Spray vs. Subtext
Spray Lyrics


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Something's wrong, I know it, in an abstract sense,
There's some sort of commotion due to certain events,
I know there's a commotion cos your head's in your hands,
And people aren't standing where they usually stand.

No, don't tell me, I know this one, I know this one,
No, don't tell me, I know this one, I know this one,
No, don't tell me, I know this one, I know this one,
Something is happening with emotional resonance.

There's a difference in volume and the room is off-beam,
I've read about this, so I know what this means,
Loudness means dissatisfaction, silence disdain,
No clues! I'll work it out - it can't be hard to explain.

You look at me with sadness, or it's grief, or it's fright,
If there's a problem say so - or we'll be here all night,
This isn't like on TV, these emotions aren't raw,
And aren't articulated by a musical score

Cos I blame cinematic subtext and its influence on everyday life. I blame enigmatic glances and we assume that is the way that we're supposed to deal with strife. I blame implicit content where they never ever ever ever explain.

I can't concentrate if everybody's yelling. Refusal to articulate spawns unresolved tension.

Baby, I need you to live I need you in my life
You're in my dreams and if you leave my heart will break tonight




If everything I've learnt from pop and TV shows is law
That should sort it out so let's all get back to where we were before.

Overall Meaning

The song "Spray vs. Subtext" by the band Spray deals with the theme of miscommunication that arises due to unspoken feelings and the influence of TV and cinema on people's lives. In the first verse, the singer notices that something is wrong and people are not behaving as they usually do. However, instead of being straightforward and articulating their emotions, they resort to silence and enigmatic glances that create confusion and tension in the room. The singer tries to decode the situation by analyzing the volume, the non-verbal cues, and the emotional resonance of the people, yet they fail to convey their feelings.


In the chorus, the singer blames the cinematic subtext that influences people to deal with their problems by suppressing their emotions and avoiding confrontation. They rely on implicit content that never explains anything, leading to unresolved tension and miscommunication. However, the singer realizes that this approach only leads to more confusion and frustration, and urges the people to articulate their feelings and get back to where they were before.


Overall, the song critiques the way people rely on TV and cinema to deal with their emotions and communicate with others, highlighting the need for honesty, clarity, and directness in interpersonal relationships.


Line by Line Meaning

Something's wrong, I know it, in an abstract sense,
There is an issue, but it's not clear what exactly is going on.


There's some sort of commotion due to certain events,
The situation is emotionally charged due to recent events.


I know there's a commotion cos your head's in your hands,
The other person is upset and visibly distraught.


And people aren't standing where they usually stand.
The situation has disrupted the normal order of things.


No, don't tell me, I know this one, I know this one,
The artist is confident in their ability to decipher the situation.


Something is happening with emotional resonance.
The situation is emotionally charged and significant.


There's a difference in volume and the room is off-beam,
There is an unusual level of noise and activity that is upsetting the normal balance of the environment.


I've read about this, so I know what this means,
The artist has some knowledge that can help them make sense of the situation.


Loudness means dissatisfaction, silence disdain,
The unusual noise in the room is an indicator of negative emotions, either expressed as dissatisfaction or denial/avoidance.


No clues! I'll work it out - it can't be hard to explain.
Despite the lack of direct information or visible cues, the artist is confident they can figure out the problem.


You look at me with sadness, or it's grief, or it's fright,
The other person is displaying some form of negative emotion, such as sadness, grief, or fear.


If there's a problem say so - or we'll be here all night,
The artist insists that the other person should speak up about the issue to avoid prolonging the situation.


This isn't like on TV, these emotions aren't raw,
Real-life emotions don't always match the dramatic displays on TV and movies.


And aren't articulated by a musical score
Real-life emotions don't follow a scripted soundtrack.


Cos I blame cinematic subtext and its influence on everyday life.
The singer believes that cultural influence has made it difficult for people to express their emotions explicitly.


I blame enigmatic glances and we assume that is the way that we're supposed to deal with strife.
Unspoken communication only creates more confusion and doesn't resolve issues effectively.


I blame implicit content where they never ever ever ever explain.
The prevalence of implicit communication only perpetuates misunderstandings and avoids genuine resolution.


I can't concentrate if everybody's yelling.
Yelling adds to the chaos and tension, making it harder to focus on the issue at hand.


Refusal to articulate spawns unresolved tension.
Avoiding or refusing to express oneself only leads to more tension and unresolved issues.


Baby, I need you to live I need you in my life
The other person is very important to the artist.


You're in my dreams and if you leave my heart will break tonight
The thought of losing the other person is devastating to the artist.


If everything I've learnt from pop and TV shows is law
The artist recognizes the potential influence of media on their expectations and perceptions.


That should sort it out so let's all get back to where we were before.
The singer believes that following the examples set by media will help to resolve the situation and move on from it.




Contributed by Parker D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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