The pink pills are for our sanity
We are buried in the Earth because we can't beat gravity
You are still here and so made to figure
You are an important part o the computer

Born of the sea, blink
The sea is dead
Falls out of me these sockets in my head
Everyone's a captain baby, ship of fools
Drowning while they're telling you it's been alright

Dream the dream of your attrition
The nameless name of your condition
It will be needing you a little while longer
You are an important part of the computer

After this mission it will let you go
Help you to forget everything and everyone you know
In a world of captains baby, ship of fools
Don't you know they're lying when they're telling you it's been all right?


Lyrics submitted by Sublime.

Near Fantastica Lyrics as written by Matthew Good

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Near Fantastica song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    When he says "Can't feel fear, fear's the mind killer", he's loosely quoting the "Litany against fear" from the novel Dune.

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litany_against_fear

    It goes:

    I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

    Audevourahnon February 19, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I could listen to this song for hours and never get bored with it. It's just that damn good!

    reck_666on May 18, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about false pride and individualism. Everyone thinks they're important, even though each of us is just one small part of a huge machine. I think this song is critical of people who can't admit that.

    runner44on February 04, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Really? I'd say it's about how little we realize the crappy stuff that's going on around us. The daily grind that keeps the economy going and how everybody's rationalizing that things aren't so terribly bad, because there's nothing else that we can do about it.

    Jamfishon September 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    That's probably part of it, too. I came to my conclusion because Matt Good talks vanity often in his blog, and the line "Everyone's a captain baby, ship of fools" seemed to be a reference to it. Good song, anyway.

    runner44on September 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Has anyone heard the acoustic version of this song? It's one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard. It's even better than the album version, and that alone was already one of my favourite Matt Good songs. Here's a link if you want to check it out. I highly recommend it.

    .telus.net/rothcam/Near%20Fantastica%20(Acoustic).zip

    Thank you EvanofEdmonton of the NF forums, and thank you telus for allowing the upload

    Eterna1on December 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This, Weapon, & House of Smoke & Mirrors are the best songs on this album. Avalanche is a masterpiece.

    NirvanAFIon July 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Usually I listen to the guitars in songs, Being a guitar player.. But this song, the drums... AMAZING.

    spring90on August 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    in this song he says 'can't fear fear, fear's the mind killer' like seventeen times. i think that not a lot of people see this as the most significant part of the whole song like i do. and the fact that he's kind of whispering when he sings it is so beautiful, i could just say that line all freaking day. this song also makes me think of like, the bourne movies. 'after this mission we'll let you go, help u to forget everything and everyone you know' i dunno it makes me think of the first movie, but obviovsly he's not singing about some movies in his songs lol. wow, there's so much symbolism in this song. 'born of the sea, blink, sea is dead'. what we came from is suddenly gone, something like that. and wow, this song is so beautiful i could go on and on about it for hours but i'm not lol.

    b.and.o.railroadon July 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    avalanche is honestly the best of the best

    avalanche12on November 09, 2009   Link

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