Before forming Two Tongues, Max Bemis, Chris Conley and Coby Linder had previously collaborated on a cover song of Bob Dylan's "The Man In Me" for the compilation album Paupers, Peasants, Princes & Kings: The Songs of Bob Dylan, released by Doghouse Records in 2006. After the successful collaboration, Bemis asked Conley about potentially doing an album together, to which Conley responded positively by saying "I would do it with no one else, nothing could be more epic!”
Thus, Two Tongues was born.
Even If You Don't
Two Tongues Lyrics
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Taking my prescriptions, and forging my name
I was happy this morning
You finally got yourself dressed
Eating raw bacon
It's o.k., I was still impressed
You've got your knife up to my throat
Why do you want to see me bleed?
Rooting through the garbage
For treasures in the trash pile
Seeing my expression
Would always make you smile
Please don't touch my phone book
My friends are getting pissed off
Wake 'em in the morning
Acting like a jerk off
I love you - even if you don't
You've got your knife up to my throat
Why do you want to see me bleed?
I love you - even if you don't
You've got your knife up to my throat
Why do you want to see me bleed?
The lyrics to Two Tongues's song Even if You Don't describe a relationship that is fraught with difficulty and imbalance. The verses depict the singer's attempts to support their partner who suffers from mental health issues, to the point that they forge prescriptions in order to keep them stable. Despite this, the partner remains unpredictable, exhibiting bizarre behaviors such as eating raw bacon or rummaging through trash. The singer becomes increasingly exasperated with the situation, particularly when their partner crosses boundaries such as going through their phone book or waking up their friends.
The chorus then reveals the crux of the song: the singer still loves their partner, despite the fact that the partner may not reciprocate those feelings. The metaphorical image of the knife at the singer's throat suggests that the relationship is not only difficult and unbalanced, but potentially dangerous. The repetition of the chorus invites interpretation — why does the singer continue to love someone who is so troubled and, perhaps, violent? Is it a form of self-destructiveness on their part, or an attempt to heal their partner's wounds?
Some possible insights could be that the song reflects a co-dependent relationship, where the singer is too deeply enmeshed in their partner's problems to be able to stand up for themselves. Alternatively, the song could be interpreted as a critique of societal attitudes towards mental health, where those who suffer from illnesses are expected to be grateful for any support, no matter how damaging to the supporter.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm goin' crazy - trying to keep you sane
I am feeling insane while trying my best to keep you sane
Taking my prescriptions, and forging my name
You are taking my prescriptions and signing my name, which is illegal
I was happy this morning
I felt happy this morning
You finally got yourself dressed
You managed to dress yourself
Eating raw bacon
You ate raw bacon, which is dangerous
It's o.k., I was still impressed
I was still amazed even if it was risky to eat raw bacon
I love you - even if you don't
I still love you even if you don't love me back
You've got your knife up to my throat
You have a knife pointed at my throat, which is threatening
Why do you want to see me bleed?
I don't understand why you want to harm me
Rooting through the garbage
You are rummaging through the trash
For treasures in the trash pile
You are hoping to find something valuable among the garbage
Seeing my expression
You enjoy seeing my reaction to your actions
Would always make you smile
It always brings a smile to your face
Please don't touch my phone book
I don't want you to touch my phonebook
My friends are getting pissed off
My friends are becoming angry with you
Wake 'em in the morning
You're waking my friends up in the morning for no reason
Acting like a jerk off
You are behaving rudely and inconsiderately
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MICHAEL MELCHIONDO, AARON FREEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind