Self Control

Cavetown's 'Self Control' delves into the complexities of love, longing, and the bittersweet nature of unfulfilled relationships. The song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of a narrator who is deeply infatuated with someone who is emotionally and physically distant. The opening lines, 'I'll be the boyfriend in your wet dreams tonight,' suggest a yearning to be more than just a fleeting thought in the other person's mind. This longing is further emphasized by the nostalgic references to past experiences and the desire for shared memories, 'Wish I was there, wish we'd grown up on the same advice.'

The recurring plea to 'keep a place for me' highlights the narrator's hope that there is still a space for them in the other person's life, even if it's just a small, insignificant one. This sentiment is juxtaposed with the acknowledgment of the other person's new relationships and the narrator's struggle with self-control. The lines 'I came to visit, 'cause you see me like a UFO / That's like never, 'cause I made you use your self-control / And you made me lose my self-control' reveal a mutual influence on each other's emotional states, where one person maintains composure while the other succumbs to their feelings.

The song's chorus and repeated phrases, such as 'I know you gotta leave,' underscore the inevitability of separation and the transient nature of their connection. Despite this, the narrator clings to the hope of a temporary reprieve, 'Give up, just tonight,' indicating a desire to hold onto the fleeting moments they have together. Cavetown's gentle, melancholic musical style complements the introspective and emotional depth of the lyrics, creating a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the struggle to maintain self-control in the face of overwhelming emotions.