 Giles 's truth , according to Whedon , is that he realizes he must not " fight my kid 's battles or my kid will never grow up " , which he sings in " Standing " while he throws knives at Buffy as part of her training . Whedon remarked that this touch " is the kind of complete turnaround that is a staple of the Buffy universe " . Tara 's heartfelt love song also has an ironic subtext ; although she appears to mean that she is fulfilled by her relationship with Willow , the lyrics include multiple allusions to Willow working her manipulative will over Tara , overlaid with Tara 's euphoric singing about her pleasure in their union . In Sex and the Slayer , Lorna Jowett calls the song between Willow and Tara the transformational event in their relationship , from Tara 's subservient bearing towards Willow , into a relationship of equals . Two Buffy essayists note that Willow and Giles sing together at the start of the episode , but later Tara and Giles share a duet to express the diminished part each plays in their respective relationships . 
