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Everybody's Talkin' Lyrics

Everybody's talking at me
I don't hear a word they're saying
Only the echoes of my mind
People stopping staring
I can't see their faces
Only the shadows of their eyes

I'm going where the sun keeps shining
Through the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Backing off of the North East winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone

Oh...

I'm going where the sun keeps shining
Through' the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Backing off of the North East winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone

Everybody's talking at me
I don't hear a word they're saying
Only the echoes of my mind
I won't let you leave my love behind
No, I won't let you leave
I won't let you leave my love behind
Song Info
Submitted by
iamtheone On May 24, 2002
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25 Meanings

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Cover art for Everybody's Talkin' lyrics by Harry Nilsson

The original version of this, by Fred Neil, sounds a bit desolate, like he's feeling alone--everybody's talking, but he can't hear them; people are everywhere, but they can't see him and he can't see them.

Nilsson's version, with the orchestration, his rich voice, and some beautiful scatting, has a more a positive edge; to borrow a review, it's as if happiness is just around the corner; when he gets to "where the sun keeps shining through the pourin' rain", he'll be where he wants to be and life'll be better.

Cover art for Everybody's Talkin' lyrics by Harry Nilsson

The lyrics of the song describe a first person account of one who is dying (i.e expiring) most likely amongst strangers. Our protagonist describes the literal fading of his senses; he is unable to see the faces of his audience but merely shadows, the ones who stop and stare as people are apt to do when happening upon someone who is dying, and he is unable to interpret what everybody's talkin at him this being represented by the wahhh, wahhh, gibberish.

However, internally his mind continues to function albeit in declining fashion as the song progresses.As one dies the objects of external sense are silenced first the internal voice remains to turn out the lights if you would. At its most lucid his internal voice describes where he is going: where the sun keeps shining through the pouring rain and where the weather suits his clothes etc; his mind is giving him a happy send off as a parting gift. In the final lyric his internal voice also succumbs as its language morphs into the unintelligible.

The song is a work of genius.

My Interpretation

@marsyas66 This is exactly my thoughts and interpretation of the lyric, all these elements fit seamlessly into the lyric.

Cover art for Everybody's Talkin' lyrics by Harry Nilsson

26 years as a search and rescue pilot... This is my favorite song when I am out over the water. "going where the sun keeps shining, in the pouring rain" taking off in the rain soaked fog, climeing up to the sun on top. "going where the weather suits my clothes" got my flight suit and can fly anywhere. "banking off the northeast wind" one hand on the throttles the other on the yolk in a turn. "sailing on summer breeze" clear day. "skip'n over the ocean like a stone" flying at 500 feet (or less) "Everybody's talking at me , I don't hear a word they are saying only the echo in my mind" Controlers and crew (till thay say something spoted) The thing I loved doing, tring to save someone, even when the odds were not in my favor, tring to find them anyway." I won't let you leave my love behind" This is what this song means to me!

My Interpretation

@Skyroamer what an interesting perspective! Thanks!

Cover art for Everybody's Talkin' lyrics by Harry Nilsson

My impression is that a guy has fallen for a girl and as each day goes by, he falls even harder. The people around him see this happening and realize how hopeless he is and they are all "talking at him", but he just ignores them and can "only hear the echoes in his mind".

He's basically consumed by this lover and it is the only thing that his mind will think about.

Cover art for Everybody's Talkin' lyrics by Harry Nilsson

To me, this song is about a middle aged man who has made the decision to leave (run away from?) the love of his life.

He suffers from depression or bipolar and realizes, for both his love and himself, that he must leave.

Everybody's talkin "at' him because folks have noticed his behaviour and they all have advice and criticism. He can't here a word their sayin because he is not listening. Or, doesn't want to. The echo is the truth he won't face.

People stop and stare because from his perspective he is a strange outsider having a breakdown No one can resist gawking at an ongoing tragedy. He can't see their faces because he refuses to look in their eyes. The shadows of their eyes hold the truth, which he will not see.

He dreams of a place where he can be himself (going where the weather suits my clothes). Banking of of the north east wind.... Sailing across the ocean skipping like a stone.. freedom.

When he laments, I won't let you leave leave my love behind, he is letting his love know that, because he absolutely cannot bear the thought of her leaving him, he must go first.

Leaving is a gift to his love. Who, because she can no longer cope with his mental illness, will be leaving him soon.

This is a love song. Romantic love and self love.

[Edit: Spelling ]

My Interpretation

@JKent this is exactly what happened to me but we wanted to be together and get married unfortunately there was alot of thing's against Michael and the stress got to him and people I'm devastated he died It was accidental suicide He wanted to live I love him still very much 💗

Cover art for Everybody's Talkin' lyrics by Harry Nilsson

Without overthinking and thinking outside the box, I'm interrupting this song how I read the lyrics. The song is about a man who has people trying to be social with him or try to dissuade him from pursuing his dream. The protagonist disregards those around him and ignores everything they throw at him, he just keeps on walking to reach his goal and determined to achieve it at all costs. Kind of like with protagonist from Midnight Cowboy, Joe Buck, he has dreams and has high hopes, only to have them dashed and reduced to homelessness and poverty, but at least he did what his heart told him.

Positive
Subjective
Inspiration
Pursuing Dreams
Determination
Overcoming Obstacles
Following Heart
Hope
Cover art for Everybody's Talkin' lyrics by Harry Nilsson

This song plays through my mind sometimes when I've had enough of the civilized world we live in day to day....

Cover art for Everybody's Talkin' lyrics by Harry Nilsson

I want to listen to this song when i feel disconcerted and the world is spinning madly around me. It makes me feel as though some-one out there is feeling the same

Cover art for Everybody's Talkin' lyrics by Harry Nilsson

Did I imagine a comment where someone said it described their life when going through a depression? I went to log in and now it's gone. I feel the same way, but for me it's kind of a bittersweet or comforting melancholy feelings. Sad but in a happy, even nostalgic, way.

@SashaVice the comment you are referring to is listed under the version by The Beautiful South http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3458764513820545399/

Cover art for Everybody's Talkin' lyrics by Harry Nilsson

The Harry Nilson version of this song is the only one that I've really listened to and to me it has always represented someone who has just died, maybe unexpectedly in a public setting, and people are standing around talking about it and wondering what to do (Everybody's talkin' at me, I can't hear a word they're saying....) but the deceased person is now going to a better place and had no concerns for what is going on the world around him. This song is very emotional to me and has always brought up feelings a sadness but at the same time it has a fantastic harmony and melody. It had a very profound effect on me when I lost my father. The lyrics of the whole song really related to the situation. The verse at the end "I won't let you leave my love behind" represents me saying my last goodbye to him as he goes to better place and out of my life.

My Interpretation

@ajmakria Thank you for saying this. My parents were both huge Harry Nilsson fans and my sister suggested picking a Nilsson song for my Dad's funeral. I remembered this one, listened to it afresh for the first time and just backed away from picking it because I knew it would make me bawl my eyes out. It had never occurred to me that it might be about death before, but it felt crystal clear at that point.

It's possible that I'm wrong, but it will always be about that to me now.