Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
suitcase in hand lilac continues down the cold pavement
in the dead city under a red moon
knocks on a door asks for a room
climbs hundred steps behind a fat woman
black eyes are staring above silver doorchains
at the new tenant as the fat woman says
you better keep away from open windows
you better keep away from open windows
she gives her a strange look when she opens the door
you better keep away from open windows
you better keep away from open windows
and she leaves her alone
there are spiders in the corners of the room
she puts down her suitcase the floorboards are creaking
she moves her forefinger in the dust of the mirror
until she sees her white face
she leans out the window a black cat is running
on the rooftop towards her showing his claws
swishing his tail at the new tenant
cats have nine lives or so goes the saying
you better keep away from open windows
you better keep away from open windows
lilac says to the cat as she waves him away
you better keep away from open windows
you better keep away from open windows
and she turns and she thinks and she
damns her mother and her father who had never cared about her
and her sister and her brother who had always thought her ugly
and her playmates who had taken all her lollies and her chocolates
and her idiotic lovers who had no idea of fucking
and the stupid teachers in the rotten suburb school she went to
who had killed whatever talent she possessed in next to no time
and the guy in sunday school who said she‘d go to heaven after all
she pushes a chair towards the window
steps on the seat then onto the sill
and spreads her long arms
she doesn’t notice the man opposite her
in the brightly lit room who opens his mouth
in gaping surprise at the delicate bird trying to fly
towards the sky
and then she shuts her eyes and falls
she falls past the watching eyes
her hair above her like a flame
until she hits the ground
until she hits the ground
you better keep away from open windows
you better keep away from open windows
the man hollers out but it’s a little to late
you better keep away from open windows
you better keep away from open windows
he repeats like a madman
until his woman shuts him up
lilac the lovely lies on the pavement
red her around her like the soft halo
around the moon
in the dead city under a red moon
knocks on a door asks for a room
climbs hundred steps behind a fat woman
black eyes are staring above silver doorchains
at the new tenant as the fat woman says
you better keep away from open windows
you better keep away from open windows
she gives her a strange look when she opens the door
you better keep away from open windows
you better keep away from open windows
and she leaves her alone
there are spiders in the corners of the room
she puts down her suitcase the floorboards are creaking
she moves her forefinger in the dust of the mirror
until she sees her white face
she leans out the window a black cat is running
on the rooftop towards her showing his claws
swishing his tail at the new tenant
cats have nine lives or so goes the saying
you better keep away from open windows
you better keep away from open windows
lilac says to the cat as she waves him away
you better keep away from open windows
you better keep away from open windows
and she turns and she thinks and she
damns her mother and her father who had never cared about her
and her sister and her brother who had always thought her ugly
and her playmates who had taken all her lollies and her chocolates
and her idiotic lovers who had no idea of fucking
and the stupid teachers in the rotten suburb school she went to
who had killed whatever talent she possessed in next to no time
and the guy in sunday school who said she‘d go to heaven after all
she pushes a chair towards the window
steps on the seat then onto the sill
and spreads her long arms
she doesn’t notice the man opposite her
in the brightly lit room who opens his mouth
in gaping surprise at the delicate bird trying to fly
towards the sky
and then she shuts her eyes and falls
she falls past the watching eyes
her hair above her like a flame
until she hits the ground
until she hits the ground
you better keep away from open windows
you better keep away from open windows
the man hollers out but it’s a little to late
you better keep away from open windows
you better keep away from open windows
he repeats like a madman
until his woman shuts him up
lilac the lovely lies on the pavement
red her around her like the soft halo
around the moon
Lyrics submitted by Idan
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.