Hear footsteps creak the floor
The shadows give away
Someone outside the door
Wont let them in

Life damaged, gears to grind
A run-down broke machine
That steals your peace of mind
Before you know it's gone

Lay down
Lay

Silence burning, hold your tongue
Keep us separate, sullen, dumb

Hiding in a darkness under
Boiling to the surface, stumble, fall

A looking in view too long on the outside
Desperate plans make sense to the low life lie
A looking in view too long on the outside
Desperate plans make sense to the low life lie

These things I hate in you
Also reflect it seems
Distortion laced with spite
Takes you out of me

Lay down
Lay

Hiding in a darkness under
Boiling to the surface something
Crawling on your skin, discomfort
Makes you break and run, stumble, fall

A looking in view too long on the outside
Desperate plans make sense to the low life lie
A looking in view too long on the outside
Desperate plans make sense to the low life lie

It's why you never tell me (heaven's on your mind)
It's why you never tell me (heaven's on your mind)
It's why you never tell me (heaven's on your mind)
It's why you never tell me (heaven's on your mind)

A looking in view too long on the outside
Desperate plans make sense to the low life lie
A looking in view too long on the outside
Desperate plans make sense to the low life lie

It's why you never tell me (heaven's on your mind)


Lyrics submitted by stonechainorioles, edited by travislandrews

A Looking in View song meanings
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  • +4
    General Comment

    Always thought this song was based on the band members knocking on the door to Layne's apartment, trying to help him. I've heard/read quotes from Cantrell or Kinney on many occasions about how they'd beat down Layne's door trying to get through to him and he would never answer. He just shut himself in his apartment, did drugs, and ignored help from his friends.

    1st couple paragraphs are from Layne's point of view ("your peace of mind") - Layne hiding in his apartment hearing footsteps and seeing shadows

    2nd couple paragraphs are from Cantrell/Kinney and others trying to help him ("Keep us separate, sullen, dumb") - biting their tongues and holding their breaths to hear if Layne is home.....they feel separate/stupid/sad

    DuVall's "LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY" which sounds like Layne, intentional or unintentional, makes it even eerier.

    cosmicatomicon October 06, 2011   Link

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