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Everyone Says 'Hi' Lyrics
Said you took a big trip
They said you moved away
Happened oh, so quietly
They say
Shoulda took a picture
Something I could keep
Buy a little frame
Something cheap
For you
Everyone says hi
Said you sailed a big ship
Said you sailed away
Didn't know the right thing
To say
I'd love to get a letter
Like to know what's what
Hope the weather's good
And it's not too hot
For you
Everyone says hi
Everyone says hi
Everyone says
Don't stay in a sad place
Where they don't care how you are
Everyone says hi
If the money is lousy
You can always come home
We can do the old things
We can do all the bad things
If the food gets you leery
You can always phone
We could do all the good things
We could do it, we could do it, we could do it
Don't stay in a bad place
Where they don't care how you are
Everyone says hi
Everyone says hi
Everyone says hi
(Everyone says hi)
And the girl next door
(Everyone says hi)
And the guy upstairs
(Everyone says hi)
Everyone says hi
(Everyone says hi)
And your mum and dad
(Everyone says hi)
Everyone says hi
(Everyone says hi)
And your big fat dog
(Everyone says hi)
Everyone says hi
(Everyone says hi)
Everyone says hi
They said you moved away
Happened oh, so quietly
They say
Something I could keep
Buy a little frame
Something cheap
For you
Said you sailed away
Didn't know the right thing
To say
Like to know what's what
Hope the weather's good
And it's not too hot
For you
Everyone says hi
Everyone says
Don't stay in a sad place
Where they don't care how you are
Everyone says hi
You can always come home
We can do the old things
We can do all the bad things
If the food gets you leery
You can always phone
We could do all the good things
We could do it, we could do it, we could do it
Don't stay in a bad place
Where they don't care how you are
Everyone says hi
Everyone says hi
(Everyone says hi)
And the girl next door
(Everyone says hi)
And the guy upstairs
(Everyone says hi)
Everyone says hi
(Everyone says hi)
And your mum and dad
(Everyone says hi)
Everyone says hi
(Everyone says hi)
And your big fat dog
(Everyone says hi)
Everyone says hi
(Everyone says hi)
Everyone says hi
Song Info
Submitted by
agathakavka On May 31, 2002
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The song is actually about someone close to you who died. There is a quote that David Bowie said himself about the song.
""Everyone Says "Hi" everyone seems jolly in tone, but is about the passing away of somebody. It was a general song about losing someone in one's life and wasn't written about anyone specifically. I had the sense of when my father died, and it seemed he had only gone away for a while and it was some time for me to reconcile that he wasn't coming back."
yeah, I think I heard Bowie say in an interview at the time of release that it was specifically written with his father in mind, Lookimg at the lyrics again, I just realised how much the last verse paraphrases the last verse of Kooks, eg If the money is lousy: You can always come home
c.f. And if you ever have to go to school Remember how they messed up this old fool
yeah, I think I heard Bowie say in an interview at the time of release that it was specifically written with his father in mind, Lookimg at the lyrics again, I just realised how much the last verse paraphrases the last verse of Kooks, eg If the money is lousy: You can always come home
c.f. And if you ever have to go to school Remember how they messed up this old fool
or If the food gets you leery, You can always phone c.f. And if the homework brings you down, Then we'll throw it on the fire...
or If the food gets you leery, You can always phone c.f. And if the homework brings you down, Then we'll throw it on the fire
Yeah, i read that too...i think there's also a bit of sad humor in it, because you would love it if everyone you ever knew just said a friendly "hello" for no real reason, but they wait to do it til you're dead.
This song makes me think of a close friend who moved away. It makes me sad. Especially the line, "We can do all the old things."
i love how bowie takes topics like death and couches them in unconventional settings (like a pop tune). but it works, because there's this wistful well-wishing for the departed person in the song. it's one of the most bittersweet songs i've heard. one question: is the "guy upstairs" god? haha.
Obviously about death, and a very poignant song, juxtaposed nicely to a light tune. Surprised no one commented on the very funny line-"hope the weather's not too hot". Hope you aren't in hell!
When I said previously, "Where they don't care how you are" (in the French tv version) my wife typed this incorrectly.
When I said previously, "Where they don't care how you are" (in the French tv version) my wife typed this incorrectly.
This line is in all versions not just the French tv version.
This line is in all versions not just the French tv version.
The rest of the post was correct.
The rest of the post was correct.
I may give further information on this.
I may give further information on this.
that is how i understand it too, and you will meet your mom and dad and your big fat dog, and "the man Upstairs" (GOD) when you die.
that is how i understand it too, and you will meet your mom and dad and your big fat dog, and "the man Upstairs" (GOD) when you die.
it could maybe also just be moving away from something.
it could maybe also just be moving away from something.
This song grows and grows on you. its lovely innocence pervades throughout.
This song is about someone leaving, and Bowie is trying to convince him/her to come back home. This song can be thought for dedication to the soldiers at Op Iraqi Freedom.
Yeah, the song is so happy.
I've always associated this song with death.
I've always associated this song with Amplitude. Well, the remix anyway. It's good, I reccomend.