Two degrees from “Sober”

A while back I mentioned that I had a theory about how I feel that all of Melissa’s tracks connect back to the track “Sober” in one way of another.

After going back to this many times over the past few months I have finally gathered my thoughts on the subject and am ready to share them so here it goes.

Two degrees from “Sober”

This is probably a bit crazy which I am fine with as some would say that is an adequate descriptor of myself. Just take this journey with me, perhaps you'll get something out of it and see that I am only mostly crazy.

I previously wrote about All the Words I Thought I'd Say by Melissa Lamm and talked about how I felt that the track "Sober" was the connective tissue of the EP; that the rest of the tracks all lead back to the thoughts and feelings expressed there.

As I've been taking a deep dive into all of Melissa's tracks on Spotify I now have some additional thoughts on "Sober" and how it relates to the rest of the tracks she has released.  "Sober" is a song that for me has something more to say than what I originally realized. I gave my thoughts on this track previously here. I may just be thinking too hard but there is another layer now; a message that one day seemed to almost shout at me and now whenever I hear this track I think about it. The song is about finding peace and balance; it is a song about self awareness and self realization. One of the possible meanings of the word sober is as follows: "showing no excessive or extreme qualities of fancy, emotion, or prejudice." Life is an emotional rollercoaster and at least for me it is quite often a struggle to find balance. To me the track is about wanting peace and realizing that you may not have it currently or at least not to the degree that you would like. I found myself wondering at times what life would be like if there were a few more plateau’s on this rollercoaster of life. 

All Melissa's songs connect back to this idea of striving to not just find balance but to have joy while doing it. Sometimes that involves reconciling your past, dealing with your own vulnerabilities and taking risks. It's about learning lessons either the easy way or the hard way. In the end it all boils down to learning how to live.

I have grouped the tracks based on themes expressed in the tracks; the first being that once you even think you may have found love you work at it, count on it and do what it takes to hold on to it; it's a big risk but it one that is worth taking - “Home”, “Give”, “Balcony”, “Any Less”, “Got My Heart”, “Banners”, “Leaving Soon”, “Nobody Else”

There are two recurring concepts that show up in all these tracks that stick out to me. The first being references to time and how it seems to work differently when you are with someone you love. The second is the feeling that your life is as good as it has ever been when you are with them and that you “wouldn’t have it any other way.”

You should come over, the city moves slower

I caught that feelings looking in your eyes, like I’ve known you a million years

Up all night, flashing lights, counting cranes up in the sky

Can I be yours and you’d be mine until forever end of time

The concept of time is an interesting one; it's always passing the same yet it can feel so vastly different depending on the situation. I quite appreciate the varying ways the passage of time is described in these tracks.

Don’t know where I’d be without you

Nowhere else I’d rather be

Fall asleep in your two arms like it’s my favorite place to be

Home is when I’m with you

To me what these songs are describing is the idea that when you are with the right person you can be living in a reality that feels even better than your dreams.

Sometimes it takes longer to realize but things or people that don’t build us up shouldn’t hold a prominent position in our lives, no matter why we may be holding onto them we have to let them go - “Blessings”, “Goodbye” & “All This Time”, “Someone I Forget”

Lyrically I feel like these two tracks are a fantastic reflection of each other.

I’m glad you’re keeping new company

And I’m fine it's not with me

You gave the impression

I had all your attention

If not we should end it

So maybe let’s just end it

This is essentially saying the same thing; the latter is saying it in a bit more fiery way and I very much enjoy it.

You’ll never ever change, never change, never change

We’ll be here again, here again, here again

So baby quit messing, messing with me

Stop messing around

I gotta set a burnt bridge on fire again

But I’ve been down this road before

And I can’t take no more of this

The way these two tracks go together is ingenious and I never would have seen it without taking this in-depth look.

You’re all that I think of even when I’m sleeping

I’ve been up too late at night

Praying like my hands are tied

Maybe I’m the one you need

That you want me back

You need me too sooo, soo

Break my heart like it’s easy

Stitch me up where I'm bleeding

And you’ll do it all a thousand times again

Cuz you act like there might be nothing between us

It hits me the hardest

Cuts me the deepest

Oh I just want something that I can believe in

So maybe you can call me in a minute

Tell me that I’m everything you’re missing

Pick me up and whisper that you loved me

All this time

I've been hoping you might change

Holding on like you might stay

But I guess the joke’s on me

I admire the way the lyrics in these two tracks mesh together seeming like different perspectives on the same situation. They express feelings of heartbreak brilliantly each in their own way.

Lastly are tracks regarding self expression, awareness and dealing with stress and anxiety - “Over It”, “No Thrills”, “Tricks on Me”, “3AM”, “Breakup Song”, “Arizona”, “Tokyo at Night”

Mind is playing tricks on me

Just tryna keep my mind from racing all the time

How do you get over it

Three in the morning was never my best

I try so hard to let go but I can’t

I don’t wanna break up 

I just wanna sing real loud to a breakup song

Meet me where the only stars are up in space

I’ve been dreaming of a quiet empty place

We could see it all 

Sydney sure sounds nice

Tokyo at night shines brighter than the sky

These tracks outline the journey we each embark on to find peace & solace. We work to find joy and balance and at some point we all hopefully find it. Once it’s found it is something that we must work for in order to keep it. All these tracks lay out this journey which we all cycle through in varying ways and “Sober” exists between the two sides of said journey. With the way all these tracks group together you are never more than two tracks away from “Sober” at least I think so.

Click for Melissa’s Spotify library