You took me to the restaurant where we first met
You knocked a future shock crowbar upside my head
I got caught with the stop of the tick-tock, tick-tock clock
When you told me what you knew

Lost in the moment
The day that the music stopped
And I do remember you

Drawing patterns with a cork on the tablecloth
Promising volcanic change of plot
Where will this lead us, I'm scared of the storm
The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born

I tried to tell you I am not afraid
You looked up and saw it all across my face
So am I with you or am I against
I don't think it's that easy, we're lost in regret

Now I'm trying to remember
The feeling when the music stopped
When you told me what you knew

Lost in the moment
The day that the music stopped
And I do remember you

Drawing patterns with a cork on the tablecloth
Promising volcanic change of plot
Where does this leave us - I'm scared of the storm
The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born

Drawing patterns with a cork on the tablecloth
Promising volcanic change of plot
Where does this leave us - I'm scared of the storm
The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born

The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born
The outsiders are gathering

A man walks away when every muscle says to stay
How many yesterdays, they each weigh heavy
Who says what changes may come?
Who says what we call home?
I know you see right through me, my luminescence fades
The dusk provides an antidote, I am not afraid
I've been a million times in my mind
This is really just a technicality, frailty, reality

Uh, it's time to breathe, time to believe
Let it go and run towards the sea
They don't teach that, they don't know what you mean
They don't understand, they don't know what you mean
They don't get it, I want to scream
I want to breathe again, I want to dream
I want to float a quote from Martin Luther King
I am not afraid
I am not afraid
I am not afraid

I am not afraid
I am not afraid
I am not afraid
I am not afraid


Lyrics submitted by cerph

The Outsiders Lyrics as written by Mike Mills Peter Buck

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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The Outsiders song meanings
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    General Comment

    This song has a lot of overtones of conspiracy or political scandal or rebellion. For example - "you told me what you knew"; "where will this lead us? I'm scared of the storm"; "am I with you or am I against." The rap portion seems to be mainly about having the courage to stand up for our convictions, with explicit reference to MLK and therefore political rebellion.

    My interpretation would be that this is in a general sense a song about the marginalised people under the Bush administration coming together to take back control of their destiny, which was the essence of what MLK did. The story of the song seems to be about the narrator being called to meet a friend in a restaurant, and the friend telling the narrator about something they have found out which has major political implications, and then asking the narrator to support them in the 'storm' that will follow when the information is unleashed on the world.

    "The day that the music stopped" seems to be a reference to 'American Pie' by Don McLean. This song has some significant references to political change and has been linked to JFK, RFK and MLK as well as the musical rebellion led by Bob Dylan in the 60s.

    caitsith01on October 04, 2004   Link

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