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."
I need a beat
I need a beat, I need a beat (I need a beat, I need a beat)
And it's a Malibu beat, subject of discussion
Malibu beat, subject of discuss-cussion
You're motivated-vated, in aid a percussion-cussion
There's no glo-glory, for this story-story
It-it rock-rock in any territory-tory
I syncopate it and designed it well-well
Beat elevates-vates, the scratch excels-cels
All techniques are a combination
Of skills that I have for narration
Last year my melody, but still complete
Providing musical energy for the street
Laying records are smooth for maximum effect
Jump track patt-erns on cass-ette
Time-time snare had bass and cymbal
Like that of a cat on the mic I'm nimble
Ba-sic patterns, groups and chains
Sequence, frequn-cies, add gain
Break
Bre-bre-bre-break, for narration
Break two, break two
I'm in the center of a, I'm in the center of a
Musical skinner, some say the skins is a blow of torture
They hear me, they fear me, they hear me, they fear me
I'm improving the conditions of the rap industry
The beat will expand, to land a foreign land via
Germany, Italy, France and Japan
It'll give you a lift, no need to sniff
No butts no how's no why's or if's
It's you I defeated, they'll say you retreated
Pick up your favorite magazine and read it
Wrapped by a power, a musical shower-shower
A picture-picture of me-of me on the Eiffel-Eiffel Tower-Tower
I need a beat-beat
Doing-doing dirty, I'm your-your thought
You're bein'-being taken-taken, the musical boom
I'm in-fil-traiting your eardrums
Increasing their rate of vibration
I wanna rock ya-rock ya, that's all you need to know-know
"I Need A Beat," is the title of the show-show
Providing-providing pleasure of the musical measures
All-all arranged, to alleviate pressure
I'm up on your list, your party thera-therapist
Beat programmer and lyri-lyricist
Ladies Love Cool J, studio user
A million or more screaming people abuser
I predict, this jam will hit
The highest plateau in the world of music
Paparazzi, wealth and fame
The total propulsion, of my name
I need a beat
Computer-wise the engineer's eyes
Have to be very acute, education level high
The product is mine, beat under rhyme
The control was part of the studio design
Track after track, culminating on wax
The tape has slack, rewind it back
Expensive but useful, the music is the fuel
A perfect place for MCs to duel
I need a beat, Farmer's Boulevard
Ha! Queens!
Ladies Kove Cool James!
Cut Creator!
I need a beat, I need a beat (I need a beat, I need a beat)
And it's a Malibu beat, subject of discussion
Malibu beat, subject of discuss-cussion
You're motivated-vated, in aid a percussion-cussion
There's no glo-glory, for this story-story
It-it rock-rock in any territory-tory
I syncopate it and designed it well-well
Beat elevates-vates, the scratch excels-cels
All techniques are a combination
Of skills that I have for narration
Last year my melody, but still complete
Providing musical energy for the street
Laying records are smooth for maximum effect
Jump track patt-erns on cass-ette
Time-time snare had bass and cymbal
Like that of a cat on the mic I'm nimble
Ba-sic patterns, groups and chains
Sequence, frequn-cies, add gain
Break
Bre-bre-bre-break, for narration
Break two, break two
I'm in the center of a, I'm in the center of a
Musical skinner, some say the skins is a blow of torture
They hear me, they fear me, they hear me, they fear me
I'm improving the conditions of the rap industry
The beat will expand, to land a foreign land via
Germany, Italy, France and Japan
It'll give you a lift, no need to sniff
No butts no how's no why's or if's
It's you I defeated, they'll say you retreated
Pick up your favorite magazine and read it
Wrapped by a power, a musical shower-shower
A picture-picture of me-of me on the Eiffel-Eiffel Tower-Tower
I need a beat-beat
Doing-doing dirty, I'm your-your thought
You're bein'-being taken-taken, the musical boom
I'm in-fil-traiting your eardrums
Increasing their rate of vibration
I wanna rock ya-rock ya, that's all you need to know-know
"I Need A Beat," is the title of the show-show
Providing-providing pleasure of the musical measures
All-all arranged, to alleviate pressure
I'm up on your list, your party thera-therapist
Beat programmer and lyri-lyricist
Ladies Love Cool J, studio user
A million or more screaming people abuser
I predict, this jam will hit
The highest plateau in the world of music
Paparazzi, wealth and fame
The total propulsion, of my name
I need a beat
Computer-wise the engineer's eyes
Have to be very acute, education level high
The product is mine, beat under rhyme
The control was part of the studio design
Track after track, culminating on wax
The tape has slack, rewind it back
Expensive but useful, the music is the fuel
A perfect place for MCs to duel
I need a beat, Farmer's Boulevard
Ha! Queens!
Ladies Kove Cool James!
Cut Creator!
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Somewhere Only We Know
Keane
Keane
Indigo
Of Mice & Men
Of Mice & Men
This track is about is about questioning why the sky would choose to be blue if it had the choice to be anything else, “blue also meaning sad,” states frontman Aaron Pauley. “It's about comforting a loved one in a time of loss by telling them you feel blue, too.”
Alma Matters
Morrissey
Morrissey
The man has pseudo-friends who constantly criticize his actions. They moralize him, "teach" him and advise him to make a significant change in his life, because the way he is and what he does is not what they say it should be. They may find his life lame or immoral. They hold themselves up as role models. The man replies that he will make his own choices and decisions and he does not agree to unconditionally make himself under the influence of questionable quality advice. He justifies this by saying that there is always someone for whom he will be important, no matter what he does and no matter what he is. Although it is not said directly, I read it as meaning that he will always be important to himself in every way and he will always have his own support.
"Everyone is different and maybe that's a good thing, but you exceeded that mark 1000 times" - I remember very well how sad the words I once heard (from my peers and it was in negative context) at school made me feel.
Real Groove
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
This standalone single marks the latest collaboration between the artists. It was produced by Nico Stadi & Teemu Brunila and released on December 31, 2020.
Up 2020
Uncle Murda
Uncle Murda
This standout song of the rapper's latest studio album titled "Don’t Come Outside, Vol. 3" was produced by Great John. The track was released via major streaming platforms on January 1, 2021.