To Here Knows When
My Bloody Valentine
Ethereal Longing and Temporal Displacement in 'To Here Knows When'
My Bloody Valentine's 'To Here Knows When' is a mesmerizing exploration of ethereal longing and temporal displacement. The lyrics, though sparse and abstract, evoke a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. The opening lines, 'Kiss your fear, your red button falls from my mouth,' suggest a moment of release and surrender, where fear is metaphorically kissed away, and a barrier (the red button) is removed. This imagery sets the tone for a journey into a deeply personal and emotional space.
The song continues with 'Slip your dress over your head, it's been so long,' which conveys a sense of anticipation and reunion. The act of slipping a dress over one's head can be seen as a metaphor for shedding inhibitions and embracing a long-awaited connection. The phrase 'it's been so long' underscores the passage of time and the longing that has built up during the separation. This theme of time and longing is central to the song, creating a dreamlike atmosphere where past, present, and future seem to blur together.
In the lines 'Move on top because that way you touch her too,' there is a suggestion of a shared experience or a connection that transcends physical boundaries. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for emotional or spiritual unity, where the act of moving on top symbolizes a deeper connection with another person. The final lines, 'Turn your head, come back again to here knows when,' reinforce the idea of returning to a specific moment in time, a place of emotional significance that exists outside the conventional flow of time. The phrase 'to here knows when' encapsulates the song's essence, a place where time is fluid and memories are ever-present.