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."
Baby, I get so scared inside and I don't really understand
Is it love that's on my mind or is it fantasy?
Heaven is in the palm of my hand and it's waiting here for you
What am I supposed to do with a childhood tragedy?
If I close my eyes forever, will it all remain unchanged?
If I close my eyes forever, will it all remain the same?
Sometimes it's hard to hold on, so hard to hold on to my dreams
It isn't always what it seems when you're face to face with me
You're like a dagger, and stick me in the heart
And taste the blood from my blade
And when we sleep, would you shelter me in your warm and darkend grave?
If I close my eyes forever, will it all remain unchanged?
If I close my eyes forever, will it all remain the same?
Will you ever take me? No I just can't take the pain
Would you ever trust me? No I'll never feel the same
I know I've been so hard on you, I know I've told you lies
If I could have just one more wish, I'd wipe the cobwebs from my eyes
If I close my eyes forever, will it all remain unchanged?
If I close my eyes forever, will it all remain the same?
Is it love that's on my mind or is it fantasy?
Heaven is in the palm of my hand and it's waiting here for you
What am I supposed to do with a childhood tragedy?
If I close my eyes forever, will it all remain unchanged?
If I close my eyes forever, will it all remain the same?
Sometimes it's hard to hold on, so hard to hold on to my dreams
It isn't always what it seems when you're face to face with me
You're like a dagger, and stick me in the heart
And taste the blood from my blade
And when we sleep, would you shelter me in your warm and darkend grave?
If I close my eyes forever, will it all remain unchanged?
If I close my eyes forever, will it all remain the same?
Will you ever take me? No I just can't take the pain
Would you ever trust me? No I'll never feel the same
I know I've been so hard on you, I know I've told you lies
If I could have just one more wish, I'd wipe the cobwebs from my eyes
If I close my eyes forever, will it all remain unchanged?
If I close my eyes forever, will it all remain the same?
Lyrics submitted by numb, edited by jwo7777777
Close My Eyes Forever Lyrics as written by Ozzy Osbourne Lita Rossana Ford
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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