The Bleeding Heart Show

This song is obviously about the ending of a relationship. More subtly, it appears to be about the end of a relationship that begun either as a friendship, or as a transitional or rebound love affair, that in turn was the product of previous heartbreak, and that temporarily evolved into something more serious. Nonetheless, the lovers eventually realize that they are not well suited, and one of them takes the apparently easy, but in fact difficult, decision to end the relationship.

I leapt across three or four beds into your arms

The relationship arose out of heartbreak over past relationships. There was a leap, perhaps signifying the differences (and incompatibilities) between the lovers. Or perhaps he is leaping across working through the pain over the "three or four beds" to comfort in her arms.

Where I had hidden myself somewhere in your charm

The singer was hiding in her charm. His personality was lost in their (magical, primitive) chemistry, in her charisma. He's also hiding his pain in the relationship.

Our golden handshake has been smashed into this shape. It's taken magic to a primitive new place

The original understanding was that the relationship would take a certain form: a friendship or transitional love affair, but it has since changed dramatically, due to their chemistry.

Watch 'em run, although it's the minimum, heroic

This relationship is ended abruptly (at running pace, even at the glorious liberated pace we hear in the climax). Although walking away seems easy -- it is the minimum -- it is also a heroic decision because it means walking away from the chemistry.

The second stanza tells us they found each other at a time when both of them needed comfort against the cold (a bitter breakup). Lyrical choices like "picked your name out of a hat" and the impersonal "someone's" lap imply that anyone could've been a comfort or company. They are basically good-intentioned, but not a good fit.

We hunched together in one chair out on the deck In snow that froze and fell down on the modern set

This hints at the relationship beginning out of adversity

It looked as if I picked your name out of a hat

They were apparently incompatible to those looking on.

Both singers sing the third stanza / buildup to climax, which seems to say that they are both experiencing what's contained in these words. They need to quit each other and grab hold of something that is more true for themselves individually. The perception - twisting themselves into loyalty to the relationship despite how it doesn't fit - it is wrong.. it doesn't hold up against the miles. A.C. sings the last line alone .. he will miss her taste, and how she made him feel tipsy like wine. Still - she's running away, and there's no point in putting on a big breakup "bleeding heart show" - best to understand they're not right for each other and move on.. the celebration of this hard realization is beautifully, exultantly realized in the climax of this song.

I love, love, love this song. The way it crescendos into an epic sing-a-long is just simply, awesome. It's like a smack too the face. When the song ends, you sit there in awe, trying to figgure out what the hell just hit you.

"That’s when we grab a hold Of whatever it is we fell into."

that line gives me shivers every time i hear it.

I freaking love the sound of the melodica starting from the "We quit the room" part. That's what I listen to this song for. Makes me feel like I'm in a carnival in Paris and sitting on a merry-go-round, holding on to my horse and watching the world pass by.

This one stood out on Twin Cinema. The ending is just so...huge.

just the four notes that the (whatever it is, i'm gonna say synthesiser but i have no idea) synthesiser plays in between 'With what the majestic cannot find' and 'In business of your lives' and then after that line again, i listen to the song just for that.

i was in the movie theatre and this song came on with one of the trailers (i forget which one) and it was all the oohs and then it looked like they were gonna just stop before the hey-las, and i was practically cringing 'cause they couldn't play this song and NOT have the hey-las, and the song paused after the oohs and i thought it was gonna just be over but then there was like an explosion on the screen with the title of the movie and the hey-las. i'm so going to that movie. once i find out what it is. haha

...Not to mention (as another poster mentioned) some of the best drumming I have ever heard, ever.

cityclass's comment: "i was in the movie theatre and this song came on with one of the trailers (i forget which one) and it was all the oohs and then it looked like they were gonna just stop before the hey-las, and i was practically cringing 'cause they couldn't play this song and NOT have the hey-las, and the song paused after the oohs and i thought it was gonna just be over but then there was like an explosion on the screen with the title of the movie and the hey-las"

=] amazing

listening to this song is a life altering experience

"Our golden handshake has been smashed into this shape," is a reference to a Claddagh ring. I used to see them used as Promise Rings here in the States, but in the early '90s it was trendy for the young professionals to use them as the actual wedding ring. It is unclear from the lyrics (to me, at least) whether this is failing relationship or failing marriage, but it's really just a matter of degree as to just how much it sucks to break up in each case.