What does My Blue Heaven mean?

Taking Back Sunday: My Blue Heaven Meaning

Tagged: Death [suggest]
Album cover for My Blue Heaven album cover

Song Released: 2007


My Blue Heaven Lyrics

Two sides twist and then collide;
You're calling off the guards (Am I coming?)
I'm coming through. (Am I coming?)
Adulterous conditioned to a spin cycled submission,
You know, sometimes it just feels better to give in.
(Sometimes, it just...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Nov 29th 2006 !⃝

    After seeing others' interpretations and listening to the song repeatedly, I think I've come up with my own interpretation.

    The overall vibe I'm getting from "My Blue Heaven" is a sort of unfair relationship, where the girl (in Adam's case) treats him badly and is used to repetitive submission ("Adulteress conditioned to a spin cycled submission"), but he stays with her regardless. He figures that "Sometimes it just feels better to give in..."

    This kind of situation can happen over and over again, and the person just gets used to it in the end ("And it's all too familiar/And it happens all the time."). A lot of issues and inner-conflicts often arise ("All the cards begin to stack up"), but because he's been there so many times before, and he's so overwhelmed, he's become numb, indifferent ("Twisting heartache into fine/Little pieces that avoid an awful crime"). But, still, he can't resist her...

    "...it's you I can't deny."

    Throughout their relationship, he is "a patient boy" in that he puts up with everything his significant other gives out, but also "a jealous man" because (and I'm guessing here) he knows he can have better, wants her to be better. I'm not positive, but the "double standardized suspicion" part seems to me that, in this situation where the girl is seemingly mistreating him, she is almost accusing him of doing the same (thus the double standard reference, hypocrisy, etc.), but everything is fixed when it comes down to his "blue heaven."

    I think the "my blue heaven" piece is referring to the situation with the girl as whole... a relationship can feel like the greatest thing in the world and still make you miserable ("blue"), so the metaphor (as well as the whole ordeal) is a complete contradiction of terms.

    He and the girl continue their relationship, "swing and... Sway", and he stays, despite the inner-turmoil and misery it causes, because he keeps telling himself that he's "safe" ("...this tiny voice in/My head starts to sing/'You're safe, child, you are safe.'")

    At the end of the song, after questioning the frequency and repetition of this situation ("Is this all too familiar?/Does it happen all the time?"), Adam sings "Could you please, just once, just hear me?", as he has finally gotten the courage to speak up for himself, make things change. But he realizes that "More then anything you wanted to be right." and that still...

    "It's you I can't deny."

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 3rd 2006 !⃝

    I think that "two sides twist and then collide" means the two parts of his personallity, because he doesn't konw if he likes her or not, and this, I think, is a really good start for this song, because it gets really good. And by "adulteress conditioned to a spin cycled submission," I think it means a lady who is used to having to put herself lower than the man after going through a lot. And that's followed with a blunt "sometimes it just feels better to give in," however, he's talking about himself and not her.
    The chorus says that, well, it happens all the time, he always finds himself with a lot of resposibilities ("all the cards begin to stack up," many different cards, many different things happening) and there's so many things going on between him and her that he forgets all the times she hurt him. The last line is pointing out what's wrong...Her.
    "dull heat rises from the sheets, I'm both a patient boy, well, and a jealous man" means that she was sleeping with someone else. Kinda obvious. He says that his double standardized suspision (something that's obvioius...I think, idk.)(but this is personally my favorite part.) "is remedied," (fixed, ok, it's all good) "oh my blue heaven" that's my favorite part because "my blue heaven" symbolizes his girlfriend, and is a complete oxymoron. I say that because "heaven" is well, paradise, where everything is as good as it can be, but this is just what I think, but "blue" is the key word. If you know much about first aid, or if you've worked in the hospital or something, you might know that "code blue" means that someone in the building is having heart trouble (ie. Heart attack, heart failure, whatever else...) and so it's using a play on words and metaphors by saying that basically, she is his paradise which gives him heart trouble, because she keeps giving him heart trouble. However, here comes the interlude.
    This is when everything seems to change, and something, (possibly her? Idk) is telling him that things will change for the better, and everything will be ok. The outro is awesome, where he's trying (with difficulty) and pleading to her to be a better person I guess, I can't really put it into words, but I think that you guys get, because there's not much metaphors in there, either that, or that's all that's left! I'll leave you guys wondering...Heh heh... :)

