The Honorary Title was a rock band from Brooklyn, New Yo… Read Full Bio ↴(2003-2009)
The Honorary Title was a rock band from Brooklyn, New York composed of Jarrod Gorbel, Aaron Kamstra, Jon Wiley, and Adam Boyd. Gorbel became known for his dark sense of humor, which often worked its way into the band's songs.
Their first release was a self-titled EP. They received much attention and did major touring after they released a full length album on Doghouse Records in 2004 entitled, "Anything Else But the Truth". The album was recorded in Nashville and New York with producer Roger Moutenot who has also worked with Yo La Tengo and Guster. Videos are available for the singles "Everything I Once Had", "Bridge and Tunnel", & "Frame by Frame".
On October 24, 2009 Jarrod announced that The Honorary Title would play their final show on Friday, November 20, 2009. Gorbel released a solo EP called Ten Years Older on his 2010 acoustic tour with Dustin Dobernig. In an interview with weworemasks.com, Gorbel says, "It’s considered a solo session, but…The Honorary Title might be over." He also said he is working on a solo LP. He continues to record and play music, but under his name.
Points Underneath
The Honorary Title Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was the classic path
You've taken the weekend home, you're believing
That things are somehow getting done
But you're wrong
Don't ever leave me alone, not this evening
I am cold and shivering without you near
From my friends, who once admired
Now they all have lost respect for me
Feed me the words to explain this urge
With pressure and squeeze, from points underneath
The streams in your skin are ready
And I can, so I will, just as long as you instill
This fear in my heart
I just hope that you aren't alone
"Did I do something wrong?" her eyes start to question
Yes, you did something wrong.
You just failed to mention
Hopefully you will see that the plans and the dreams
That we shared in this haze
They all wilt away
You were wrong.
I just hope that you aren't alone.
The Honorary Title’s “Points Underneath” intricately expresses the complexities of toxic relationships that start with infatuation and climax into dangerous obsession. The first verse highlights the classic path followed by someone who starts developing a crush that gradually morphs into an obsession. The following lines describe the state of denial that the person lives in, considering the weekend spent at home as a form of productivity whereas he knows deep down that he is wrong. The chorus part confides the fear of abandonment, the feeling of being shivering and cold without the companion around, and the urge to be fed with words to express this feeling, which lies beneath the surface.
The second verse elaborates on the deteriorating relationship wherein the singer has begged and borrowed from people who respected and admired him once. The insecurity in his heart requires a “fix” that instills fear in his partner through pressure and squeezes him with points underneath his skin. The fear in his heart could stem from the fear of being left alone, watching his dreams and shared plans wilt away. In the final part, the singer confronts his partner about the wrongness in her actions, hoping she is not alone.
Line by Line Meaning
What started as a crush became an obsession
My initial attraction to you developed into an unhealthy fixation
It was the classic path
This is a common progression for infatuation to turn into obsession
You've taken the weekend home, you're believing
You have convinced yourself that taking a break and being away from me will improve the situation
That things are somehow getting done
You think that being away from me will help you be productive and successful
But you're wrong
Your assumptions are incorrect and you will eventually realize this
Don't ever leave me alone, not this evening
I am reliant on your presence and cannot bear to be without you, especially tonight
I am cold and shivering without you near
Your absence leaves me feeling physically and emotionally uncomfortable
I have begged and I have borrowed
I have pleaded and borrowed resources from others in order to remain close to you
From my friends, who once admired
Even my friends who used to respect and support me are growing weary of my obsession with you
Now they all have lost respect for me
My friends no longer view me in a positive light due to my obsessional behavior towards you
Feed me the words to explain this urge
I need you to help me articulate the intensity of my feelings towards you
With pressure and squeeze, from points underneath
By physically pressing against or squeezing pressure points on your body, I can intensify my feelings for you
The streams in your skin are ready
Your veins are visible and accessible, making my desire to touch you even stronger
And I can, so I will, just as long as you instill
I am capable of acting on my obsessional urges towards you, and will do so as long as you continue to fuel them
This fear in my heart
My feelings for you are driven by fear of being without you or of losing you
I just hope that you aren't alone
I cannot handle the thought of you being away from me, and hope that you are not experiencing anything similar
"Did I do something wrong?" her eyes start to question
You are beginning to suspect that my behavior towards you is inappropriate or unsettling
Yes, you did something wrong.
I believe that you have contributed to the development of my obsessional behavior towards you
You just failed to mention
You did not take responsibility for how your actions or words may have influenced my behavior
Hopefully you will see that the plans and the dreams
I hope that you will eventually recognize that the future we imagined together is no longer possible
That we shared in this haze
Our shared delusion of a perfect relationship or future together is now clear to me as being unrealistic
They all wilt away
Any ambitions or dreams of ours are now dying or disappearing due to the unhealthy nature of our relationship
You were wrong.
You were incorrect to assume that being away from me would improve the situation. In fact, it has only made my obsession worse
I just hope that you aren't alone.
I still fear for your safety and well-being, and hope that you have someone else in your life who can help you
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JARROD GORBEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind