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."
Times have changed for the better
You like to say
Nice house in the country
Now you're on your way
You took advantage of our possibilities
Got your sights set far
No time for sympathy
Keeping up with the Jones's
Smiling at the neighbors
Don't let them see your...
Dirty, Dirty Little Secret
Keep your hands over your eyes and
Maybe it will go away
Dirty, Dirty little secret
Joe McCarthy is alive and well today
When you face the mirror
Consider this
Why judge another when you've got
Your own shit to fix
There's no solution
good enough for everyone
And your interpretations don't work
In every situation
You side with your religion
With your interpretation
But don't let them see your...
Dirty, Dirty Little Secret
It seems the most opinionated
Are the ones who hide their
Dirty, Dirty Little Secret
I'll be leaving the status quo behind
How can you know someone
Until you walk in their shoes?
Our parents taught us segregation
Now we're singing the blues
The dynamic of America is progress for all
Well, can't hold us back we're right on the track
No wall is too tall
By the will of the people
We'll take a road to higher ground
And don't worry about that...
Dirty, Dirty Little Secret
Everybody's got one
So many you can pass them around
Dirty, Dirty Little Secret
I'll be leaving the status quo behind
You like to say
Nice house in the country
Now you're on your way
You took advantage of our possibilities
Got your sights set far
No time for sympathy
Keeping up with the Jones's
Smiling at the neighbors
Don't let them see your...
Dirty, Dirty Little Secret
Keep your hands over your eyes and
Maybe it will go away
Dirty, Dirty little secret
Joe McCarthy is alive and well today
When you face the mirror
Consider this
Why judge another when you've got
Your own shit to fix
There's no solution
good enough for everyone
And your interpretations don't work
In every situation
You side with your religion
With your interpretation
But don't let them see your...
Dirty, Dirty Little Secret
It seems the most opinionated
Are the ones who hide their
Dirty, Dirty Little Secret
I'll be leaving the status quo behind
How can you know someone
Until you walk in their shoes?
Our parents taught us segregation
Now we're singing the blues
The dynamic of America is progress for all
Well, can't hold us back we're right on the track
No wall is too tall
By the will of the people
We'll take a road to higher ground
And don't worry about that...
Dirty, Dirty Little Secret
Everybody's got one
So many you can pass them around
Dirty, Dirty Little Secret
I'll be leaving the status quo behind
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Somewhere Only We Know
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@Kahiara Actually I think the husband passed away,
"She sang for you last night
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Many people say they have felt, heard, or seen their loved ones after they have passed.
"Don't be scared now
Close your eyes
She holds guard tonight
Go on forward no remorse
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This is said to the late husband by a third part (never named), who encourages him to pass on. Because life will eventually continue. The phrase "holds guard" refers to the ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… ) which is a Christian ceremony held after someone dies. Now it is usually held right after the funeral, but in most celtiic countries the wake is held before the funeral.
"She danced with you last night so you will remember
All you have shared, a lifetime."
This sentence feels as if the only thing it wants to convey is their history together, namely, husband and wife. For the rest it just refers back to the first verse.
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