Originally released as the title track of B&S's 2001 EP, this was later re-released on their compilation 'Push Barman To Open Old Wounds'. Sung by Stevie Jackson rather than Stuart Murdoch, it draws on a Bible story (that of Jonathan & David, surprisingly - a tale of love that had to be hidden) to illustrate the story of a love triangle. The song is from the perspective of a guy who knows he doesn't really stand a chance with a girl, as she is in love with his best friend, but who at the same time is trying to tell himself that it's all OK, and that he shouldn't be angry or stand in the way of the other two. The whole song is basically him trying to reassure himself that everything's OK, and that in the greater scheme of things it doesn't really matter ("It's not as if I'm being sent off to war - there are worse things in this world", "It's not like we'll be parted, it's not like we'll never know love") but fundamentally I think he fails to convince himself - indeed, the song seems to end with the girl and the friend getting married, and them both disappearing out of his life. It's a really great song from an absolutely outstanding EP. Recently they seem to have lost a bit of their lyrical punch, but this song shows just how good B&S could be in their early career.
Belle and Sebastian – Jonathan David
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