Well I'm down here in the well
Looking back up at the hill
Well I thank heavens I fell
Must look more
Like myself

Now everyone is so kind
Everyone looks like
A long lost friend of mine
I'm on top of the world again
When I'm looking
Up from under Babylon

I had a home in the fields
Earned my wage in the factories there
And I was raised by the mill
And I worked with my brothers there
I told my mother I'd always write

I headed west for the coast
With the big city lights
Now mama I'm so sorry I've forgotten
But now I'm looking
Up from under Babylon

Now tell me how far I've been
And how deep was I in
Tell me how I conceived
The vanity to believe
That I would not be outnumbered
By the thumbs I have been under

Now stray dogs in the street
Learn how to beg, steal, borrow and cheat
And in the dead summer heat
I fell asleep with blood on my teeth

But those days before I met you girl
Were just ice cream falling down
On the shoes of my world
I'm so happy that you're my friend
When we're looking
Up from under Babylon

When we're looking
Up from under Babylon


Lyrics submitted by daz_spaz

Up from Under Lyrics as written by Jakob Dylan

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Up From Under song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • 0
    General CommentThis is my favorite Wallflowers song... love the line
    "Those days before I met you girl, we're just ice cream falling down on the shoes of my world." That';s just a clever way to say that life sucked before you met that someone special.
    jontbarkeron June 21, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti totally agree. also my fave. a beautiful story about growing up. i could listen to this song forever. hes talking about los angeles, but its more about nyc for me. jakob has so many good things to say.
    swissarmy375on September 27, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI just lone the line "Now I'm looking up from under babylon". Just sounds SO good. The whole song is amazing.
    burntfireon April 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThe ice cream line is the one i don't care for, lol. I love the "Tell me how I conceived
    The vanity to believe
    That I would not be outnumbered
    By the thumbs I have been under" part, though!
    HibbingismyHolyLandon October 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think this song is absoultely amazing. I love the way his lyrics speak beyond just simple words, they display such beauty. I love the part that says, "I told my mother I'd always write Headed west for the coast With the big city lights Now Mama I'm so sorry I'd forgotten." I love this bc i feel like its such a representation of life. He loved his home but moved on, to a place that was so much bigger than him and in many ways its crushing him and he is losing the thigns he loved to begin with...
    Again... Amazing song!
    dmm995on July 27, 2007   Link

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