By My Side

This song was not written by Michael Hutchence. It was written by Andrew Farriss. He has explained previously that it is about missing his wife and family whilst on tour.

this song to me is about being far away from ur lover. when ur life is empty without them and u just wish u could be close to them. this is one of my fav inxs songs too.

Michael hutchence, like many people, suffered from severe depression. That's not to say that's where this song is coming from, but he was known that he did not like to be alone and he often felt lonely if his loved ones and close friends weren't around him. I always imagined the person in the story is Michael. He is at a party or some event where there are many, many people but no one whom he feels close to or connected with, and he is lonely and craving the intimacy of a lover or friend. He says "Rooms full of strangers; some call my friend", which leads me to believe he's at an event where many people are chatting with him but he feels it's all superficial. He wants someone who cares about him to be with him. He feels alone. He feels scared of being alone.

Mostly what I gather from this song is that he's lonely. I don't think he's literally afraid of the dark or the "faces that haunt him", but he's feeling desperately claustrophobic being surrounded by people who don't know or care for him. He is yearning for closeness and he can't find it anywhere. I imagine he wrote this at a time when he was incredibly homesick or just plain lonely.

I love the chorus.

Best INXS song by a stretch! Full of feeling

i love this song ♥ so much. it's one of my favorites by them, and every INXS knows how hard it is to pick out favorites :) this is my personal translation --

In the dark of the night Those small hours Uncertain and anxious I need to call you (no explination needed)

Rooms full of strangers Some call me friend But I wish you were so close to me (compared to the person he is lonely for, everyone around him seems like a stranger)

In the dark of night Those small hours I drift away When I'm with you (first of all, it chills me when he sings "when i'm with you" :) this line is pretty self explanitory)

In the dark of night By my side In the dark of night By my side, by my side, by my side I wish you were I wish you were

Here comes the clown His face in a wall No window No air at all (i've always seen this line as saying no matter how much people try to cheer him up, (a clown), when he is lonely for his love everything is dark and gloomy and nothing can make him happy but the one he is singing about)

In the dark of night Those faces they haunt me But I wish you were So close to me

By my side By my side I wish you were I wish you were By my side

In the dark of night Those faces they haunt me I wish you were so close to me

Yes I wish you were By my side

pretty self explanitory song, i think :) eirenightshade had a great description too

Very emotional song, but in Australia NRMA has repeatedly raped that emotion. As my mother has said, surely it'd be a better song for some sort of charity organisation, eg. Lifeline, then a commercially-driven insurance company.

I reckon the person in the story is in a hospital bed and the only thing that can make him happy is his lover, not even a clown can erase his lonelyness.

Totally agree with eirenightshade. got it in one.

I reckon this one is their best...