Two Skaters
Nits Lyrics

The Nits' song "Two Skaters" is a surrealistic tale about two ice skaters, one of whom falls down, seemingly fulfilling the other's waiting or longing. The song opens with the imagery of two skaters moving on an ice cream floor or surface, with the delicate and slippery nature of the ice cream suggesting the fragility of the skaters' movements and emotions. The reference to falling down, a common experience in ice skating, takes on a symbolic meaning of failure, defeat, or vulnerability. The repeated line "This is what she has been waiting for, till one of them fell down" implies a sense of malice or hidden agenda on the part of the unnamed protagonist who seems to take pleasure in the other's misfortune.

The second verse introduces two new characters, the sister in Canada who sends a gun and skates, and the sister in brown shoes who walks down the street in the snow. The odd combination of a violent weapon (even if fake) and innocent skates, as well as the contrast between the brown shoes and the white snow, creates a dreamlike montage of disconnected images that suggest a sense of displacement or disorientation. The LP of Velvet Underground sent by the sister in Montreal adds another layer of musical and artistic reference, suggesting a preference for experimental and avant-garde works that resonate with the Nits' eclectic style.

The final verse brings the focus back to the skaters and hints at a possible resolution or aftermath of the fall. The line "We're steaming the walls of your brother's old room, peel slowly and listen" may refer to a ritual or practice of healing or introspection, as if the characters are trying to create a warm and comforting ambiance in a space that holds memories and emotions. The suggestion to "peel slowly and listen" echoes the title of the Velvet Underground's album "Peel Slowly and See" and invites the listener to pay attention to the hidden or obscured layers of meaning in the song.

Overall, "Two Skaters" is a haunting and enigmatic song that captures the Nits' poetic and imaginative sensibility. The interplay between the concrete and abstract images, the fluid and jarring rhythms, and the lush and sparse instrumentation creates a surreal landscape that invites multiple interpretations and emotions.