Centrefold
Robbie Cavanagh Lyrics
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Cover your mouth, stay out of sight,
Your emphasis on sympathy makes me hard to heal,
And you offer me a centrefold I decline but I'm inclined to go and leave you breathless,
Spend your days with someone else, maybe that's not true but I'm imagining that.
I let you in, you give half the money,
The only rule of symmetry both our sides must match.
And you offer me a centrefold I decline but I'm inclined to go and leave you breathless,
Spend your days with someone else, maybe that's not true but I'm imagining that.
I don't want your love, but I need you to care,
Or anyone else who's there.
You offer me a centrefold I decline but I'm inclined to go and leave you breathless,
Spend your days with someone else, maybe that's not true but I'm imagining that.
The song "Centrefold" by Robbie Cavanagh delves into the complexities of a relationship where one person feels used and manipulated by the other. The singer is clearly frustrated and hurt by the other person's lack of empathy and concern for their emotional wellbeing. Throughout the song, there is a sense of emotional distance and detachment as the singer struggles to find a way to cope with these feelings.
The opening lines of the song, "Hand me the book I need to write, cover your mouth, stay out of sight," suggest a sense of secrecy and an unwillingness to confront the other person. The singer feels the need to write things down, to express themselves in some way, but is also trying to keep their feelings hidden. The line "Your emphasis on sympathy makes me hard to heal" hints at the idea that the other person is more interested in making themselves feel better than in understanding how the singer is feeling.
The chorus, "And you offer me a centrefold I decline but I'm inclined to go and leave you breathless, spend your days with someone else, maybe that's not true but I'm imagining that," suggests that the singer is considering leaving the relationship but hasn't yet made up their mind. The tension between staying and leaving is further emphasised by the line "I don't want your love, but I need you to care, or anyone else who's there." Overall, the song captures the painful complexity of a relationship that is no longer fulfilling but where the singer still feels a sense of obligation or attachment to the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
Hand me the book I need to write,
Give me the tools I need to express myself
Cover your mouth, stay out of sight,
Don't interfere with my personal life or creative process
Your emphasis on sympathy makes me hard to heal,
Your constant need for sympathy prevents me from moving on and healing
And you offer me a centrefold I decline but I'm inclined to go and leave you breathless,
You offer yourself to me sexually but I refuse, though part of me wants to take advantage of the opportunity
Spend your days with someone else, maybe that's not true but I'm imagining that.
Find happiness with someone else, even though I may be lying to myself about believing that
I let you in, you give half the money,
I allowed you into my life but you only contribute partially to our relationship
He makes you laugh, I find him half as funny,
Another man can make you happy in a way that I can't, and I'm not comfortable with it
The only rule of symmetry both our sides must match.
For our relationship to work, we both must contribute equally and benefit equally
I don't want your love, but I need you to care,
I don't need romantic love from you, but I do need your emotional support and care
Or anyone else who's there.
I'll take that support and care from whoever is willing to give it to me
Contributed by Gavin T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.