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."
Eagle's calling and he's calling your name
Tides are turning bringing winds of change
Why do I feel this way?
The promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
As through time the earth moves under my feet
One step closer to make love complete
What has the final say?
The promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise
And so time over time
What will change the world?
No one knows (no one knows)
So the only promise is a day to live
To give and share with one another
See the wisdom from mistakes in our past
Hear the younger generation ask
"Why do I feel this way?"
The promise, of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day (ohh)
The promise, the promise of a new day (a new day)
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day (we can)
We can make it better, baby, hey
So time over time
What will change the world?
No one knows (no one knows)
So the only promise is a day to live
To give and share with one another
Eagle's calling and he's calling your name
Tides are turning bringing winds of change
Why do I feel this way?
The promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day (as through time)
As through time the earth moves under my feet
One step closer to make love complete
What has the final say? (Whoa)
The promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day (oh, promise me)
The promise, the promise of a new day (a new day)
The promise, the promise of a new day (a new day)
The promise, the promise of a new day
See the wisdom from mistakes in our past
Hear the younger generation ask
"What has the final say?"
The promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
Eagle's calling and he's calling your name
Tides are turning bringing winds of change
Why do I feel this way?
The promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day (ooh)
The promise, the promise of a new day (why do I feel this way?)
The promise, the promise of a new day (hey)
The promise, the promise of a new day (eagle's calling and he's calling your name)
The promise, the promise of a new day (tides are turning bringing winds of change)
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day (as through time the earth moves under my feet)
The promise, the promise of a new day (ohh)
The promise, the promise of a new day (one step closer to make love complete)
The promise, the promise of a new day
Tides are turning bringing winds of change
Why do I feel this way?
The promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
As through time the earth moves under my feet
One step closer to make love complete
What has the final say?
The promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise
And so time over time
What will change the world?
No one knows (no one knows)
So the only promise is a day to live
To give and share with one another
See the wisdom from mistakes in our past
Hear the younger generation ask
"Why do I feel this way?"
The promise, of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day (ohh)
The promise, the promise of a new day (a new day)
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day (we can)
We can make it better, baby, hey
So time over time
What will change the world?
No one knows (no one knows)
So the only promise is a day to live
To give and share with one another
Eagle's calling and he's calling your name
Tides are turning bringing winds of change
Why do I feel this way?
The promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day (as through time)
As through time the earth moves under my feet
One step closer to make love complete
What has the final say? (Whoa)
The promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day (oh, promise me)
The promise, the promise of a new day (a new day)
The promise, the promise of a new day (a new day)
The promise, the promise of a new day
See the wisdom from mistakes in our past
Hear the younger generation ask
"What has the final say?"
The promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
Eagle's calling and he's calling your name
Tides are turning bringing winds of change
Why do I feel this way?
The promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day (ooh)
The promise, the promise of a new day (why do I feel this way?)
The promise, the promise of a new day (hey)
The promise, the promise of a new day (eagle's calling and he's calling your name)
The promise, the promise of a new day (tides are turning bringing winds of change)
The promise, the promise of a new day
The promise, the promise of a new day (as through time the earth moves under my feet)
The promise, the promise of a new day (ohh)
The promise, the promise of a new day (one step closer to make love complete)
The promise, the promise of a new day
Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21
The Promise of a New Day Lyrics as written by Peter Lord Paula J Abdul
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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Somewhere Only We Know
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