Alvvays

In the beginning of the song, if you listen closely, you can hear birds chirping before Molly Rankin’s voice comes in with. By having the birds chirping (a symbol for traditional love stories), and going straight to the core of the song and, presumably, the reason it’s been written, stands for the contrast of feelings the couple has been going through while discussing a legal marriage. But the first thing that stands out in the song is the “fictitious” character the lead vocalist is singing to, Archie. Even though the lyrics repeatedly reference that “Archie” doesn’t want to get married primarily due to financial worries. “Archie” could stand for the general population of people who are “against” marriage because of the rising divorce rate, the potential financial implications (especially if the marriage ends up dissolving in divorce), or how they “don’t need a piece of paper to prove we love each other,” which tends to run more commonly in “progressive” couples.