Album: Born On A Pirate Ship (1996)

Charted: 88

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Comments: 22

• Sarah from Toronto, OnThe song is about nostalgia. The "old apartment" is the quintessential shabby, poorly maintained first apartment so many people have when they're first starting out (mine had no heat, blown fuses and roaches in the kitchen).
  He, like a lot of young middle class Canadians (and probably Americans) has since become more successful and moved on from that place and bought a house. He's probably also married that girlfriend and they may have some kids. In short his life has become more comfortable but also more complicated and there are days that he finds he misses the simplicity of the old apartment when it was just the two of them "living on love."
  
  He is angered by the changes at the apartment because they're a reminder that you can't go home again. You can't go back, you can only go forward and grow older.
• Michael from Cincinnati, OhIf you watch the video you will clearly see that it is not about Domestic Violence. However I will agree that some parts of the song do point towards domestic violence. Kim mentioned what she thought of the line "She loves me her body keeps me warm." I agree that it is possible that he is speaking about a girl. But then I look past it and think he could be talking about the house. Prior to that sentence he says "We bought an old house on the Danforth" and follows it with "I'm happy there". The house keeps him warm with feelings or even physically but I think that makes sense. This is one of my favourite songs.
  
  I hate to seem like I'm advertising but I do a cover of this song and I would like to see what you guys think of it. None of my friends know who the Barenaked Ladies are so there is no use in asking them....I just learned it yesterday...
  
  http://www.myspace.com/mkisalwaysbored
• Tara from Parma, OhThe song is clearly not about domestic violence, and I think anyone who insists otherwise after Steven Page says it's not is being incredibly immature. Also, listen to the lyrics. It's clear that the protagonist has gone back to the place where he used to live with his (current) girlfriend, and is trashing the place where someone else now lives.
• Kim from Bayonne,I assumed this song was about a deranged ex-boyfriend breaking into his girlfriend's apartment when I first heard it, and I still think so today, no matter what anyone says. The imagery in the lyrics is very violent--stomping, tearing things from walls, punching holes in the wall. Also, the character in the song is angrily demanding mousetraps and dishracks back. That would make no sense if he were so happy in his new home. It is something a jealous ex-boyfriend might do, though, to bother the ex-girlfriend.
  As for the "she" who he's living with on Danforth Ave., I always assumed it was a new girlfriend, but that he really liked the one in the apartment better. Whatever the song is about, it is told from the point of view of a nutcase.
• Jackie from Virginia Beach, VaThis is not about an "ex" (except and ex-apartment). Listen to the lyrics: "I know we don't live here anymore /We bought an old house on the Danforth." Note the *we*. Same couple, new life, looking back on the old. I have to drive by my old place(s) every once in a while since I live in the same town, and the nostalgia overwhelms me. Breaking in is tempting, just to see.... Then I drive on, and we are still married, just like in the old house and the old apartment in my life.
• Eric from Byron, NyThis is the first time I've heard anything about the song being about domestic violence...
  
  But I'm convinced that line is "tore the bolt out of the wall" (referring to the bolt that locks the door)... the album version, the live version, and the acoustic version from the podcast all sound alike though, and I can't tell.
• Tony from Boston, MaTo Annabeth in Kutztown, I am gonna assume he "turned up the tv and stomped on the floor" to bug the neighbor he mentions in the line before. I to thought it was a sad song. Then I saw the video and listened to the song more. It is a fun song.
• Samantha from Hartford, VtMusic is music the meaning of any song is different to everyone. We all relate from our past experiences. This song isnt about domestic violence. It seems he revisits the past and its all changed, except the feelings for this girl, whom he loves and wants her back.
• Bill from Alamosa, CoHe and the girl who he live in the apartment with are still together. He simply longs for the days when they were just starting out. Now that they have moved up, they aren't as in love or passionate.
• Scott from Columbus, OhNostalgia of a love lost, and a time of life he wants to relive....Pure and simple.
  A nice depiction of the things you have, and HAVE had.
• Scott from Columbus, OhI think Tara said it very well. This song means to me, the passion of a young, inexperienced love in comparison to what tend to experience as we become more seasoned and mature in our judgement. It's an extreme play on nostalgia and the fervor involved (good and bad)we experience in relations while comihng of age.
• Martin from Boston, MaBroken glass, broken hearts and broken bones. Holes punched in the door, locks changed, breaking and entering, stomping around on the floor and tearing the phone off the wall. Now why would anyone think this was about domestic violence?
• Connor from Turlock, Cait's about a guy going back to his old apartment with the same girlfreind, and being pissed about how things have changed.
• Tara from Hackensack, NjIt sounds like the guy left his girlfriend for someone else. Thought he would be happier. He and that girl moved somewhere new together. He revisits the apt he and the ex lived in together because while things are "ok" with the present girl, he misses the ex, the life they had, and is thinking about the memories they had in that place.
  
  The song doesn't sound to be about domestic violence, but that the relationship with the ex might have been tumultuous and fiery. Maybe that is why he left to be with someone else where the relationship was easier, but not as exciting or passionate.
• Annabeth from Kutztown, PaThe lyrics clearly indicate that it's about a man going back to visit and ex, and seeing everything she's changed since he left. This kind of makes him mad, and he reacts in a juevinile way, hence: "I turned up your tv and stomped on the floor," and, "tore the phone out of the wall." He knows it's over, and he has a new gf, but he still wants to be able to remember the girl and the times they had tomorrow. He's angry she totally wiped him out of her life after he left.
• Sarah from Charlottesville, Vathis song is about this guy and his girlfriend who go back to their old apartment and look at everything that has changed. there is nothing about violense in here.
• Mike from Medford, Nythis song is about a man (person) visiting an old apartment that (s)he used to live in, and talking to the current occupant(s). it has nothing to do with domestic violance (see Liner notes on the BNL greatest hits CD.
• Nick from Toronto, CanadaThe line "we bought an old house on the Danforth" is a reference to Danforth Ave. in Toronto Canada. It is the main street in the heart of Toronto's Greektown.
• Ashley from Davenport, Iain the liner notes of Barenaked Ladies "Disk one: all their greatest hits" Steven Page confirms that the person in the song is breaking in on new residents of his old apartment.
• Steve from Nicosia, EuropeThis song is simply about nostalgia. We all experience it. I don't understand where domestic violence comes in.
• Tracy from Pasadena, TxI read somewhere that the meaning to this song is NOT domestic violence. It's about a guy revisiting the old apartment he & his girlfriend used to live in. They've moved out of the apartment & he just goes back to visit and ends up breaking in. It's more of a funny song when you know the back story.
• Jodi from Springfield, IlMany believe that this song is about domestic violence. The band has yet to confirm or deny this fact. (Spfld, IL)

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