Parallel or Together?

Ted Leo And The Pharmacists' song 'Parallel or Together?' delves into the complexities of modern life, relationships, and the feeling of disconnection despite physical proximity. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the daily grind, where time seems to slip away in a relentless landslide of minutes, hours, and days. This imagery captures the overwhelming nature of trying to balance work, personal aspirations, and the inevitable ennui that creeps in over months and years. The song speaks to the frustration of feeling unfulfilled and the resentment that builds when comparing one's own struggles to the perceived contentment of others.

The chorus introduces the central metaphor of the song: the idea of being 'parallel' rather than 'together.' This suggests a relationship where two people are close in physical space but emotionally distant, moving in the same direction but never truly connecting. The lyrics highlight the breakdown in communication, where one person's reasons and the other's inside jokes fail to bridge the gap, leading to bitterness and a sense of isolation. The kind words that once held meaning now feel empty and insignificant, further emphasizing the emotional divide.

In the latter part of the song, the narrator reflects on their solitary existence, walking through a town that doesn't feel like home and dreaming of unattainable houses. This sense of displacement is compounded by the act of gathering 'all the little pieces of a song' and fitting them where they belong, symbolizing an attempt to make sense of a fragmented life. The song concludes with a poignant reminder that despite the passage of time and the actions taken, the parallel nature of their lives remains unchanged. The evenings and tears run on parallel tracks, never intersecting, leaving the nights of 'together' as a distant memory or an unfulfilled promise.