Interpretations:Save Your Life

I believe the whole point of 'Save Your Life' is a parody of Belle & Sebastian, the vocal delivery and lyrics (especially "not the kind whose kind") is very much like one of their early tracks. Furthermore, the description of Bog Standard provided by the Johns basically reads: Belle & Sebastian (who also used to have two members called Stuart). If I am wrong it's one hell of a coincedence. - Paul Kelly

"Save Your Life" is DEFINITELY a Smiths parody. Linnell is singing in a Morrissey voice, the guitar is a jangly TMBG-version of Johnny Marr's guitar playing. Also Morrissey has tons of lyrics about avoiding relationships, exactly like those in "Save Your Life". It's not just the voice, but the vocal phrasing is exactly like Morrissey. "You think you're sad but you never have been sad..." Just like how Morrissey squeezes extra words in even if it doesn't exactly go with the rhythm of the song. Also, I always thought the description of Bog Standard was a description of XTC. XTC never tour anymore and they don't leave their quiet little Swindon homes (swindon/shropshire) and Andy collects toy soldiers. - Jordan

I think the title of "Save Your Life" could possibly be a parody of the song title "Save Your Love" by Great White (Once Bitten album). They're both about love, TMBG's version about leaving and avoiding it while Great White's version is about having someone staying and waiting to love even if the results might be unfavorable. In both songs the chorus contains the song title, but then again so do most songs. But, I digress. It could just be a major coincidence that the song titles are similar and that they're both pretty much about the same thing from different perspectives of the outcomes. It makes it seem that "Save Your Life" could be a 'what if' of "Save Your Love". Then again, aren't most songs about love and it's different outcomes? -Brittany W.

Continuing with the XTC comparison, the former lead guitarist for the band is named David Gregory, and he has a brother named Ian. -VoVat

I've also always thought this was clearly a Smiths homage, which is further evidenced by the fact that both Johns are big fans. The keyboard definitely is imitating Marr's style and not just the vocal delivery and melody but the lyrics are just absolutely, utterly textbook Morrissey, the protagonist seemingly pleading with another person close to him to avoid committing romantically to a woman. "hang on to that ring.." reminds me of "..return the ring.." in This Charming Man. It sounds specifically very early Smiths to me, I hear a lot of This Charming Man, Still Ill, and Girl Afraid especially, among others. Personally I would be really shocked if this wasn't at the very least heavily inspired by The Smiths. I also can see how the description of the band has an element of XTC woven in, but still feels very reminiscent of The Smiths considering how many Smiths songs are about being too shy to go out! All that's missing is a semi-obscure literary reference in the lyrics... Edit: I've just realized that the actual phrase "Save your life" comes directly from This Night Has Opened My Eyes, so there you go! Juniper