Unravel, Unwind

I have been tasked with writing a post inspired by a tune from Brooklyn-based band The Spring Standards entitled Unravel, Unwind. To provide a bit of context, I shall include the lyrics and a link to the song on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po61gV8htMM

You look just like me way back then
We took no prisoners
We had no need of them
You shook your angry fist alongside mine
I didn't know it at the time
The world unravels in rewind

In spite of all that we have said
And everything we've done
The space between our words
Is all that we've become
I believed you when you told me you were fine
I should have known it at the time
The world unravels in rewind

Say it
Say the words I see behind your eyes
If it's not hard to say
Then it's a lie
I know you think we can not heal
But we can try

I've been known to hide from the people that I love
I'm afraid, I guess, that I'm easy to tire of
But I swear I'll risk it all to make you mine
If I can get you back in time
We won't unravel
We'll unwind

Say it
Say the words I see behind your eyes
If it's not hard to say
Then it's a lie
I know you think we can not heal
But we can try

Say it
Say the words I see behind your eyes
If it's not hard to say
Then it's a lie
I know you think we can not healBut we can try

We can try


To be honest, I'm a bit hesitant to go through with this post; for one, it isn't the happiest song in the world. On the surface, it seems to be written by a girl (or boy; let's not be sexist) who is at a turning point in her (or his) relationship, desperately clinging to what's left. I've been in this exact situation, when all signs point to "no" when looking at the future of the relationship, when one or both parties have checked out, for whatever reason. That feeling of fear, of not wanting to let it go, even when it might be right. It makes me sad for them; the desperation permeates the song, recognizing that the other party is done but being unable to let go. It's rough. I know. 

Now don't get me wrong - I love this song. I do. Perhaps I'm just a bit more cynical at this moment, after the trials and tribulations of the past year. Or maybe I'm just hungry. It's kind of a toss-up. 

Let's move on. 

The title. Unravel, unwind. Similar concepts but with different nuances. I feel this is an accurate description of the past year for me, or at least the unraveling portion. I'm hoping I'm into the unwinding stage of things - I'm a tightly wound individual on the best of days; a little unwinding would do me good. 

Unraveling refers to the undoing of things. While unwinding is similar, it can also refer to relaxing after a period of work or tension. I like that idea; it's a time when you can release the tension that has been building, to allow yourself a break. In the context of the song, I believe they are referring to unwinding in the sense of going back to where they started, before they became "wound". Or maybe I'm just making shit up. 

It's occurred to me that perhaps I should give this some more thought...I'll take another stab at it before the weekend is out. Promise.