Manchester Orchestra
Lose You Again
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Manchester Orchestra’s ‘Lose you again’ is a new single, and I’m excited. Unexpected but all the more welcome because we’ve been waiting for something new from these folks for a long time. Let’s dig in!
We all know the band is no ordinary one. Everything Manchester Orchestra do works, every tune has a purpose, and every story they tell is a mini-masterpiece. It’s been two years since the release of The Million Masks of God, an album with plenty of well-crafted music and absolutely fine-tuned lyrics hitting our hearts hard.
We deserved new MancO music, and we’ve got some.
Manchester Orchestra – ‘Lose You Again’
The new single released – before the new album arrives in April – is on the slow side of the spectrum. Don’t expect bombastic riffs, banging choruses, or myriad instruments. It’s an acoustic slow-burner.
There’s not much to say about the music side of the song – you get the guitar and piano. More instruments are introduced only when the chorus starts, and they leave when it ends. This very minimalistic and gentle use of the instruments fits the song well because music is only a sidekick to the story the band tells.
It’s almost like Hull and the company have a completely different level of understanding of what we need (want?) to hear.
MancO have similar songs in terms of amazing storytelling, e.g., ‘Angel of Death‘, ‘Simple Math’, or ‘Shake It Out’. It doesn’t stop there. Go and explore!
Overall, ‘Lose you again’ deserves its moment in the spotlight. It’s a good song, not easy to listen to, but worth the time.
What is Manchester Orchestra’s ‘Lose You Again’ about?
Let’s dig into the lyrics to see what Andy’s singing about because it’s very introspective and offers plenty of room for interpretation.
If we can be certain of one thing, it’s that we cannot associate the ‘Lose you again’ with any band member.
The song is likely about an anticipated loss of a close person, a partner, or a friend. The theme of losing someone loved and the pain of recovering can be demonstrated by a few hints:
Where you’re going doesn’t cater much
Manchester Orchestra – Lose you again; verse 2
In a year they’re gonna take your soul
I’ve been tired of trying to chase your high
You’ve been trying hard to fill that hole
Naturally, if the person is going someplace that doesn’t cater much, it’s not where you want to be. Losing one’s soul? Are the lyrics suggesting Alzheimer’s? Or worse? You may lose your soul when you forget who and where you are.
Prison is often said to take your soul as well.
Verse three delivers more information as to what’s going on but leaves much to our subjective interpretations:
Logically I try to ask myself
Manchester Orchestra – Lose you again; verse 3
Is it true we’re waiting for the cure?
Let me hold you til the water dries
You and me we got a lot to learn
Verse 3 is valuable even when it comes to some context. The narrator is digging into what’s happened and what went wrong. Lines three and four suggest someone needs regular care, which is never a good sign, hence the crying.
There’s also something interesting going on with the chorus. The first time around, it’s just half of the chorus; they don’t want to give away too much, they want to hit you with it later.
The lyrics suggest this is the second time the narrator may be losing someone dear to them – the same person and they’re leaving us in the dark – we don’t know what happened the first time, or, do we?
Watch your smile, it’s gonna fall right off
Manchester Orchestra – Lose you again; verse 1
Did you hear she got a second hearing?
Possibly, a person (staying away from genders here) assaulted a girl. She’s got a second court hearing and the smile will be wiped from the perpetrator’s face when they get put behind bars. We’ve touched on it above, there’s not much catering in jail and it’s definitely a place to lose who you were.
It has you guessing, drops many details, and never mentions or reveals anything specific. Is the person going behind bars a man? The narrator’s brother or a close friend?
There are many layers to the song, alternative or parallel storytelling, multiple people involved, unclear storyteller, unclear who the song is about, and who’s being talked to.
As I mentioned earlier, the lyrics are open for you to infer meaning. There are many paths you can take, many digressions to follow, and not much to piece individual verses together.
Wherever the truth lies, the song is incredible.
Watch Manchester Orchestra – Lose You Again
Manchester Orchestra’s ‘Lose you again’ lyrics
[Verse 1]
Watch your smile, it’s gonna fall right off
Did you hear she got a second hearing?
Insurmountable I ask myself
Was it you or is it me they’re healing?
Lap it up, it’s gonna be a while
Gotta capture all the love you stole
Montessori and a mountainous thug
You and me we got a bone to throw[Chorus 1]
So let me take away your sin
Erase my life, just tell me when
How do I learn how to lose you again?[Verse 2]
Intertwined and I was caught off guard
You’re the reason that the crowd was leaving
Catching up with both the high school jocks
Now the cops don’t let ’em catch you speeding
Where you’re going doesn’t cater much
In a year they’re gonna take your soul
I’ve been tired of trying to chase your high
You’ve been trying hard to fill that hole[Chorus 2]
So let me take away your sin
Erase my life, just tell me when
How do I learn how to lose you again?
If I could draw it on your face
I’d bind your heart, I’d trace my name
I don’t want to learn how to lose you again[Verse 3]
I’ve been reading for a minute now
Fairly sure it’s somewhere in the story
Every moment on the same routine
Same as now, tonight, and in the morning
Logically I try to ask myself
Is it true we’re waiting for the cure?
Let me hold you til the water dries
You and me we got a lot to learn[Chorus 3]
So let me take away your sins
Erase my life, just tell me when
How do I learn how to lose you again?
If I could draw it on your face
I’d bind your heart, I’d trace my name
I don’t want to learn how to lose you again
Does Manchester Orchestra have a new album coming out?
Yes! Yes! Yes! There are a few things known already.
What we know so far
It’s a mini-LP album with only six songs and twenty-five minutes of playtime. Not long, if you ask me, but if the songs are great, we’ll only complain about… exactly this.
It’s also a virtual reality film; already streaming – if you manage to get your fingers on it, hit us on social media with your thoughts!
The album’s release date is 7th April 2023.
The Valley of Vision album tracklist
- Capital Karma
- The Way
- Quietly
- Letting Go
- Lose You Again
- Rear View
Manchester Orchestra Articles
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