They checked the shrine and the temple but he wasn't there
They checked the mosque and the chapel; nope, not there
Since you've been away on holiday
The natives are all nightmares
Since you've been away on holiday
I did dream that you'll disappear
You keep us on a leash we can't conceive but still must adhere to

The natives are whipping each other over which God they prefer
I wish he'd do us all a favor and just defer
Since you've been away on holiday
We don't know which God is which
And since you've been away on holiday
It's getting harder to give a shit
So if you stayed away on holiday we could get on with it
I mean we could evolve like this if you just call it quits

Since you've been away on holiday
We've stomached your archaic rule
And since you've been away on holiday
We've hosted some wars over you
So stay away on holiday, my friend, we don't need your services
Your excuses, your mysterious ways
Your mysterious ways
Your mysterious ways
Your mysterious ways
What a mysterious way to behave
What a mysterious way to just go away

Lord, let us go


Lyrics submitted by remembermaine

Retreat! Lyrics as written by Matthew Ryan Maginn Clint Frederick Schnase

Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Retreat! song meanings
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    General Comment

    This started out as my least favorite on the album but now it's one of my favorites. Some of the weaker lyrics still, but Tim's voice, the constant horns, and the incredible ending more than make up for it.

    hotdingdongon July 01, 2006   Link

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