I Saw You Close Your Eyes

Local Natives' song 'I Saw You Close Your Eyes' delves into the complexities of unspoken emotions and the subtle tensions that exist in relationships. The lyrics paint a picture of a conversation filled with underlying doubts and unexpressed feelings. The opening lines, 'Hey now, is it the dawn or the end?' set the tone for a narrative that questions the state of a relationship, whether it is at a new beginning or nearing its conclusion. The mention of 'acting like it's nothing at all' suggests a facade that both parties maintain, hiding their true emotions and the gravity of their situation.

The recurring imagery of a 'gun on the wall' and the 'kick back into your shoulder' serves as a metaphor for the inevitable confrontation or climax that is bound to happen. This metaphor is a nod to Chekhov's gun, a dramatic principle that states if a gun is shown in the first act, it must go off by the third act. This principle underscores the tension and the anticipation of an unavoidable event or revelation. The repeated line, 'Even if I'm on your side, I saw the way you close your eyes,' highlights a moment of vulnerability and avoidance, where one person is trying to escape or ignore the reality of their emotions, even when support is present.

The song also touches on themes of self-reflection and the passage of time. The lines 'Mirror in the bathroom, nails getting long' evoke a sense of introspection and the slow, unnoticed changes that occur over time. The act of closing one's eyes can symbolize a desire to shut out the world, to avoid facing uncomfortable truths. Local Natives use these vivid, relatable images to explore the silent struggles and the emotional distance that can grow between people, even when they are ostensibly on the same side.