Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
All the things we never know we need
Looks like we get them in the end
Measure time in leisure time and greed
And by the time we get to spend
A floating bed
A head of stone
A home plugged into every phone
Kimono coral floral print
Exclusive tint and cut reclusive
No it doesn't come for free
But it's the price
We pay for happiness
No don't talk about more to life than this
Dream a world maybe no one owns
No don't think about all the life we miss
Swallow doubt as the hunger grows
Make believe its like no one knows
Even if we turn more to most
We'll never satisfy the hungry ghost
All the stuff we know we never want
Seems like we get it anyway
Safe to say it isn't really wrong
Not when we know we only
Throw it all away
Yeah all of this we never know we want
Its like we get it anyway
Safe to say it isn't ever wrong
Better to get than to delay
A 3d screen
A cleaner fit
A bit pulled out of every hit
Addicted latest greatest piece
Design caprice and make the headline
No it doesn't come for free
But it's the price
We pay for happiness
No don't talk about more to life than this
Dream a world maybe no one owns
No don't think about all the life we miss
Swallow doubt as the hunger grows
Make believe its like no one knows
Even if we turn more to most
We'll never satisfy the hungry ghost
And all of this
We know we never need
Well it's the price
We pay for happiness
Looks like we get them in the end
Measure time in leisure time and greed
And by the time we get to spend
A floating bed
A head of stone
A home plugged into every phone
Kimono coral floral print
Exclusive tint and cut reclusive
No it doesn't come for free
But it's the price
We pay for happiness
No don't talk about more to life than this
Dream a world maybe no one owns
No don't think about all the life we miss
Swallow doubt as the hunger grows
Make believe its like no one knows
Even if we turn more to most
We'll never satisfy the hungry ghost
All the stuff we know we never want
Seems like we get it anyway
Safe to say it isn't really wrong
Not when we know we only
Throw it all away
Yeah all of this we never know we want
Its like we get it anyway
Safe to say it isn't ever wrong
Better to get than to delay
A 3d screen
A cleaner fit
A bit pulled out of every hit
Addicted latest greatest piece
Design caprice and make the headline
No it doesn't come for free
But it's the price
We pay for happiness
No don't talk about more to life than this
Dream a world maybe no one owns
No don't think about all the life we miss
Swallow doubt as the hunger grows
Make believe its like no one knows
Even if we turn more to most
We'll never satisfy the hungry ghost
And all of this
We know we never need
Well it's the price
We pay for happiness
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
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.
It reminds me of Fight Club. We are the society of consumers all that stuff "we never know we want" is our "price for happiness" we consume, we are surronded by the things we think we own , but actualy they own us, grabed off our freedom it so true
It could be a way of describing the sensation people get to purchase items released out on the market hailed by suppliers and corporations as the latest and greatest. This causes the consumers to overindulge in getting a whole bunch of useless crap just because it is trendy or to get the feeling that they “own” something. The hungry ghost I think is in essence an invisible desire in people to want junk.
I don't understand the lyrics, but would love a 3d screen.
LOL.
Read into the father of Consumer Culture, Propaganda, and Public Relations: Edward Bernays.
He convinced the Corporate Institutions, past and present, that you are idiot cattle that need to be scientifically manipulated without your knowing it for the good of Corporate Democracy.
The deliberate senselessness will begin to make sense to you.
Best song on the new album (in my opinion). But! I DO need to say something that most The Cure fans probably WONT notice.
This song HEAVILY reminds me of the songs "Vapour Trail" by Ride, and "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)" by U2.
Soundwise, all 3 songs are basically the same when it comes to the verse melodies. I kind of think that Robert Smith might've just maybe (not confirming ANYTHING - but it's VERY close enough to not be a fluke) ripped off Ride and U2 when he made "Hungry Ghost".
Not complaining or anything, it's a good song, and a great album. But I DO have to note the MAJOR similarities between the 3...they all borrow the same melody to some extent. If the 2 original songs had a lovechild, it would be "Hungry Ghost".
I don't think so man. The cure wouldn't copy off Ride, Ride copy off the cure if anything. Ultraviolet doesn't sound much like hungry ghost anyway. I disagree, The Cure aren't copy cats.
@halod9 yeah... I totally hear it especially in the opening of vapour trail.
I love this one. So cynical...and so true. The "hungry ghost" is of course greed, desire for fame, etc.
I especially love the line "A home plugged into every home." Totally reminds me of how all those people in the States were using subprime rates to buy second homes they would never ever ever be able to pay off. (Indeed, I seem to recall that ugly episode was right around the time this album was released!)
One other thing...the lines from the refrain: No, don't talk about more to life than this, Dream a world maybe no-one owns remind me so much of a particular verse of John Lennon's "Imagine:" Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world...
The song is about acquisition disease, the hallmark of capitalism, and the scourge that has thoroughly screwed up humankind since the inception of civilization. Very poignant song and showcases the relevancy of Smith's poetry.