Wild Nothing is the solo project of Virginia-born Jack Tatum. Tatum began r… Read Full Bio ↴Wild Nothing is the solo project of Virginia-born Jack Tatum. Tatum began recording under the moniker Wild Nothing in the summer of 2009 in Blacksburg, Virginia. Upon gathering attention in indie music circles, he was signed with the Captured Tracks record label and began touring with a band. His debut full-length, "Gemini," was released in spring 2010 to acclaim from Pitchfork Media and the music editors at Amazon.com. A follow-up album called "Nocturne" was released in 2012. His second EP "Empty Estate" was released in May 2013. Tatum's third LP entitled "Life of Pause" was released on February 19, 2016.

Counting Days
Wild Nothing Lyrics

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On the way towards your descent
I could count every flower on the hill
I couldn’t drown out your consent
There is nothing left for me to forgive again
And It’s cold in your bed
And those flowers have long been dead
If you wait you can see there’s a place where I use to be

You want to make me spin?
You want to hold me?

Counting days till you come in
I haven’t lost you
I’ve just misplaced you
However b? I could not tell
The window opened no explanation
You’re right in the sun
And the dreaming has come undone
If you wait you can see
there’s no reason to disagree

You want to make me spin?
You want to hold me?

Overall Meaning

The initial lines of Wild Nothing's song, Counting Days, show the singer is aware that the end of a relationship is looming. He can see every flower on the hill, counting the moments until the person he's with descends and leaves him standing alone. The second line indicates that he is unable to ignore the other person's agreement to go, suggesting he's not trying to change their mind — he's accepted that they're leaving. The song turns melancholy as the singer thinks about the other person's bed, which is now cold and uninviting. The flowers that he counted at the beginning now have long withered and died, indicating it's been a long time since the relationship was happy. He imagines there's a place where he used to be, where he was whole, and the other person loved him. But it's all changed now.

The chorus speaks about the singer's desire to be wanted and desired still, but he has lost the ability to keep the relationship going. The rest of the song is filled with images of what he's lost and what could have been. The last line speaks about his desire to be desired — he wants the other person to hold him, to make him spin. He wants what he can no longer have.

Overall, Counting Days is a song filled with regret and longing. The singer recognizes that his relationship is ending, and he feels powerless to stop it. He remembers what the relationship was like and what he's lost, but ultimately, he recognizes that he can't change what's happening.

Line by Line Meaning

On the way towards your descent
I am noticing you as you fall apart

I could count every flower on the hill
I am focusing on every detail of our surroundings in an attempt to understand the situation

I couldn’t drown out your consent
Your decision was made and I couldn't change it

There is nothing left for me to forgive again
I have forgiven you for everything before and now there is nothing left

And It’s cold in your bed
You are alone and isolated

And those flowers have long been dead
The beauty and life we once had has faded away

If you wait you can see there’s a place where I use to be
If you pause and reflect, you can see that I am missing from your life

You want to make me spin?
You want to shake up my world and create chaos

You want to hold me?
You want me to stay by your side

Counting days till you come in
I am eagerly waiting for your return

I haven’t lost you
I still have the memory of you with me