upon your kiss ambiguous

You have to leave, I appreciate that
But I hate when conversation slips out of our grasp

You spent the evening unpacking books from boxes
You passed me up so as not to break a promise
Scattered polaroids and sprinkled words around your collar in the long run
Said you knew that this would happen

Two bodies in motion
This is a matter of fact
It wasn't built to last

Two bodies in motion
This is a matter of fact
It wasn't built to last

You spent the evening unpacking books from boxes
You passed me up so as not to break a promise
Scattered polaroids and sprinkled words around your collar in the long run
Said you knew that this would happen

The pounding rain continued it's bleak fall
And we decided just to write after all, after all





The pounding rain continued it's bleak fall
And we decided just to write after all

Overall Meaning

"Books From Boxes" by Maxïmo Park is a visceral song with an emotive quality that speaks to the heart of the human experience of lost love. The opening lines of the song describe the world at nightfall, as cityscapes turn into circuit boards and stadium lights become flares. The imagery is both vivid and disorienting, as if the world is in flux and nothing can be trusted. The singer suggests that if they keep moving, nightfall can be beaten, but it is unclear what exactly they are running from or towards. The sense of uncertainty and disconnection is heightened by the idea that warning signs are rarely seen in the air we breathe, which could indicate a larger sense of unease and foreboding.


The lyrics then shift to a more personal narrative, with the singer and their lover sitting together, surrounded by boxes filled with books. The symbolism of books as repositories of knowledge and memories creates a sense of nostalgia and longing, as if the past is tugging at the present. The singer's lover tells them they need to step outside, and as they unpack books, they scatter polaroids and sprinkle words around their collar, almost as if they are trying to cling to memories of the past. Throughout the song, there is a sense that a relationship has run its course, that it was never built to last, and the pounding rain outside serves as a metaphor for the emotional turmoil inside. The song ends with the two of them deciding to write, perhaps as a way of capturing what is fleeting or lost.


Overall, "Books From Boxes" is a powerful and poignant song that taps into universal themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The lyrics are rich with imagery and metaphor, and the band infuses the song with a sense of atmospheric urgency that heightens the emotionality of the lyrics. The song seems to capture a moment in time, a snapshot of a relationship on the brink of dissolving, and as such, it is both wistful and haunting.


Line by Line Meaning

Night falls and towns become circuit boards
As darkness arrives, the urban landscape transforms into a web of interconnected systems


We can beat the sun as long as we keep moving
We can stay ahead of the sunrise if we continue to travel and stay active


From the air, stadium lights stand out like flares
When viewed from above, the bright lights of sports arenas resemble distress signals


And all I know is that you're sat here right next to me
The only thing that matters is that you are here with me


We rarely see warning signs in the air we breathe
We often don't notice the harmful elements present in our environment


Right now I feel each and every fragment
In this moment, I am acutely aware of everything around me


This paper trail leads right back to you
The evidence and clues all point towards your involvement or responsibility


You say you need me to step outside
You are requesting that I leave my comfort zone or usual setting for something important


You spent the evening unpacking books from boxes
You dedicated your time to organizing and settling into your new space


You passed me up so as not to break a promise
You chose not to pursue something with me out of respect for a commitment you made


Scattered polaroids and sprinkled words around your collar in the long run
You adorned yourself with items and symbols of the past in anticipation of the future


Said you knew that this would happen
You anticipated this outcome or situation


Well this is something new but it turns out it was borrowed too
Although this experience seems novel, it is actually familiar or unoriginal


Why does every let down have to be so thin?
Why is disappointment always so insubstantial or unsatisfying?


