Song credits… Read Full Bio ↴Note: This is the second single off the album, The Con.
Song credits:
Tegan Quin - Vocals, lyrics, guitars, keyboards
Sara Quin - Backing vocals
Ted Gowans (Lion Thief) - Guitars
Hunter Burgan (AFI/Hunter Revenge) - Bass
Jason McGerr (Death Cab for Cutie) - Drums
The Con
Tegan and Sara Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, I'm guilty of this, you should know this
I broke down and wrote you back before you had a chance to
Forget, forgotten, I am moving past this, giving notice
I have to go
Yes, I know the feeling, know you're leaving
Calm down, I'm calling you to say
Calm down, I'm calling back to say
I'm home now, I'm coming around, coming around
Well, nobody likes to but I really like to cry
Nobody likes me, maybe if I cry
Spelled out your name and lists the reasons
Faint of heart, don't call me back
I imagine you when I was distant, non-insistent
I follow suit and laid out on my back, imagine that
A million hours left to think of you and think of that
Calm down, I'm calling you to say
I'm capsized, staring on the edge of safe
Calm down, I'm calling back to say
I'm home now, I'm coming around, coming around
Well, nobody likes to but I really like to cry
Well, nobody likes me, maybe if I cry
Encircle me, I need to be taken down
Encircle me, I need to be taken down
Encircle me, I need to be taken down
Encircle me, I need to be taken down
Well, nobody likes to but I really like to cry
Nobody likes me, maybe if I cry
Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody
Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody
Encircle me, I need to be taken down
Encircle me, I need to be taken down
Encircle me, I need to be taken down
The opening lines of Tegan and Sara's song 'The Con' set the tone of the entire song. The lyrics suggest that the singer is guilty of listening in on conversations between her ex-lover and their new partner. She is now writing back to them before they forget and she is giving notice that she has to go. The lyrics then suggest that the singer understands the feeling of leaving and that the person who she is writing to is also leaving. This verse is subtle and sad as it captures the break up of a relationship, the feeling of changing and moving on, but also the hurt and nostalgia of remembering what was.
The chorus of the song is a plea to calm down and an admission of how the singer feels completely lost and uprooted. She is capsized, staring on the edge of safe and she is trying to find her bearings again. The chorus expresses melancholy but also a sense of hope as the singer is coming around and coming back home. The second verse of the song has the singer spelling out the name of her ex-lover and listing the reasons why she was distant and non-insistent during their relationship. She imagined her ex while she was away, and she feels the same hurt that she felt when they were together. The sorrow and intensity of the emotions portrayed by the lyrics is palpable.
Line by Line Meaning
I listened in
I was eavesdropping
Yes, I'm guilty of this, you should know this
I admit to my fault, you deserve to know
I broke down and wrote you back before you had a chance to
I couldn't resist responding to you first
Forget, forgotten, I am moving past this, giving notice
I'm letting go of the past, moving forward
I have to go
I must leave
Yes, I know the feeling, know you're leaving
I understand how you feel, I know you're leaving
Calm down, I'm calling you to say
Relax, I'm telling you now
I'm capsized, staring on the edge of safe
I'm overwhelmed, teetering on the brink of safety
Calm down, I'm calling back to say
Relax, I'm calling to say
I'm home now, I'm coming around, coming around
I'm back, I'm recovering
Well, nobody likes to but I really like to cry
Everyone hates to, but I enjoy crying
Spelled out your name and lists the reasons
I wrote your name and reasons for myself
Faint of heart, don't call me back
If you're not brave, don't contact me again
I imagine you when I was distant, non-insistent
I think of you when I was cold and distant
I follow suit and laid out on my back, imagine that
I did the same and lay down, can you believe it?
A million hours left to think of you and think of that
I have so much time to think of you and that
Encircle me, I need to be taken down
Surround me, I need to be brought down
Well, nobody likes to but I really like to cry
Everyone hates to, but I enjoy crying
Nobody likes me, maybe if I cry
No one likes me, perhaps if I cry
Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody
No one, no one, no one, no one, no one
Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody
No one, no one, no one, no one
Encircle me, I need to be taken down
Surround me, I need to be brought down
Encircle me, I need to be taken down
Surround me, I need to be brought down
Encircle me, I need to be taken down
Surround me, I need to be brought down
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sara Quin, Tegan Quin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tiffanyamato8423
i am legitimately starting to believe this is one of the best songs in this entire world. 💕
@kyleralexzander531
Because it is
@ztron8053
Yep
@secretchipmunk7
Yeah... but I got to say Closer is my favorite slightly
@girlswithguitarsalways
Listen to their older stuff, it's even better!
@tiffanyamato8423
lisa wren i know literally every song by them. 😂
@codyash6825
It's 2022. I'm 30 now. Still obsessed with this song. 🤟
@sukiarts6570
Nice one i actually gotten into their stuff I'm already addicted. I love country and rock like songs and their stuff really really fits me
@lupena5369
Heck yea. Nobody still likes me if I cry.
@ASoberBear
Same