Picture yourself in the passenger seat of a car with the windows down. Imagine it’s around five or six o’clock, you’re on the highway home after a long day at the beach, and the sun is setting. While you’re sort of bummed that the day is over, you’re mostly overwhelmed with feelings of calmness, fulfillment, and inner peace.
That’s what the song “Throw Me A Line” by The Moving Stills sounds like. It’s interestingly nostalgic for the past, but it’s also reminiscent of the good times in our futures we all long for. The best way I can describe it is that it sounds like background music for the memories you’ll cherish forever when you’re older.
In this song, the singer speaks to an apparent companion who, despite their mishaps, is seemingly very dear and important. This relationship, in any event, is pretty and perfect on the outside but painful when you peek behind the curtain. In the end, the external appearance of this companionship reigns supreme.
“But I’ll be fine
Miss you all the time
But I just want you to know
You’re one of a kind”
During the second verse, the singer reflects on past experiences with this person and how it’s taken a mental toll. However, there is an immediate interjection with the cliché things a person might say in a relationship: “I miss you,” “you’re one of a kind,” etc. You’re hurting deep down, but your words would never indicate that. Spoken like a true English major. It’s the definition of irony: you say one thing and mean the other.
In a way, it’s about feeling stuck, but it’s also about forgiveness. Why would you act on the signs that something is wrong when life can be so superficially good regardless? Then you, of course, have to consider the question, what makes life good? Is it about internal or external happiness? If you consider the warm guitars and instrumental, you might consider that life is all about how we feel on the outside. I’m not condoning the idea that this is healthy behavior, but it is healthy to indulge every once in a while in a way that will fulfill some external aspect of our lives. It’s why we, as a society, are so obsessed with Instagram photos because they look pretty.
The point of this whole thing is that it’s important to figure out your own definition of happiness. The song lyrics insinuate that the speaker is attempting to do just that, but is blinded by longing and nostalgia. But sometimes it’s okay for that to happen.
The Moving Stills released their debut album, Sunshine Corner on January 28th, and personally I’d argue that the summer-esque title is quite fitting. It’s definitely safe to say that the Australian band will be on loop for months to come.
