An Introduction to the Album
The Hotelier Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Open the curtains.
Singing birds tell me "tear the buildings down."
You felt blessed to receive their pleasant sound.
The sound of things that break make you cringe inside yourself.
Inside yourself there's a child counting stars in their time-out.
In their time out of their day.
In the corners of their frame they are encased
in the losing of a grain of themselves
pushed against the ebb and flow.
Wave good-bye and watch it go.

Well show me the honest/proper way
to disarm predatory gaze
that's sucking dry and never satiated.
You've been misused
been rewired.
You're short-circuiting now.
Just remember when you'd call me to come,
take a deep breath, and then jump.
So fragile are bodies,
so concave, work in self-destructive ways.

You shot from the hip and missed.
Detaching from all of this.
In physical pictures you remain,
spiral 'round yourself in figure-eight.
I recoil at every new beginning.

I searched for a way out.
Don't we all?
An existentialist recall:
turn in all dichotomies and truths that I gave.
I felt wrong in many ways.
It didn't heal.
It just got harder everyday to be still,
to be passing through the throes
in a daze,
feeling heavy,
feeling cold in my skin,
in my hand-me-downs.
I'm wearing everything thin.
And the pills that you gave didn't do anything.
I just slept for years on end.

So if I call,
should I beg?
Because I'm desperate here;
a couple steps from the edge.
I can't seem to burn bright enough.
I'm cold and I'm left alone.
We're all alone.
Grab a hold.

I know I said to not. What the fuck do I know?
I had a chance to construct something beautiful and I choked.

Overall Meaning

The Hotelier's "An Introduction to the Album" is a reflective and introspective song that explores themes of anxiety, self-doubt, and existentialism. The lyrics convey a sense of disillusionment and confusion as the singer struggles to find meaning and purpose in their life. The opening lines, "Open the curtains. Singing birds tell me 'tear the buildings down,'" suggest a desire for change and a rejection of societal constraints. However, the singer's inner turmoil is revealed through phrases like "the sound of things that break make you cringe inside yourself" and "so fragile are bodies, so concave, work in self-destructive ways."

Line by Line Meaning

Open the curtains.
Start the day, let the light in.

Singing birds tell me "tear the buildings down."
Nature reveals a desire for destruction and a return to simplicity.

You felt blessed to receive their pleasant sound.
The beauty of nature brings a sense of gratitude.

The sound of things that break make you cringe inside yourself.
Experiencing the destruction of beautiful things causes emotional pain.

Inside yourself there's a child counting stars in their time-out.
Amidst the chaos, there is a sense of childlike wonder and innocence.

In their time out of their day.
In the small moments of peace and reflection.

In the corners of their frame they are encased in the losing of a grain of themselves pushed against the ebb and flow.
In moments of turmoil, we can feel like we are losing a piece of ourselves.

Wave good-bye and watch it go.
Accepting that things will change and letting go of what cannot be held onto.

Well show me the honest/proper way to disarm predatory gaze that's sucking dry and never satiated.
Asking for help in breaking away from toxic patterns and relationships.

You've been misused been rewired.
Having been manipulated and changed by negative experiences.

You're short-circuiting now.
Feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope.

Just remember when you'd call me to come take a deep breath and then jump.
Recalling a time of support and encouragement from a friend.

So fragile are bodies so concave work in self-destructive ways.
Recognizing the fragility and potential for harm in our bodies and minds.

You shot from the hip and missed. Detaching from all of this.
Having made mistakes and wanting to disconnect from the consequences.

In physical pictures you remain spiral 'round yourself in figure-eight.
Feeling trapped in patterns and memories.

I recoil at every new beginning.
Feeling apprehensive and anxious about starting anew.

I searched for a way out. Don't we all?
Reflecting on the universal struggle to find a path forward.

An existentialist recall: turn in all dichotomies and truths that I gave.
Questioning previously held beliefs and values in a time of crisis.

I felt wrong in many ways.
Experiencing deep feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.

It didn't heal. It just got harder everyday to be still, to be passing through the throes in a daze, feeling heavy, feeling cold in my skin, in my hand-me-downs.
Struggling to find relief from pain and feeling weighed down by past experiences.

And the pills that you gave didn't do anything. I just slept for years on end.
Suffering from mental health issues and feeling frustrated by the lack of progress.

So if I call should I beg? Because I'm desperate here; a couple steps from the edge.
Feeling helpless and considering drastic measures to find relief.

I can't seem to burn bright enough. I'm cold and I'm left alone. We're all alone. Grab a hold.
Feeling disconnected and searching for connection and support.

I know I said to not. What the fuck do I know?
Acknowledging past mistakes and shortcomings.

I had a chance to construct something beautiful and I choked.
Regretting missed opportunities and feeling frustrated by personal failures.

Contributed by Alyssa V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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