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.
I hear them breathing
They know what I have done, all that I've been through
I tell them secrets
And who's to say it isn't so?
Move, don't move
stay a little while on my linoleum
Breathe, don't breathe
Walk a thousand miles on my linoleum
This is frustrating
I'm sensing some of my hostilities
Distress and conflict
I've really just about lost all control
Move, don't move
stay a little while on my linoleum
Breathe, don't breathe
Walk a thousand miles on my linoleum
What do you really want from me?
What is it?
I just really want to leave
I just really got to...
Angry?
No
Angry?
No
Angry?
Did someone whisper
I'm really not so sure
I could've been asleep
Is everyone this frightened?
Are there more like me? There's just got to be.
Move, don't move
stay a little while on my linoleum
Breathe, don't breathe
Walk a thousand miles on my linoleum
Drink, don't drink
Still I'm lying drunk on my linoleum
Dream, don't dream
All the patterns fade on my linoleum
They know what I have done, all that I've been through
I tell them secrets
And who's to say it isn't so?
Move, don't move
stay a little while on my linoleum
Breathe, don't breathe
Walk a thousand miles on my linoleum
This is frustrating
I'm sensing some of my hostilities
Distress and conflict
I've really just about lost all control
Move, don't move
stay a little while on my linoleum
Breathe, don't breathe
Walk a thousand miles on my linoleum
What do you really want from me?
What is it?
I just really want to leave
I just really got to...
Angry?
No
Angry?
No
Angry?
Did someone whisper
I'm really not so sure
I could've been asleep
Is everyone this frightened?
Are there more like me? There's just got to be.
Move, don't move
stay a little while on my linoleum
Breathe, don't breathe
Walk a thousand miles on my linoleum
Drink, don't drink
Still I'm lying drunk on my linoleum
Dream, don't dream
All the patterns fade on my linoleum
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
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms.
“Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.
Ahh, The Attraction to All Things Uncertain is a great album.
Chris Vrenna's an amazing man. :)
Thats not really the meaning of the song though.......aw well
It's a rather introspective song, and I can't quite work out if he's just messed up and wanting someone to stay.
The best bit of the song is the "Angry? No. Angry? No. Angry? ..." bit, which just sums up a lot. It's really annoying when people start accusing you of being angry and repeatedly do it until you are.
is this clint walsh singing? good singer. awesome song, the guitar riff reminds me of broken for some reason.
is this clint walsh singing? good singer. awesome song, the guitar riff reminds me of broken for some reason.
my idiot bad it was david sylvian
I agree, it has a lot to do with an anger at being accused of being angry. I also think it expresses confusion and maybe even loss.
man this song roles hard, my favorite by far!!!
Being institutionalized at a psychiatric hospital.