"I've Rationed Well" by July Talk is a song that explores the themes of distance, deception, and survival in a relationship. The song tells the story of a person who has moved away from their former lover and reflects on their past actions and choices. The lyrics start with the narrator walking towards their old home, trying to remind themselves of their past relationship. They admit to telling lies that felt right around their partner, possibly indicating deception or a lack of sincerity in the relationship. The narrator then reveals that they met a whiskey, representing alcohol or a change in lifestyle, and moved across town, distancing themselves from the river, girls, and their former lover. This suggests that they made a decision to leave that part of their life behind and start fresh. The narrator admits they were young and high-strung, possibly indicating a passionate and intense relationship. However, they now find themselves in a situation where they need their former lover the most, but they are physically separated by being across town. Despite the distance, the narrator believes that time will improve their situation, hinting at the possibility of healing and moving on. They acknowledge that the survival of their relationship relies on telling lies, highlighting a lack of honesty or trust. The repetition of the line "We'll survive by telling lies, we've rationed well" reinforces the idea that both individuals in the relationship have become adept at hiding the truth and managing their feelings. It shows that they have learned to navigate their relationship through deception, creating a calculated, but potentially unstable, dynamic. Overall, "I've Rationed Well" explores the complexities of a relationship that has become distant and riddled with lies. It reflects on the narrator's choices, their need for their former lover, and their reliance on deception to sustain the connection.