  3. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 16th 2020 !⃝

    I think it's about a love affair. There's uncertainty and possibly resistance at first, but sometimes it just feels better to give in.
    Adulatory is common, but I think when he says it's all too familiar and it happens all the time, he is in a way rationalizing his actions because he knows it's wrong, but again, sometimes it just feels better to give in. And of course with any love triangle (or square?) there is bound to be heartache. But he can't outwardly express his disdain caused by the other woman in the affair, obviously because he is still in a relationship. But his guilty conscience gets the best of him, and he starts projecting his guilt on to his S.O., accusing her of infidelity, i.e. double standardized suspicions. And then his suspicions are remedied by his blue heaven, the other woman. It's a spin cycle entanglement he's found himself in, but for one reason or another the affair goes cold, so he considers himself "safe" now. But he knows deep down inside that if/when she were to come back around, he couldn't deny her because he still has feelings for her.
    It's a shot in the dark, but it hits home for me.

  4. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 15th 2012 !⃝

    I seriously thought this was about prescription drug use, like Valium or something. Like the two sides being his personality and him giving in was just self-medicating.

  5. Luca Da Silva
    click a star to vote
    Jan 20th 2012 !⃝

    Believe it or not Adam Lazzara said he wrote this song after one of his ex-girlfriends died. She died shortly after Tell All Your Friends was released. She was his current girlfriend when that happened.

  6. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jul 31st 2009 !⃝

    Damnit. I always thought this song was about drugs.
    :(
    Fail.

  7. jmsq207
    click a star to vote
    Apr 30th 2009 !⃝

    {"Two sides, twist and then collide
    Your calling off the guards
    Am I coming trough?
    Adulterous conditioned to a spin cycled submission
    You know sometimes it just feels better to give in"}

    The first verse resembles the connection of two people.. either one or both already in a relationship. I personally think both people are in a relationship of their own and are possibly ex boyfriend and ex girlfriend because he says two sides.. In any given object, design anything.. Their is more then two sides. Either 3 or 4, it can be 5 or more but that's just rediculous.. each side resembles a person who is involved in a relationship with another side (person), and two of the wrong sides are colliding. At the beginning it is unclear if Adam or the girl is cheating, but the remainder of the song signifies that she is definitely cheating but the point of view signifies that he's cheating.. So to sum it up in my opinion Adam and this girl were together, broke up and both moved on, now they are fucking around again. In response to a previous interpretation, I do not completely agree that their is any reference to smoking pot as 'giving in', although I've been there as well, if he was smoking a blunt to remedy the problems there wouldn't be any need for a second verse, he'd be chillin hah!.But in my opinion, the spin cycled submission stands out to be as both Adam and the girl are being unfaithful to complete the full circle and when he says 'YOU KNOW sometimes it just feels better to give in', I feel as if Adam is signing to the girl at that moment and its a situation they both know very well.

    {"And it's all to familiar
    And it happens all the time
    All the cards begin to stack up
    Twisting heartache into fine
    Little pieces that avoid an awful crime
    But it's you I can't deny"}

    This part is definitely important to the overall meaning and understanding of this song. It's as if this person is a former lover of Adam because of how it happens all the time, and the ending where its you I can't deny. It cannot be portrayed as a sexual connection in which cheating occurs, there is definitely some long lasting feelings with this girl which is causing all the pain to come back, and all the cards to stack up resulting in much pain (twisting heartache). But the pain is a loving pain, a distraction, that may prevent him from actually doing something stupid like cheating, 'but it's you I can't deny'.

    {"Dull heat rises from the sheets
    I'm both a patient boy
    And a jealous man
    But double standardized suspicion
    Is remedy, oh my blue heaven
    Sometimes it just feels better to give in"}

    Ok, dull heat rising from the sheet is resemblance to boredom.. The heat is frustration but in the bedroom.. Then it's sexual frustration. It doesn'nt sound like anything sexual is going on, but the backround vocals sayin 'am I coming through' implies if he's getting back inside of her, emotionally and sexually. Hes a patient boy, but a jealous man, the nouns are important because why not a jealous boy and patient man.. They are switched up to form oxymoron's. It's confusing right there I need some help. The next part 'double standarized suspicion is remedy' means that from his own perspective, cheating is ok on his part but not on her part, is his counteraction to his problems.. This may also related back to the spin cycled submission from the first verse. That concept defines the nature of his blue heaven.

