Creeping up the blind side
Shinning up the wall
Stealing through the dark of night
Climbing through a window
Stepping to the floor
Checking to the left and the right
Picking up the pieces
Putting them away
Something doesn't feel quite right

Help me someone, let me out of here
Then out of the dark was suddenly heard
Welcome to the home by the sea

Coming out of the woodwork
Through the open door
Pushing from above and below
Shadows but no substance
In the shape of men
Round and down and sideways they go
Adrift without direction
Eyes that hold despair
Then as one they sign and they moan

Help us someone, let us out of here
Living here so long, undisturbed
Dreaming of the time we were free
So many years ago
Before the time when we first heard
Welcome to the home by the sea

Sit down, sit down, sit down
Sit, down, sit down
As we relive our lives
In what we tell you

Images of sorrow, pictures of delight
Things that go to make up a life
Endless days of summer
Longer nights of gloom
Waiting for the morning light
Scenes of unimportance
Photos in a frame
Things that go to make up a life

Help us someone, let us out of here
'Cause living here so long undisturbed
Dreaming of the time we were free
So many years ago
Before the time when we first heard
Welcome to the home by the sea

Let us relive our lives
In what we tell you

Sit down, sit down, sit down
'Cause you won't get away
No, with us you will stay
For the rest of your days, sit down
As we relive our lives
In what we tell you
Let us relive our lives
In what we tell you


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Home by the Sea/Second Home by the Sea Lyrics as written by Phil Collins Michael Rutherford

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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Home By The Sea song meanings
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    General Comment

    While I agree with jlbrpt to some extent, another take on this song I'd head was that it's about elderly people (possibley with Alzheimer's) abandoned in a rest home to die.

    In which case, I suppose the first verse would be about the various "nutty" things an old person could do that would get them sent to a rest home.

    After that, we are given the image of trapped, shambling beings...shadows of their former selves who live in memories of the past.

    Arbiteron December 11, 2004   Link

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