Backwards, forwards but making no ground at all
Standing in the city with the clocks counting one
And your face is still wet from the fight before
As your tears hit the ground, blue flowers spring from them
Baby, I'm ashamed of the things I put you through
Baby, I'm ashamed of the man I was for you

[Chorus]
And all you said in your quietest voice
Was "I needed you as much as they do"

How fast must we run before we can just take off in flight?
How far must we run before they do not recognize us?
So let's take this from the start, you'll be me and I'll be you
And let's try not to complain about your smoking
And my distant heart
And my distant heart
And my distant heart

[Chorus]

(Too many mirrors in this house)
(And I don't like to see myself like this)
(I'm becoming the man I used to be I guess)
(These walls could tell you a thing or two)
(Things that you really don't want to know)
(Lend me your eyes for your point of view)
(Lend me your feet and I'll stand up for you)

[Chorus]


Lyrics submitted by true.love.way

Zephyrus Lyrics as written by Kele Okereke Gordon Moakes

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Zephyrus song meanings
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33 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Seriously how amazing is 1:48

    How fast must we run before we can just take off in flight

    legitinateon August 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    YES! it gets so epic in the back with the choir and everything.... i don't care what anyone says, this album is great. i think this song is about.... something. i haven't got up to figuring out what the lyrics mean yet. still in awe of kele's voice....

    samfancypantson August 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'd say this song is mainly about a strained relationship due to the narrators cheating. And on the basis of the songs title and the line "As your tears hit the ground blue flowers spring from them" i'd say its paralleling the situation with the story of Zephyrus and Chloris.

    The line "Standing in the city with the clocks counting words" is completely lost on me though.

    Also... I believe "And your face is still wet from the night before" should be "fight" rather than "night".

    piggyithon August 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    man i love this song... just amazing

    The Zainon August 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    agreeing with legitinate !!!

    sounds so amazing on my speakers :P ahhhh

    well i think this song is about pushing her away when she needs him and he was very picky about her smoking but he didnt have his heart in the relationship.

    but what i rilli want to kno is who is "they" like it could be other girls or some else... donno

    akaputtputton August 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i agree with legitinate the lyrics how far must we run before we can just take off in flight are great lyrics and everything bout it. great song

    gustabusta24on August 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i may be way off, but im thinking that it could slightly be about a girlfriend/partner in a relationship, with one famous. "Baby I’m ashamed of the man I was for you" he knew he/she needed better but he was so caught up with the band and the fame that he didnt realise it.

    judging by the talking lyrics it could also be that there are many secrets kept between them.

    i have no idea if any of thats right at all. but nevertheless, this song is amazing.

    BOOM!babyon August 31, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    one of the best off the album. in my opinion this song is about two people in a relationship, where one of them, the one narrating, cheats alot. i think that the cheating causes so much strain on them that they cant move forward in their relationship anymore, that all they do is fight. but he wants to take it back to the beginning, where they can be perfect again, and he wants to fix it. perhaps he cheated in the past and doesnt want to be that man anymore - "I'm becoming the man I used to be I guess".

    tragicxloveon September 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    actually having read BOOM!baby's comment i can see where they are coming from as well, it doesnt necessarily have to be cheating, just about a person who is not 100% in to the relationship, who is distracted by something (whether is be another person or fame or something else).

    tragicxloveon September 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    actually having read BOOM!baby's comment i can see where they are coming from as well, it doesnt necessarily have to be cheating, just about a person who is not 100% in to the relationship, who is distracted by something (whether is be another person or fame or something else).

    tragicxloveon September 05, 2008   Link

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