    We swing and we sway as this tiny voice
    In my head starts to sing your safe child
    You are safe

  8. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jul 29th 2008 !⃝

    This is a really pretty song about such a painful topic.
    In a nutshell, it's about a guy who's girlfriend cheats on him and how much it pains him that he still loves her.


    Two sides twist and then collide;
    [Two people twist/ collide]


    Adulterous conditioned to a spin cycled submission,
    [He's been cheated on, and it's lowered his esteem and his emotional state causes him to be submissive]


    You know, sometimes it just feels better to give in.
    [but he still loves her]


    And it's all too familiar
    And it happens all the time.
    All the cards begin to stack up,
    Twisting heartache into fine
    [the cheating is familiar, and it causes him heartache]



    I'm both a patient boy,
    Well, and a jealous man. (Am I coming?)
    [paitient: is willing to stay with her for love, but jealous: hates the fact that he has to share her with another man]
    [this could be a play on the innocence and naivite of a young boy vs. The jealousy and anger of a man]


    My double standardized suspicion
    Is remedied, oh, my blue heaven,
    Sometimes, it just feels better to give in.
    [even though the suspicions he's had were proven, his "blue heaven," or the feeling that he's still in love with her causes him to give in to his emotions and stay in love with her]


    We swing and we sway
    As this tiny voice in
    My head starts to sing
    You're safe, child, you are safe.
    [when they're together the voice in his head calls out to him and reassures him that they will be fine together]

    Is this all too familiar?
    Does it happen all the time?
    I'm just asking you to hear me.
    Could you please, just once, just hear me?
    [he starts to ask her about the cheating]

    More then anything you wanted to be right.
    Still it's you, you, it's you I can't deny.
    [even though she cheated on him, he still loves her]

    It's a beautiful love song, and one of my favorites :]

  9. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jul 20th 2007 !⃝

    My Blue Heaven speaks about a relationship of an unfaithful and a yearning boy who still loves her even if she is unfaithful….

    Two sides twist and then collide;
    You're calling off the guards (Am I coming?)
    I'm coming through. (Am I coming?)
    ~the relationship between a boy and her had been existing for a long time that conflicts always arise. The boy starts to realize how does she view him (much as her partner or not?!)

    Adulterous conditioned to a spin cycled submission,
    You know, sometimes it just feels better to give in.
    (Sometimes, it just feels better to give in.)
    ~the boy is conscious that she has a % ual) affair with another person that he is not confident enough to say it to the so “Sometimes, it just feels better to give in”

    And it's all too familiar
    And it happens all the time.
    All the cards begin to stack up,
    Twisting heartache into fine
    Little pieces that avoid an awful crime,
    But it's you I can't deny.
    (You I can't deny.)
    ~its about the boy’s break down becoming so numb that the ’s % ual) affair with another person happens all the time but still he is not confident enough to comment on what the does. (double-crossing… ouch!)

    Dull heat rises from the sheets.
    I'm both a patient boy,
    Well, and a jealous man. (Am I coming?)
    My double standardized suspicion
    Is remedied, oh, my blue heaven,
    ~an incident wherein the boy plans to visit her at her place (maybe in an apartment). The boy arrived outside the s , standing at the outer door, he hears his, having sex with another. But still his jealousy is overwhelmed by his love for her.

  10. musiclover
    click a star to vote
    May 9th 2007 !⃝

    I think it's about a relationship that has a lot of ups and downs. It's heavenly at times...but then there are the bad times which seem to out weigh the happiness in the relationship, hence MY BLUE HEAVEN.i think he's saying that she makes him jealous and frustrated, he wants to leave but something just makes him want to stick around. b/c he talks about heartbreak and her always wanting to be right but in the end of the day she's still his girl[[still it's you I can't deny]]

  11. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 31st 2007 !⃝

    I am sorry to say that I think that "My Blue Heaven" describes my current relationship. I believe that it means someone who can't refuse this relationship because he is totally in love with her. He is a "patient boy well, and a jealous man". To me this represents the time it takes for her to realize that he loves her. I think that he is patient because his wanted relationship is taking longer than expected. He is jealous because while she is trying to find herself she dates and likes other guys. Yet he is still waiting. He can't deny her, because he knows that she is his true love, and he is patiently waiting for her to figure that out for herself. The song ends with the question, and the resolve to continue waiting. We don't know the end of this story. I hope for his sanity that she realizes his love soon.

