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.
"It's 7X" and that's all that they'll say about Coke
And you're just as circumspect and I didn't mean that as a joke
Because I know everybody's got a secret deep inside
But you, oh you must be quite unique, the things you hide
You told me that you wanted to escape, so I stayed
Right here on my own, and thought about those vows we made
But now, I'm feeling totally perplexed, what did I do wrong?
Well how do I work out what comes next, do I play along?
When you say you hardly know me
And all that kind of stuff
You say that you don't owe me
But you're not telling me enough
And I don't want to seem unreasonable but I'd just like to know when
You are going to speak to me again
If you won't talk, how am I supposed to understand?
Say anything at all, I'd just like to know what you've got planned
Because now, I'm feeling totally perplexed, what did I do wrong?
Well how do I work out what comes next, do I play along?
When you say you hardly know me
And all that kind of stuff
You say that you don't owe me
But you're not telling me enough
And I don't want to seem unreasonable but I'd just like to know when
You are going to speak to me again
When you say you hardly know me
And all that kind of stuff
You say that you don't owe me
But you're not telling me enough
And I don't want to seem unreasonable but I'd just like to know when
You are going to speak to me again
And you're just as circumspect and I didn't mean that as a joke
Because I know everybody's got a secret deep inside
But you, oh you must be quite unique, the things you hide
You told me that you wanted to escape, so I stayed
Right here on my own, and thought about those vows we made
But now, I'm feeling totally perplexed, what did I do wrong?
Well how do I work out what comes next, do I play along?
When you say you hardly know me
And all that kind of stuff
You say that you don't owe me
But you're not telling me enough
And I don't want to seem unreasonable but I'd just like to know when
You are going to speak to me again
If you won't talk, how am I supposed to understand?
Say anything at all, I'd just like to know what you've got planned
Because now, I'm feeling totally perplexed, what did I do wrong?
Well how do I work out what comes next, do I play along?
When you say you hardly know me
And all that kind of stuff
You say that you don't owe me
But you're not telling me enough
And I don't want to seem unreasonable but I'd just like to know when
You are going to speak to me again
When you say you hardly know me
And all that kind of stuff
You say that you don't owe me
But you're not telling me enough
And I don't want to seem unreasonable but I'd just like to know when
You are going to speak to me again
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
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
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.