The lyrics of "The Pan Within" by The Waterboys invite the listener on a journey of self-discovery and introspection. The imagery of going beneath the skin suggests delving deep into one's innermost thoughts and emotions. The reference to Pan, a Greek god associated with nature, wilderness, and fertility, hints at finding a connection to the natural world and one's own primal instincts. The repetitive refrain of "close your eyes, breathe slow we'll begin" creates a sense of guided meditation, as if the singer is leading the listener on a spiritual exploration. The mention of swinging hips and losing one's head adds a physical element to the journey, as if encouraging the listener to let go of inhibitions and surrender to the experience. The lyrics also touch on themes of love, desire, and surrender. The mention of lovers, thieves, fools, and pretenders suggests that everyone is on their own journey of self-discovery, and that by surrendering to the process, one can find their true self. The idea of sanctifying the night and finding pleasure in the wind and stars further emphasizes the spiritual and sensual nature of the journey. Overall, "The Pan Within" is a poetic and introspective song that encourages listeners to explore their innermost selves and find a connection to the natural world and their own primal instincts. It is a call to surrender to the journey of self-discovery and embrace the depths of one's own being.

The lyrics to through the dark seem to reference several film tropes and cinematic imagery, rather than a single specific movie. The references to “Sicilian men” and “brides in black shawls” could evoke scenes from classic mafia or Italian films, possibly drawing from films like The Godfather, which deals with Sicilian traditions and family honor. The imagery of a “silver-screen starlet,” “black and white blonde,” and a “smoke-filled room” could be nodding to the noir or old Hollywood genre, referencing anonymous blonde actresses who were often central to those films but remembered more for their image than their names. The idea of repeated televised lines and the feeling of having “seen the film before” might suggest commentary on familiar stories that we’ve seen repeated in cinema, especially those involving violence, loss, and tradition. The mixture of personal emotion and cinematic elements suggests a blending of personal experience with iconic film imagery.

He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.

He certainly did earn that reputation.

This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone). And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.