  12. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 12th 2007 !⃝

    Two sides twist and then collide;
    You're calling off the guards (Am I coming?)
    I'm coming through. (Am I coming?) *I BELEIVE HE IS TALKING ABOUT HIM AND ANOTHER PERSON AND THEIR PERSONALITIES ARE COLLIDING, AND HES QUESTIONING IF HES MAKING HIMSELF KNOWN*
    Adulterous conditioned to a spin cycled submission,
    You know, sometimes it just feels better to give in.
    (Sometimes, it just feels better to give in.) *RELATING TO LUST AND A CYCLE THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF ONCE YOU START IT*

    And it's all too familiar
    And it happens all the time. *IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME SO WHAT MAKES THIS TIME ANY DIFFERENT*
    All the cards begin to stack up,
    Twisting heartache into fine *WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE THERES NOTHING LEFT OF IT*
    Little pieces that avoid an awful crime,
    But it's you I can't deny. *EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS THERES NOTHING LEFT, ITS HER HE CANT DENY NO MATTER HOW HARD HE TRYS*
    (You I can't deny.)

    Dull heat rises from the sheets.
    I'm both a patient boy,
    Well, and a jealous man. (Am I coming?) * HES PATIENT AND WILL WAIT FOR HER BUT HE CANT HELP THAT HES JEALOUS THAT HES NOT THE ONLY GUY WITH HER*
    My double standardized suspicion
    Is remedied, oh, my blue heaven,
    Sometimes, it just feels better to give in.
    (Sometimes, it just feels better to give in.)

    And it's all too familiar
    And it happens all the time.
    All the cards begin to stack up,
    Twisting heartache into fine
    Little pieces that avoid an awful crime,
    But it's you I can't deny.
    (You I can't deny.)

    We swing and we sway
    As this tiny voice in
    My head starts to sing
    You're safe, child, you are safe.
    (You're safe, child, you are safe.)
    You're safe, child, you are safe. * THEY GO BACK AND FORTH BUT WHEN ITS ALL OVER HE REALIZES HE IS OKAY*

    We swing and we sway
    As this tiny voice in
    My head starts to sing
    You're safe, child, you are safe.
    You're safe, child, you are ..

    safe (safe), safe (safe),
    You are safe.

    We swing and we sway
    As this tiny voice in
    My head starts to sing
    You're safe, child, you are safe. (Am I coming?)
    You're safe, child, you are safe. (Am I --)
    Coming through?

    Is this all too familiar?
    Does it happen all the time?
    I'm just asking you to hear me. * NOW HES QUESTIONING HIMSELF AND WONDERING IF HE REALLY DOES HAPPEN ALL THE TIME OR IS HE JUST MAKING EXCUSES AND SHES NOT GIVING HIM ANY FEEDBACK*
    Could you please, just once, just hear me?
    More then anything you wanted to be right.
    Still it's you, you, it's you I can't deny. * AGAIN, SHE LETS HIM DOWN, BUT NO MATTER WHAT HE CANY DENY HER*
    (You I can't deny.)
    It's you I can't deny.

    IDK, THATS WHAT I GET FROM IT, ALL IKNOW IS I LOVE IT. DEF ABOUT CHEATING THO.

  13. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jan 31st 2007 !⃝

    Just a sidenote, "My Blue Heaven" is a standard written in 1927 and was a big hit for Gene Austin but has since been recorded by countless other artists including Frank Sinatra. The lyrics are as follows:

    When whippoorwills call and evening is nigh,
    I hurry to my Blue Heaven.
    A turn to the right, a little white light,
    Will lead me to my Blue Heaven.

    I'll see a smiling face, a fireplace, a cozy room,
    A little nest that nestles where the roses bloom;
    Just Jilly and me, and baby makes three,
    We're happy in my Blue Heaven.

    You know I'm gonna see a smiling face, a fireplace, a cozy room,
    A little nest that nestles where the roses bloom;
    Just Jilly and me, and baby makes three,
    We're happy in my Blue Heaven.

    Seeing as how TBS took the title of this song, there has to be some connection-- maybe a juxtaposition of a more modern relationship compared to the one illustrated by the original My Blue Heaven?

  14. anonymous
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    Nov 13th 2006 !⃝

    My blue heaven is definitely my favorite tbs song... I thought it had something to do with cheating but you had an amazing interpretation!

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  15. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Sep 6th 2006 !⃝

    Hey I never thought of it like that. I always assumed it was him cheating. Only because of stories I've heard about him in the past. Anywho. Amazing song. And I like your interpriation a lot better than mine.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

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