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The Killers – Goodnight, Travel Well Lyrics 17 years ago
This song is interesting as it stimulates multiple human emotions. I think the CD as a whole ( Day and Age )is about questioning the entire human race as a collective group. I love this song, and I think that after listening to Day and Age "Goonight, travel well" is a beautiful selection for ending this rollcoaster called life.

I think the narrator is reflecting on their life. Maybe regretting some ( or a lot ) of things they have done. Seems to be feelings of inferiority, or maybe a pain of not being worthy. Yet sinners and saints still walk together under the sun.

The unknown distance to the "great" beyond
Stares back at my grieving frame
To cast my shadow by the holy sun
My spirit moans, with a sacred pain

Now the narrator has become swallowed by thought and it appears that time itself has stopped. At the core of their thinking, the narrator feels powerless. That no matter what happens, they can not change or effect the outcome.

It's quiet now
The universe is standing still
And there's nothing I can say
There's nothing we can do now
And there's nothing I can say
There's nothing we can do now


While still trapped in thought, the narrator states that really nothing holds the soul back except and human imprisonment. Now that the seal between soul and body are broken, we see the narrator start to reflect on memories of the deceassed. All these memories take hold of the narrator, and they are left for the narrator to sort through.

And all that stands between the soul's release
This temporary flesh and bone
And know that it's over now
I feel my fading mind begin to roam
Every time you fall, and every time you try
Every foolish dream, and every compromise
Every word you spoke, and everything you said
Everything you left me, rambles in my head

Again, the narrator is powerless to do anything to effect the outcome. And the following message repeats in his head.

And there's nothing I can say
There's nothing I can do now
And there's nothing I can say
There's nothing I can do now

Now the following line could mean one of two things. 1) Heaven is above and beyond us, so far for our body but close to our souls. 2) The memory of the song/poem "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" goes through the head of the narrator.

Up above the world, so high

Again the narrator, falls back in and out of memories. The person is being observed by others as these lines reveal, people watching and crying. Now the person could either be dead, and being honored at a funeral, or could be dying and people are surrounding this person. Finally, the narrator tore up, begs the person to stay with them, and not to leave them.

Everything you loved, and every time you try
Everybody's "watchin", everybody cry
Stay, don't leave me, the stars can wait for your sign, don't signal now

Again, the narrator is powerless to say or do anything.

There's nothing I can say
There's nothing I can do now
And there's nothing I can say
There's nothing "we" can do now

The narrator realizes that all they can say is goodnight, and just let them go. Wish them the best and hope they find their way in the "great beyond."

Goodnight, travel well

Repeats themselves, not to the person passing on, but so theyh can realize the reality themselves.

Goodnight, travel well

There is nothing left to say or do.

There's nothing I can say
Nothing I can do now

The only thing left to say is:

Goodnight, travel well



I feel that this is really the first song of Day and Age. After listening to this, Human makes a lot more sense. A wonderful beautiful song to something hard to understand and grasp.

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