This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
From morning to night I stayed out of sight
Didn't recognize I'd become
No more than alive, I'd barely survive
In a word, overrun
Won't hear a sound (he's curled into the corner)
From my mouth (but still the screen is flickering)
I've spent too long (with an endless stream of garbage to)
On the inside out (curse the place)
My skin is cold (in a sea of random images)
To the human touch (the self-destructing animal)
This bleeding heart's (waiting for the waves to break)
Not beating much
I murmured a vow of silence and now
I don't even hear when I think aloud
Extinguished by light, I turn on the night
Wear its darkness with an empty smile
I'm creeping back to life
My nervous system all awry
I'm wearing the inside out
Look at him now
He's paler somehow
But he's coming around
He's starting to choke
It's been so long since he spoke
Well, he can have the words right from my mouth
And with these words I can see
Clear through the clouds that covered me
Just give it time then speak my name
Now we can hear ourselves again
I'm holding out (he's standing on the threshold)
For the day (caught in fiery anger)
When all the clouds (and hurled into the furnace)
Have blown away (he'll curse the place)
I'm with you now (he's torn in all directions)
Can speak your name (and still the screen is flickering)
Now we can hear (waiting for the flames to break)
Ourselves again
Didn't recognize I'd become
No more than alive, I'd barely survive
In a word, overrun
Won't hear a sound (he's curled into the corner)
From my mouth (but still the screen is flickering)
I've spent too long (with an endless stream of garbage to)
On the inside out (curse the place)
My skin is cold (in a sea of random images)
To the human touch (the self-destructing animal)
This bleeding heart's (waiting for the waves to break)
Not beating much
I murmured a vow of silence and now
I don't even hear when I think aloud
Extinguished by light, I turn on the night
Wear its darkness with an empty smile
I'm creeping back to life
My nervous system all awry
I'm wearing the inside out
Look at him now
He's paler somehow
But he's coming around
He's starting to choke
It's been so long since he spoke
Well, he can have the words right from my mouth
And with these words I can see
Clear through the clouds that covered me
Just give it time then speak my name
Now we can hear ourselves again
I'm holding out (he's standing on the threshold)
For the day (caught in fiery anger)
When all the clouds (and hurled into the furnace)
Have blown away (he'll curse the place)
I'm with you now (he's torn in all directions)
Can speak your name (and still the screen is flickering)
Now we can hear (waiting for the flames to break)
Ourselves again
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by Mellow_Harsher, HighHopesInsideOut, Daed
Wearing the Inside Out Lyrics as written by Anthony Jon Moore Richard Wright
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@Lateralus518
If you haven't been there, you won't know.
well that might be true, but I'm pretty sure this is totally about richard being <br /> "fired", shutting his mouth and playing on the wall tour, then after roger leaves, they are in their own band. Gilmour's part might either be talking about richard, as it says hes paler, hes fading, but he can "have the words right from his mouth" in saying that gilmour is finally standing up and taking charge, and they go on to record a huge album, then this one ie.: "we can hear ourselves again". I mean read nick's book all of this seems to fit with that period. or watch interviews. I mean most pink floyd especially after roger is pretty literal lyric you know, kinda about things that happen as opposed to roger's contemp poetry stuff.(although roger in the animals period was a mix of current politics and poetry (sheep, Mary Whitehouse). But again, remember, even this is all on the speculation level. i would just bet money its not a description of depression, like most of you seem to be saying.
No no no. It is true. If you haven't been there you won't know. (I've been there)
@afenton What do you mean "there"?
@miladrahimion Ok you so you haven't been there
An excruciating song. I'd never heard it before until very recently - which surprised me to start with. All I could say that it was the most oppressive and depressing song I think I've ever heard. I was prepared to hate it and found I was compelled to listen again and again. The man who wrote this nailed it. It describes this state of depression perfectly. Afenton said it best. "If you haven't been there, you won't know." Unfortunately, I know. Now that I've been able to get a handle on it I find it quite layered. The background singers and their counter melody gives it an unexpected and legitimate R&B spin. Very nicely done. Very appropriate song conclusion. I almost want to cry when I listen to this. I agree that it is a Rick Wright vehicle to describe Roger Water's domination of Pink Floyd and especially him. Dave Gilmour said that Rick was so negatively affected by Roger's dictatorship that Rick was virtually convinced he couldn't play his instrument anymore. Pink Floyd has always been a band with bizarre issues. Obviously there was the late great Roger 'Syd' Barrett issues. I don't think Roger Waters ever really got over that. Frankly I think it scared him for life. He keeps resurrecting the subject in one way or another. And now we become aware of the mental dysfunction of the band members under Waters.
@HungFao ... I'm sorry to burst your bubble my brother. But those dudes are absolutely right, you wouldn't know if you haven't been there.... But to break it down for you, it's about his struggle trying to come of the boy. He sailed the Atlantic to get away from that DEMON. During that time he wrote this song, the band members agreed it was his to sing as well.
This song alone is worth the price of the album.
Richard was quite a reserved and quiet person, this song is about the struggles introverts face with the world, I also feel this song is partly aimed at Barrett "just give it time and speak my name" but that could also be to fans who feel depressed "speak my name" could be "look how far i've come with these problems"
Richard is a legend, nearly all of my favourite moments of Dark Side Of The Moon were orchestrated by him.
Keep Talking on the same album also reminds me of an introvert's struggle. I've always thoughts of depression when I listened to this song though...
@reecej The lyrics were written by Anthony Moore, not Richard Wright
Rick Wright is so underrated, his contributions were as good as Roger's or Dave's easily, but he had so few oppurtunities, I think they really underused him. I look at my list of favorite Pink Floyd songs and most are penned by his hand, and quite a few sung by him.
This song comes from the album The Division Bell which is about Communication. This song communicates a message of healing to someone who is very depressed. "and with these words I can see clear through the clouds that covered me" With the words of this song, the person listening can come back, as in Coming Back to Life which is another song which communicates a message. The artwork for The Division Bell, two figures lying in a barley field, or gold Field or Field of Gold?? All that Glitters is not Gold peeps!!
@luvwings you wrote it 8 years ago I just want to like the final conclusion "All that Glitters is not Gold" I am too depressed but you made me smile thank you
God I love this song. Definitely my fav on the album. Fucking great.
been there as well... not that im happier now, but i do long for being 'there' again. as dismal as it sounds, depression is a great motivator and teacher.
From morning to night I stayed out of sight Didn't recognize I'd become No more than alive I'd barely survive In a word...overrun
Won't hear a sound
I murmured a vow of silence and now I don't even hear when I think aloud Extinguished by light I turn on the night Wear its darkness with an empty smile
I'm creeping back to life My nervous system all awry I'm wearing the inside out
And with these words I can see Clear through the clouds that covered me Just give it time then speak my name Now we can hear ourselves again
I'm holding out