Running Water
Portastatic Lyrics

The lyrics to Portastatic's song Running Water are enigmatic and poetic, open to various interpretations but suggestive of betrayal, loss, and a sense of detachment. The first stanza seems to imply a creative and nurturing act, as the singer made something from wool, animals that were fed and cared for, but that turned against them. The second stanza begins with a confession of leaving the water running all night and the windows open, which could signify an act of recklessness or absent-mindedness. The third and final stanza involves taking some clothes from the drawer, wearing them, walking a mile, but not falling in love, while wondering who gave the clothes to the partner, and leaving the water running and the doors open, without knowing if the partner will come home.

One possible interpretation of the song could be that it depicts a failed relationship, where the singer feels used, unappreciated, and betrayed by a partner who became indifferent or hostile. The animals made from the wool could symbolize the singer's attempt to create something meaningful and lasting, a bond or a shared experience, which was ultimately rejected or turned against them. The act of leaving the water running and the windows open could indicate a passive-aggressive response to the partner's neglect or disrespect, a refusal to engage or communicate, and a willingness to let things fall apart. Taking the partner's clothes and walking a mile could represent a form of revenge or an attempt to assert some autonomy and identity, while the uncertainty about who gave the clothes and whether the partner will come home suggests a sense of confusion and loss of connection.