Rain explodes at the moment that the cab door closed
As soon as the door of the taxi shut, the rain became more intense and powerful


I feel the weight upon your kiss ambiguous
The meaning or significance of your kiss is unclear or uncertain to me


You have to leave, I appreciate that
I understand that you need to go, and I respect your decision


But I hate when conversation slips out of our grasp
I dislike when our discussion becomes difficult to maintain or control


Two bodies in motion
Both of us are on the move


This is a matter of fact
This is an indisputable reality


It wasn't built to last
This situation or relationship was not designed or intended to endure for a long time


The pounding rain continued it's bleak fall
The intense rain persisted, adding to the somber atmosphere


And we decided just to write after all, after all
In the end, we opted to communicate through writing instead of speaking




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sentric Music
Written by: ARCHIS TIKU, DUNCAN ROBERT LLOYD, LUKAS JAMES WOOLLER, PAUL ANTHONY SMITH, THOMAS ALEXANDER ENGLISH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

DjSk3tch

[Verse 1]
Night falls
And towns become circuit boards
We can beat the sun as long as we keep moving

From the air
Stadium lights stand out like flares
And all I know is that you're sat here right next to me

We rarely see
Warning signs in the air we breathe
Right now I feel each and every fragment

This paper trail leads right back to you…
You say you need me to step outside

[Chorus]
You spent the evening unpacking books from boxes
You passed me up so as not to break a promise
Scattered polaroids and sprinkled words around your collar
In the long run, you said you knew that this would happen

[Verse 2]
This is something new
But it turns out it was borrowed, too
"why does every letdown have to be so thin?"

Rain explodes
At the moment that the cab door closed
I feel the weight upon your kiss; ambiguous

You have to leave. I appreciate that
But I hate when conversation slips out of our grasp

[Chorus]
You spent the evening unpacking books from boxes
You passed me up so as not to break a promise
Scattered polaroids and sprinkled words around your collar
In the long run, you said you knew that this would happen

[Bridge](x2)
Two bodies in motion
This is a matter of fact
It wasn't built to last

[Chorus]
You spent the evening unpacking books from boxes
You passed me up so as not to break a promise
Scattered polaroids and sprinkled words around your collar
In the long run, you said you knew that this would happen

[Outro]
The pounding rain continued it's bleak fall
And we decided just to write after all
After all
The pounding rain continued it's bleak fall
And we decided just to write after all



M

Night falls
And towns become circuit boards
We can beat the sun as long as we keep moving

From the air
Stadium lights stand out like flares
And all I know is that you're sat here right next to me

We rarely see
Warning signs in the air we breathe
Right now I feel each and every fragment

This paper trail leads right back to you…
You say you need me to step outside

You spent the evening unpacking books from boxes
You passed me up so as not to break a promise
Scattered polaroids and sprinkled words around your collar
In the long run, you said you knew that this would happen

This is something new
But it turns out it was borrowed, too
"why does every letdown have to be so thin?"

Rain explodes
At the moment that the cab door closed
I feel the weight upon your kiss; ambiguous

You have to leave. I appreciate that
But I hate when conversation slips out of our grasp

You spent the evening unpacking books from boxes
You passed me up so as not to break a promise
Scattered polaroids and sprinkled words around your collar
In the long run, you said you knew that this would happen

Two bodies in motion
This is a matter of fact
It wasn't built to last

You spent the evening unpacking books from boxes
You passed me up so as not to break a promise
Scattered polaroids and sprinkled words around your collar
In the long run, you said you knew that this would happen

The pounding rain continued it's bleak fall
And we decided just to write after all



All comments from YouTube:

Scott Merrett

One of the most underrated lyricists in years. It just hits different

L N

Gave me goosebumps listening to it again after nearly 5 or 10 years. I used to play it on guitar with my best friend in a different life...

Blake Margason

Hope this new life isn't too hard ♥️

Driller Dev

Did you use to talk about girls who play guitars?

John Smith

@Driller Dev and boys with missing spines

Brigitte Belvedere

A

kkkiirrssttyy

Might be my favourite song ever. The lyrics are so clever & hit me straight in the feels.

Jonny Davis

This song pops into my head from time to time, there's something incredible about it that I can't put my finger on

Lizzi From Canada

I’ve rediscovered this song after 13 years... Brings all the feels! Amazing lyrics, melodic tune. Fantastic voice and accent, just perfect! Once saw them in Montreal, many moons ago... now I would go back and relive again and again.

Matthew Skinner

This song reminds me of childhood so much, remember this tune being played on the radio every morning before school.

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