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In this episode, These United States, from Washington, DC, and Lexington, KY, share the story behind their song, “The Important Thing.” (As told by lead singer, Jesse Elliott.)

This is the most straightforward song I’ve ever written. I couldn’t say exactly what it’s about. A lotta people assume it’s Love. Just as many have asked me if it’s God. Some people take it as a Joke, a send-up: there isn’t actually any one important thing. It might be all of those, but plural. I like plural. I think the universe it made mostly of plural – just from where I’m standing, anyway. Maybe it’s a love song to plurality – to the belief that, at any given moment, there are actually quite a few things in the world worth considering the most important. That’s certainly true for people, plural. Might even be true for a single person. The video we made for this one tries to get at that – young, ignorant, unbridled Belief. Again, it’s not a parody, though I could see how some people have taken it that way. It’s more of an homage (maybe slightly caricatured) to youth, one of the most important things, and of course to music. Oh yeah, I think this song is about music, now that I think about it. Music is the roses and the revolutions and the changes and the wings, definitely.

The Important Thing from These United States on Vimeo.

The Important Thing

The important thing is to love me when your love’s all gone.
The important thing is to let me love you, too.
The important thing is to remember all the little things that aren’t even important.
And you do. You still do.

The important thing’s to throw roses from all the balconies.
The important thing? Throw your arms into the air.
The important thing’s to start outrageous revolutions –
like I love you like no other anywhere.

The important thing will strongly surely change with time.
The important thing will meet you through the night.
The important thing will always leave you breathless, deathless,
restless – I’m gonna love you like I’m senseless.
That’s gonna be alright.

The important thing’s gonna grab your hand in those summer storms.
The important thing left a nice note by the door.
The important thing is to spread your wings and fall and ask for mercy.
Ask for any, ask for every, ask for love to leave you lossless, ask for more.