I am one big walking chemical reaction
A buzzing hive of cell synapses and nascent self perception

Isn't it disdainful and curious
That both of us think we know everything

We both have pains
We both have eyes
(Neither of us can see)
We both have pains
We both have eyes
(Neither of us can see)
One in the same
Two of a kind
And neither of us can see

I am just a blinking neon roadside attraction
I sow future wrinkles and I'm told I'm tapped potential

Isn't it disdainful and curious
That both of us think we know everything

We both have pains
We both have eyes
(Neither of us can see)
We both have pains
We both have eyes
(Neither of us can see)
One in the same
Two of a kind
And neither of us can see

I am one big fleeting errant contradiction
So good to meet you we are one in the same

Isn't it disdainful and curious
That both of us think we know everything

We both have pains
We both have eyes
(Neither of us can see)
We both have pains
We both have eyes
(Neither of us can see)
One in the same
Two of a kind
And neither of us can see


Lyrics submitted by Zetsumei

Neither of Us Can See Lyrics as written by Brandon Charles Boyd Benjamin Lee Kenney

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Neither of Us Can See song meanings
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22 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    I'm pretty sure this song is a conversation between a man-made robot and a human. Just read it over with that in mind and you'll see what I mean. It kinda ties in with the whole "airplane with its own mind" stealth soundtrack.

    seabeneathmeon October 28, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I like a lot this song.......Brandon's voice complements perfectly with crissie......well. I think the song tells how they are so proud and think that they pass through all in this life.... But then they meet each other....and they know that have to be togheter,,,,but them own pains dont allow it....they are blind.. i dont know if it is that........but i like the song...

    Kobolon July 26, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I thought that this song is meant to be kind of philosophical mixed in with a little bit of a love song.

    It talks abot what people basically are. They sing about Chemical reactions, cell (not self) synapsis, and errant contradiction. These are all kind of scientific and philosophical views on what people are. Then it goes on to say even though people have eyes they can't really see since it's all kind of tainted with what we think reality is. But it seems that part of the message is that you can find solice in knowing there are other people like you, so we can all be confused and know nothing togethor.

    If that's what the meaning is then I love this song, if it's meant to be open to interpretation, then that's my interpretation. Great song, great music.

    Muqaliion February 23, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It sounds better with just Brandon singing it.

    replacementson September 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is brilliant. I figure it's about two people who think of themselves one way prior to meeting each other, yet start seeing the flip side of things once they do -- just how much is out of their grasp, how much they don't know.

    I love Chrissie Hynde's voice, I'm a huge fan of "Straight Ahead" by Tube & Berger and Chrissie. But gah...I love Incubus =D.

    bleu_azureon August 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Who is Chrissie Hynde? Bad question, I have the internet, I can check it out. I heard incubus play with song on Jay Leno and wasn't so impressed - maybe because Jay Leno's studio has horrific acoustics? Either way, when I heard the recorded version of this, I loved it - the two voices really melt together well.

    oneiros lykoson August 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Oh yeah, as for my interpretation:

    I think it's about someone who was told their whole life they are unique, smart, extraordinary, blah blah blah. It kind of created an errogant idea of themself. They entered all those contests to prove their intelligence (like, national spelling bees, speech, etc. etc.) and always won. ("Blinking neon roadside attraction"). You know, 4.0 GPA, Harvard U, etc.

    Then, along the path of life, they meet someone else that is just like them - who was told they were unique, extraordinary, the next Einstein. That's when they both come to realise that they really aren't so unique - there are millions of people just like them that could match them step for step. They realise they are mortal, they bleed, etc. They thought they knew everything, but come to realise how wrong that is - they too are just players in a game of life.

    Yeah...I get deep with my incubus lyrics, haha.

    oneiros lykoson August 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think the song refers to how we rely on our senses to interpret reality, and because of it, we really know nothing it all.

    Through their synapsis, neurons (or brain cells) send electrical messages to one another. This, for the most part is how the brain sends messages to the body and vice versa. (ex, sight, sound, pain...you name it).

    Here's a definition of the word "nascent" that I found: Of or relating to the state of a chemical element at the moment it is set free from one of its compounds.

    So people are walking chemical reactions, a hive of cell synapsis and nascent self-perception. We are a pile of cells that interpret truth through neurons and nerve endings, organs and cells. We use our senses to derive what is the "truth" and we think we know it all, because we can see it. But vision is just a chemical reaction in the brain. So we can have eyes and not see.

    Well I don't know how well I explained that concept, hopefully you all can let me know... I don't think I put it into words very well.

    Sandralinon June 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Oh yeah, and I think this subject relates to the song ACLOM and the holographic theory. If you haven't checked it out, I think you should.

    Sandralinon June 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Oh yeah, and I think this subject relates to the song ACLOM and the holographic theory. If you haven't checked it out, I think you should.

    Sandralinon June 07, 2006   Link

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