I want to live in the city with no friends or family
I'm gonna look out the window of my color TV
I will remember to remember to forget you
Forgot me
I'm gonna look out the window of my color TV

Through the cracks in the wall
Slow motion for all
Dripped out of the bar
Someone smart said nothing at all
I'm watching TV
I guess that's a solution
They gave me a receipt that said I didn't buy nothing
So rust is a fire
And our blood oxidizes
My eyes roll around all around on the carpet
Oh hit the deck
It's the decal man
standing upside down and talking out of his pants

Through the cracks in the wall
Slow motion for all
Left holding the ball and a part for your car


Lyrics submitted by PLANES

A Different City Lyrics as written by Isaac Brock Eric Judy

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

A Different City song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

75 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +8
    General Comment

    "They gave me a receipt that said I didn't buy nothing." When you die, you can't take anything with you. Not your money, not your knowledge, not even your physical body. It's like you spent your entire life filling these shopping bags that you never even get to leave the store with.

    AllChokedUpon June 02, 2011   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I think this talks about how we all isolate ourselves, but its sung in a sarcastic way. Like why would we really want to be alone when we feel like sht? Wasting time watching TV so we dont have to pay attention to the shit right outside the window. Everything is filtered out and you can watch exactly what you want on TV, or you can sleep, and not listen to the people around you (the decal man i guess). Specially that family sht that drives everyone nuts, and asshole friends who dont care.

    highgy946on January 23, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    graham never existed it was just something brock made up so he could do a side project on the same label. im smart

    racecargrinon October 11, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    the song says why the fuck deal with the shit of the world when you can just sit at home and watch it on tv... afterall, it is the "window" to our society isnt it?... oh yeah and the guy that is smart cause he says nothing at all refers to how much our voices actually mean in society. why ramble about some lameass purpose when its doesnt even matter in the scheme of our imperialistically run lives?

    istoleherdigitson January 10, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I don't know but ive been told you'll never die and you'll never grow old is in mary janes last dance but its a little different in the tom petty song its "i don't know but ive been told, you'll never slow down, and youll never grow old" maybe isaac is a tom petty fan, or maybe just a mary jane fan

    ImAHotDanceron May 21, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I wanna remember to remember to forget you forgot me

    i like that line

    Staywhatyouareon October 12, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I feel like this everyday. =\

    BeatJunkie08on March 22, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    One more time for all to hear...racecargrin touched on it earlier-- The crazy guy known as "Ugly Casanova" never existed. Isaac wanted to put out an album on another label but owed one to the label that he already had a deal with. So he cooked up this story so that he could say that it wasnt his intellectual property, so that he could shop the album around to other labels.

    Too bad the labels didnt fall for this as much as the fans did.

    I never thought about it as a guy going away to college, but it does make sense. The song is obviously about boredom, disillusionment, and loneliness regardless of the setting. Great music and lyrics.

    Bellyfull of Swanson January 11, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's about living a life different from what has been around you for so long. It's about figuring things out on your own and only seeing carpets and tv screens and decks and people that interrupt your bland but private reality and don't really say anything and mean even less than anything they invaded that you've made your own. It's about watching the world from a lonley, new place and time being completley unapparent as you gain a new perspective on everything around you.

    love_is_freeon July 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree with highgy946. Its about isolation. I just love the instrumentaion of this song. Its fucken great.

    melancholic_punkon August 13, 2002   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.