She she she she only ever ver ver ver ver
Walks to to count count her steps,
Eighteen teen strides and she stops to abide
By the law that she herself has set.
That eighteen steps is one complete set,
And before the next nine right and nine left.
She looks up up at the blueeeeeee,
And whispers to all of the above.
Don't let me drown, don't breathe alone,
No kicks no pangs no broken bones.
Never let me sink,
Always feel at home,
No sticks no shanks and no stones.
Never leave it too late,
Always enjoy the taste,
Of the great great great grey world of hearts.
As all dogs everywhere bark bark bark bark
It's worth knowing,
Like all good fruit, the balance of life is in
The ripe, and ruined.
About This Song
"Interlude I" is a haunting meditation on obsessive-compulsive behavior and the fragile rituals we create to maintain control in an uncertain world. The song follows a character who has developed a precise walking pattern of eighteen steps, using this self-imposed structure as a protective mechanism against deeper anxieties about drowning, isolation, and physical harm. Alt-J's signature ethereal vocals float over minimalist instrumentation, creating an intimate, almost whispered confession that captures the vulnerability beneath compulsive behaviors. The track exemplifies the band's ability to find profound emotional depth in seemingly simple moments, transforming a description of counting steps into a poignant exploration of how we cope with existential fear. As an interlude on "An Awesome Wave," it serves as a delicate pause that showcases alt-J's talent for creating atmospheric, psychologically complex vignettes that resonate far beyond their brief runtime.
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