Do you ever look around
Turn your ear to the ground
Show your face to the sky
On a night when the skies echo sounds
From inside of your mind
On the stage that you shone
Where the sun did become you
And move with your thoughts
Through the sighs and the scenes
Of the worlds you have seen
And the sights that have been
Your reflection in shadows and dreams
Your reflection in shadows and dreams?

Did you ever see a man
Who did walk down the street
White robe with no shoes on his feet
And on top of his head place a box with two slits?
And the sign from his neck said
"I do not exist"
Or a woman who could not remember her name
Did stutter and stutter
Again and again
And saw you and called you her son?
Her eyes said
"My being is gone"
"But still I'm not dead"

Oh, miserere, miserere
Miserere, miserere
Miserere me

Have you ever seen a sound?
Have you listened to an image?
Have you ever touched a thought?
Have you ever tasted nothing?
Have you ever told a lie
That was true more than truth
Because truth it had lied
All its life when it spoke to you?

And what did it say?
It is that, it is this
This goes here, here is there
It is not, yes it is
It was dulling your senses
Your eyes they were bound
Have you ever, my friends
Been looking around?

And the other replies
With a wave of a hand
I am already here
In this promised land
But not by a God and not by a king
And not by a spirit
Deep from within
I am here
Because a miracle's a whim
It's a flash of glory
It's an empty tin
And maybe might lets you in
Not to save you
But to keep on looking

Oh, miserere, miserere
Miserere, miserere
Miserere me

Oh, miserere, miserere
Oh, miserere, miserere

Have you ever
Been so happy that you're sad?
That the lights turn to stars
And the stars become eyes
And hellos are goodbyes
And the laughs are the sighs
And the show disappears with the note
"Until next time"

Long live living
If living can be this

Long live living
If living can be this

Long live living
If living can be this

Long live living
If living can be this

Do you ever look around
And find what is yet to be found?


Lyrics submitted by bethness, edited by spgoo1

Miserere Lyrics as written by Felix Riebl

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Miserere song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

16 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. It's art.

    cookiejaron November 11, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I can't suggest a meaning for the entire song but I can offer a few for smaller parts.

    Miserere apparently is a latin term for "have mercy!"

    A man who walked down the street with a white robe and no shoes sounds like someone from a hospital, possibly a psych patient, but people ignore him, coz he's weird or whatever...

    As for: "Or a woman who could not remember her name, Did stutter and stutter again and again, And saw you and called you her son, Her eyes said “My being is gone, but still I’m not dead”

    ...That is spot on for dementia/alzheimers. She can't remember her name and stutters, and she thinks everyone is her son. Very typical. And the bit about her eyes means that anything recognisable and any part of her mind is gone but her body lives on.

    "Have you ever been so happy that you’re sad, That the lights turn to stars, And the stars become eyes, And hellos are goodbyes, And the laughs are the sighs, And the show disappears with a note Until next time"

    Maybe this is realizing the shortness of life at the same time as appreciating the beauty of it. It could work...

    but any other suggestions would be good.

    girabbiton May 28, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this has got to be the best song in the world.. what would i do without the cat empire?

    omgnowaion February 22, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Did you ever see a man, Who did walk down the street, white robe with no shoes on his feet, And on top of his head placed a box with two slits, And a sign from his neck said “I do not exist”

    i always thought this was some god metaphor..?

    anyways this is such a beautiful song... i love the singing in the background.. i love the lyrics.. its so beautiful is makes me want to cry

    light_bulb101on September 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the little boy's voive in the song is feilx's younger brother max

    feilx said that the song maght sound sad and depressing, but it is meant to be an uplifting song

    gummpyon December 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i actually find it really uplifting from about the 4m30s mark where the beat picks up and the long live living bit starts i jsut get goosebumps, its definately about appreciating what u have, and respecting those who dont have it as good

    AussieOion January 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    what a beautiful song. when i first got this album i skipped past this song because i preferred the more upbeat tracks but now it's one of my favourites. love the trumpet :D long live music, if music can be this :)

    liz_xoxon January 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song... the lyrics are so awesome, and it really is an uplifting song, especially at the end. I think the song kind of takes you on a journey, early on it shows the trouble that some people can have in their life, the situations of those 'less fortunate'... and then, moving to appreciate the beauty of everything...

    Have you ever seen a sound? Have you listened to an image? Have you ever touched a thought? Have you ever tasted nothing? Have you ever told a lie that was true more than truth? Because truth it had lied all its life When it spoke to you

    I love this verse, it really invites you to explore everything around you with all of your senses and not to take anything for granted. Anyway, the song then becomes wonderfully uplifting in its style as well as its lyrics... this verse is my absolute favourite... musical genius, i say

    Have you ever been so happy that you’re sad, That the lights turn to stars, And the stars become eyes, And hellos are goodbyes, And the laughs are the sighs, And the show disappears with a note Until next time

    Long live living, if living can be this

    And what a last line! Sums up the goal of the song in one perfect line... I just try to think this line as often as possible and it really makes you appreciate life.

    Thankyou Cat Empire for this awesome song... i love all of their music but this is just so brilliantly done.

    pianoman1723on July 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song sounds really really sad, but it does seem to have a sort of happy/uplifting message... It still makes me want to cry though...

    musicmadon August 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song sounds really really sad, but it does seem to have a sort of happy/uplifting message... It still makes me want to cry though...

    musicmadon August 30, 2007   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
Gentle Hour
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,
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
Album art
Plastic Bag
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.
Album art
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms. “Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.