Per the FAQ on Keane's website, Keane's drummer Richard Hughes, stated the following:
"We've been asked whether "Somewhere Only We Know" is about a specific place, and Tim has been saying that, for him, or us as individuals, it might be about a geographical space, or a feeling; it can mean something individual to each person, and they can interpret it to a memory of theirs... It's perhaps more of a theme rather than a specific message... Feelings that may be universal, without necessarily being totally specific to us, or a place, or a time..."
With the nostalgic sentiment and the overall tone of the song, I think Keane is attempting to express a Portuguese term known as 'saudade', which does not have a direct English translation but roughly means "that which we remember because it is gone."
Written by bob welch.
For a little peace in any season
I'd give up anything but your love
I don't want to trade, tryin' to be happy
That's only playin' anyway
But if I dream about it, it makes me wonder
For every good thing, must you get bad
But I won't worry, and if I'm living on borrowed time
I'm gonna keep on the way I'm going
For every crime, there's retribution
And every vally has a mountainside
No, I don't like to trade just to be happy
That kind of deal won't turn out right
See it ain't good to stare inside yourself too long
For every true thing theree's one more lie
But I won't worry 'cause if I'm living on borrowed time
I'll just try to keep on the way I'm going
For a little peace in any season
I'd give up anything but your love
I don't want to trade, tryin' to be happy
That's only playin' anyway
But if I dream about it, it makes me wonder
For every good thing, must you get bad
But I won't worry, and if I'm living on borrowed time
I'm gonna keep on the way I'm going
For every crime, there's retribution
And every vally has a mountainside
No, I don't like to trade just to be happy
That kind of deal won't turn out right
See it ain't good to stare inside yourself too long
For every true thing theree's one more lie
But I won't worry 'cause if I'm living on borrowed time
I'll just try to keep on the way I'm going
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