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."
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I just returned from Europe on a 2.5 month trip and what you posted resonates deeply with me.
Thank you.
I am a veteran Canadian soldier who has travelled a lot but mostly to the north western US. I have also trained with the US Army and Marines. The song I believe represents more of pop culture then real culture.
Americans I find are some of the most kindest people I have ever met and very proud of their roots. I myself love the idea of your constitution where Liberty for the individual is paramount over the majority.
Sadly though I find Americans ignorant to how the rest of the world works. With that said I mean in educational standards. Well knowledge.
As Canadians well in my generation we knew of the US as well as other nations in geography. As a Winnipeg North Ender we were pretty much immersed in different cultures.
I agree with what your thoughts are and wish the same for my nation.
Soldier On.
So our Companies are big and stuff, and they went to like other countries.
Then those companies were all
'Dude, like here's hella money can we build our shit here?'
And then those countries were all
'yeah, sure whatever.'
So it's like not America or even the American government's fault. (except for wars n shit)
It's american corporations everyone is pissed at.
Who aren't part of the government anyway they just happen to be in America.
Leave the band out of history and enjoy the songs. If Germany needs help again, she'll get it from the U.S. Clearly the opposite isn't true but then I suppose they have their own issues don't they?
Rated 0 im not just from America, im also in the world's greatest Navy. so yea i have to say though this song is so true about us and how we want it our way everywhere. who cares if people in other countries are starving if they dont like us then fuck it they can just suffer with no help at all.
on the other side of things tho i think the Germans are just mad cuz we came in three years late and kicked there asses wait heres the funny part. not one but two wars.
apparantly America is doing something right tho. i mean in WW2 we did fight a two front war. Just like Germany Did. Looks like Germany could pick up a few strategy tips from us. Hooya
But keep cheering Mr. Sailor, I'm sure your daddy's proud of you no matter what.
We're all living in Amerika
Amerika ist wunderbar
We're all living in Amerika
Amerika, Amerika
Wunderbar = wonderful
tell me how its un american???
i love america just i dont care for the government much
@ lionking5003 why are you proud about things the country which borders you happend to be born within (you had no part whatsoever in the happenings of WWII) accomplished 60 years ago?
What exactly is wrong with the American government? Is it the fact that they believe in freedom and equality? Is it the fact that they believe a country endowed with as much power as ours should seek to protect the world from dictators and tyrannts?
Or maybe you are focusing on the opposite side of the spectrum. Is it the fact that our government has steeped us in debt? Almost every other major country faces the same fiscal problems. Is it the fact that we "stick our noses" where they don't belong? If we didn't, Russia may have begun another World War, or the use of nuclear power may have occurred several more times. Is it the fact that our media culture has spread around the globe? Wherever it has spread was by those people's choice; we didn't shove pop culture down your governments throat.
I tend to have a negative view of the American government due to their unrelenting wars of aggression. Wars of aggression are against international law and the United States has committed them in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. The continue to break international law by threatening countries such as Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Syria and North Korea. In the last ten years more than 2 million people have been killed by the US and its allies in foreign countries. There are many cases were US pressure and intervention has made things worse such as Eastern Europe after the end of the communism (living standards have collapsed), Iraq after Saddam Hussein (conditions were better particularly before sanctions)
I realize this is a really old post and im way too late, but I made an account just say this.
American here,
Don't worry, The majority of the new generation (those born 1960-now) of American's are not too fond of our Government either. The Baby Boomers and some of their blind offspring have been spoon fed the idea that there is really freedom here and everywhere else just sucks.
Don't get me wrong, Capitalism is a great idea. Having one profit from their own hard work and innovation makes sense to me. However, that's if Human's were perfect. This is unfortunately how any economic and political ideal goes. When it comes to human beings, if their is a way to exploit it, they will find it. Doesn't matter the country or people, there will always be someone.
America was/is really the first country to embrace the idea that anyone can live there/here. Now this is a worldly ideal, but America got the head start.
Countries fear they are losing their culture due to the spread of American culture. In America, the feeling is the same, we feel we are losing our culture to ourselves.
These are the things that they do not talk about in the news, neither world wide or even locally here in America, but are all common knowledge there/here.
Just as the Romans had the Colosseum to entertain their people to distract them about the things that are terrible, we have American idol, Facebook, McDonalds, Coca-Cola and the Wonderbra.
sad really, but again.. this is human nature. we are self-destructive.
oh and as for the troops (army, navy, etc.) most of them know all of this truth too, but they are in a different situation.. I am reminded of another song when it comes to this, it would be System of a Down's "B.Y.O.B"
Hate it, love it, it's the truth.
You're more than welcome to go try again.