Philby

Rory Gallagher

Now ain't it strange that I feel like Philby,
There's a stranger in my soul
I'm lost in transit in a lonesome city
I can't come in from the cold

I'm deep in action on a secret mission
Contact's broken down
Time drags by, I'm above suspicion,
There's a voice on the telephone

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 2x
Well it sure is dark in this clockwork city
Contact's never gonna show
I've got a code which can't be broken,

My eyes never seem to close
Well, I'm standing here in the silent city
Shadows falling down
I'm disconnected but I don't need pity,

The night's gonna burn on slow.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 2x
Now ain't it funny that I feel like Philby,
A stranger on a foreign shore.

I've got my plans and I must move quickly,
There's a knock upon the door.
Still in transit and I'm close to danger,
My cover can't be blown,

It's getting strange and it's getting crazy,
Tell me, what is going on?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 2x
Four o'clock and nothing's moving,

Six o'clock and the daylight's stirring,
Morning comes, must be moving on.
All night long my mind's been burning,
Makes me feel such a long, long way from home, home

Now ain't it strange that I feel like Philby,
There's a stranger in my soul
I'm lost in transit in a lonesome city
I can't come in from the cold


Lyrics submitted by kevver

Philby Lyrics as written by Rory Gallagher

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

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Philby song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • +2
    General CommentNo that is not right.
    It is a comparison of life on the road touring with that of Kim Philby, a British secret agent who was a double agent for the Russians.
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
    DBCooper26on December 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General CommentPhilby was written about a series of detecive books that Rory used to read. The main character was called Jack Philby.
    Buckson September 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentYes, DB Cooper's right. The Philby referred to is the spy as evidenced by many espionage terms used such as "come in from the cold", "secret mission","cover can't be blown".
    bigglesworthon April 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song MeaningWell, DB Cooper is surely right. H.A.R Philby's nickname was "Kim" and came from Kipling's novel whose action takes place in India. "Kim" Philby himself was born in India.
    There is a part of the song that sounds as if Rory played a sitar, and the version in which he actualy used the instrument (youtube.com/…).
    I think that this definitely speaks in favor of the Kim Philby interpretation, not the Jack Philby one.
    thejavuon April 27, 2011   Link

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