 Give Up primarily deals with themes of love , as well as fame , history , and friendship . " Clark Gable " is about Gibbard making home movies with an ex and " Nothing Better " is a duet between a couple about to break up . Allmusic 's Heather Phares compared " Nothing Better " to The Human League 's " Don 't You Want Me ? " and Gibbard later confirmed that " Don 't You Want Me ? " was the inspiration for the song . Gibbard said that " The District Sleeps Alone Tonight " , " Brand New Colony " and " This Place Is a Prison " were the only songs that bordered on autobiographical . He went on to say that " Such Great Heights " was the only song he had ever written that was positive about love . 
