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."
There'll be some slow walkin'
Gonna be some sad talkin'
There'll be some flowers bringin'
Gonna be some sad singin' over you
I said over you
Over you, pretty baby if I ever hear you say we're through
There'll be some long black limousines
People peepin' from their window screens
Parade of cars with their headlights on
All of that will be goin' on over you
I said over you
Over you, pretty baby if I ever hear you say we're through
There'll be a hole about six feet deep
For you baby to take your sleep
Into a pine box and down you'll go
Where you will stay where it's free of snow over you
I said over you
Over you, pretty baby if I ever hear you say we're through
All your folks will be dressed in black
Ride a long black Cadillac
Yeah, baby they'll be puttin' you away
The funeral home'll have good business that day over you
I said over you
Over you, pretty baby if I ever hear you say we're through
Said I want to slay you baby, whoa now
Over you, pretty baby if I ever hear you say we're through
Say you'll never leave me
I said you'll never leave me
Said I'm gonna get rid of you, baby if I ever hear you say we're through
Whoa, I love you
No tellin' what I'd do
That's why baby I want to do all these things to you
Gonna be some sad talkin'
There'll be some flowers bringin'
Gonna be some sad singin' over you
I said over you
Over you, pretty baby if I ever hear you say we're through
There'll be some long black limousines
People peepin' from their window screens
Parade of cars with their headlights on
All of that will be goin' on over you
I said over you
Over you, pretty baby if I ever hear you say we're through
There'll be a hole about six feet deep
For you baby to take your sleep
Into a pine box and down you'll go
Where you will stay where it's free of snow over you
I said over you
Over you, pretty baby if I ever hear you say we're through
All your folks will be dressed in black
Ride a long black Cadillac
Yeah, baby they'll be puttin' you away
The funeral home'll have good business that day over you
I said over you
Over you, pretty baby if I ever hear you say we're through
Said I want to slay you baby, whoa now
Over you, pretty baby if I ever hear you say we're through
Say you'll never leave me
I said you'll never leave me
Said I'm gonna get rid of you, baby if I ever hear you say we're through
Whoa, I love you
No tellin' what I'd do
That's why baby I want to do all these things to you
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Somewhere Only We Know
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