There's a storm outside,
And the gap between crack and thunder, crack and thunder
Is closing in, is closing in.
The rain floods gutters, and makes a great sound on concrete.
On a flat roof, there's a boy leaning against the wall of rain,
Aerial held high,
Calling, "Come on thunder, come on thunder."

Sometimes, when I look deep in your eyes, I swear I can see your soul.
Sometimes, when I look deep in your eyes, I swear I can see your soul.

It's a monsoon, and the rain lifts lids off cars,
Spinning buses like toys, stripping them to chrome.
Across the bay, the waves are turning into something else,
Picking up fishing boats and spewing them on the shore.
The boy is hit, lit up against the sky,
Like a sign, like a neon sign.
And he crumples, drops into the gutter, cut strings, legs twitching.
The flood swells his clothes and delivers him on, delivers him on.

Sometimes, when I look deep in your eyes, I swear I can see your soul.
Sometimes, when I look deep in your eyes, I swear I can see your soul.

There's four new colors in the rainbow.
An old man's taking Polaroids,
But all he captures is endless rain, endless rain, endless rain.
He says, "Listen," takes my head, and puts my ear to his,
And I swear I can hear the sea.

Sometimes, I can reach your soul.
(Sometimes, when I look in your eyes, I can see your soul.)
Sometimes, I can touch your soul.
(Sometimes, when I look in your eyes, I can see your soul.)
Sometimes, I can hear your soul.
(Sometimes, when I look in your eyes, I can see your soul.)
Sometimes.
(Sometimes, when I look in your eyes, I can see your soul.)


Lyrics submitted by typo, edited by Asteriskflower, joeymcallister

Sometimes (Lester Piggott) song meanings
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21 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    It's about challenging God. He's looking into the eye of the storm, and daring God to strike him with lightning. Beautiful imagery...

    timsakyon October 01, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think it is about being consumed by something: death or love. The two great mysteries in life. I just think it might be about a connection with something more; a connection between two people or nature. There is a feeling of wanting to be at one swept away by the water or emotion or both.

    Isy35on March 07, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is absolutely amazing. ionly heard it recently and i was in my car in the rain driving through glenn coe in scotland and it was like, wow, why don't i know this song? it was such a perfect dramatic song for such a dramatic situation in that place, if yuo've ever been you'dd know exactly what i mean.

    t1nkerb3llon March 21, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    James singer Tim Booth has mentioned that parts of the song are about his desire to be struck by lightning!!! Some beautiful imagery here in possibly my favourite James song, the Lester Piggot in brackets after Sometimes refers to the driving, racing sound of the music (Lester Piggot was a legendary UK Horse Racing Jockey) although there is also a possible connection to the "Lester Piggot" chant at the end of the original version of Sit Down (1989)

    bobby peruon April 26, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's about the irresistable and destructive allure of forbidden love. It's about a man who knows full well that this love will destroy him, but lets it into his life anyway. In fact he goes further, he invites it in, because he is powerless to resist the feeling, the thrill, of when he meets her eyes and their souls connect.

    I'd guess it's written from the perpective of a married man who has fallen hopelessly in love with a married woman. And it ultimately destroys him. But the world still turns, the rain still falls and fools are drawn to make silly decisions for love all over the world.

    Blunderer2on July 28, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song........not sure what it means.

    B18CXon February 06, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sometimes...I can see your soul too... Si, fue la vez en que me enamoré de tí...

    javierudon August 01, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is to me, is one of the greatest pop songs ever - a stonking great tune - who cares what it means - its' an amazingly powerfull energy song - I guess its' about love - but who gives a shit with a tune and atmosphere like that!

    Lemonheadon April 01, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is the greatest james song, way better than that overplayed piece of shit "laid"

    rossxon April 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    great marriage of music and lyrics.

    beautiful way to express his depression that is growing......but Timmy knows her eyes (love) will save him.......i can't wait for the next thunder storm.......when we see the lightning we all know that is as powerful as love. and the only thing worth living for (rainbows= all the bs flash, aren't really there)

    pton July 20, 2005   Link

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