Our Composition Book
Wild Nothing Lyrics
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By the pullout couch where I've been sleeping
I don't know what you've been told, but I'm alright
You signed your name a million times in cursive
On the cover of every book you own
Miss me more, miss me less, I never know
When you were eight years old in the garage
I did too, and when I think of you, I'm like a child
The street light won't stop shining through the window
By the pullout couch where I've been sleeping
I don't care if I sleep again, it's okay
The lyrics to Wild Nothing's "Our Composition Book" express a sense of nostalgia and longing for a past relationship. The first verse describes the singer's current sleeping situation on a pullout couch by a window where the street light is shining through. Despite this less than ideal situation, the singer reassures their unknown audience that they're "alright."
The second verse focuses on the ex-partner and their signature cursive handwriting. The singer acknowledges that they don't know if their ex misses them more or less, but this uncertainty doesn't stop them from thinking of their ex like a child. The third verse brings up the idea of childhood, with both the ex's parents and the singer keeping poems from when they were eight years old. The final lines bring the song full circle, repeating the first verse, but this time the singer doesn't care if they sleep again, indicating that they've made peace with their current situation.
The overall atmosphere of the song is melancholic and reflective, with the lyrics poignantly capturing that feeling of wistfulness that can come with memories of a past relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
The street light won't stop shining through the window
The street light outside is so bright that it's coming into the room through the window even though it's late at night.
By the pullout couch where I've been sleeping
I've been sleeping on a pullout couch in this room, so I'm close to the window and the bright street light outside.
I don't know what you've been told, but I'm alright
Despite any rumors or gossip that may be circulating about me, I'm doing just fine.
You signed your name a million times in cursive
You have a habit of signing your name in cursive all over your books and other belongings.
On the cover of every book you own
You tend to write your name on the covers of all the books you own, like a sort of personal branding.
Miss me more, miss me less, I never know
I'm unsure of how you feel about me, if you miss me a lot or not at all.
Your parents kept on with the poems you wrote
Your parents have held onto the poems you wrote as a child and have kept them around.
When you were eight years old in the garage
You wrote those poems when you were just eight years old in your family's garage.
I did too, and when I think of you, I'm like a child
I also saved some of your childhood writings, and when I think of you, it makes me feel nostalgic and childlike.
I don't care if I sleep again, it's okay
I'm at peace with the fact that I may not sleep again tonight, and it doesn't bother me.
Contributed by Maya M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.