Ooh! Get me away from here I'm dying
Play me a song to set me free
Nobody writes them like they used to
So it may as well be me
Here on my own now after hours
Here on my own now on a bus
Think of it this way
You could either be successful or be us
With our winning smiles, and us
With our catchy tunes, and us
Now we're photogenic
You know, we don't stand a chance
Oh, I'll settle down with some old story
About a boy who's just like me
Thought there was love in everything and everyone
You're so naive!
After a while they always get it
They always reach a sorry end
Still it was worth it as I turned the pages solemnly, and then
With a winning smile, the boy
With naivety succeeds
At the final moment, I cried
I always cry at endings

Oh, that wasn't what I meant to say at all
From where I'm sitting, rain
Washing against the lonely tenement
Has set my mind to wander
Into the windows of my lovers
They never know unless I write
"This is no declaration, I just thought I'd let you know goodbye"
Said the hero in the story
"It is mightier than swords
I could kill you sure
But I could only make you cry with these words"

Oh, get me away, I'm dying...


Lyrics submitted by ReActor, edited by Rannoch, carmen00, mdznr, theconradw

Get Me Away from Here, I'm Dying Lyrics as written by Isobel Campbell Christopher Geddes

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Get Me Away from Here, I'm Dying song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

48 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +7
    My Interpretation

    The narrator of the song starts out saying he needs a great song because no one writes great ones anymore (think famous hits from the past) and basically says, "I know, I'll write one right here (this song) right now. Oh who am I kidding? I'm an independent artist, I don't stand a chance of making a great song." Then, while on the bus, he is settling into a story that is run-of-the-mill that starts out with a normal guy just like anyone else who believes there's good and love in everything and finds out that not everything is great about life and the narrator anticipated it coming but kept reading anyway (as we all do in our lives- not everything is happiness in life like we like to believe when we're kids, there is tragedy somewhere in life) The narrator always cries at endings maybe the fear of dying or how people always cry at funerals (endings of our lives). Then he picks himself up from his own internal revelation as if to say, "Oh I didn't mean to be a killjoy there, sorry." Doesn't wanna bring the listener down (irony!) so he apologizes for that. He's looking out the window on a rainy gloomy day (just like his mindset) thinking about past lovers and how they never know he's thinking about them unless he writes them a dear john (goodbye/break up) letter and just like in a story, he says "I could kill you with a sword but instead he'll hurt you with words and make you cry (hurt your feelings/break your heart)" This song is basically all of B&S's songs in a nutshell: They're stories or moments that are a revelation of life and what it really is. Most of their songs are upbeat but gloomy because they reveal the real world truth. Sorry if that didn't make sense, I went deep there. The narrator, just like anyone, needs a good song to lift their spirits just for a moment because the world isn't a sweet little fairytale like a children's book will make it out to be.

    Carena722on November 26, 2010   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    I thought this song was about someone who's too idealistic for life. When he sings "Get me away from here," I think he means "here" to be the world we live in, which isn't always cut out for idealistic people. He likes himself alright -- he says he has "winning smiles" and "catchy tunes" -- but at the same time, he realizes that those aren't the things that the world appreciates ("we don't stand a chance"). He relates to the boy in the story (who also has a "winning smile", just like him), but understands that the boy is too naive to succeed or get what he wants. The only context where "naivete succeeds" is in a fairy tale.

    As for the end of the song... I don't think the singer commits suicide so much as he just comes to the conclusion he's not really made for this world. Suicide -- his "goodbye" -- would be the ultimate revenge, making the world "cry" for him, but the singer decides to make "no declaration" and just accepts that he doesn't necessarily fit in with the jaded, realistic world.

    I know that analysis sounds really depressing, but I find this to be an upbeat happy song (the lyrics as well as the music). I certainly relate to the speaker, and I love the conclusion he comes to: we're here on this world, and in the grand scheme of things we may not fit in, but screw it, we're here anyway. The least and best we can do is love life while we're here.

    That message has gotten me through many a sleepless night. :)

    vlnp89on May 25, 2006   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This song is entirely brilliant lyrically, it has several layers of meaning.

    1. The songwriter sitting looking out his window, thinking about what to write

    2. The songwriter imagining himself in a fairy-tale type story in a book he's reading, as the naive hero

    3. The songwriter thinking about his actual mundane life and the band he's in

    4. The songwriter speaking to his ex-lovers, who he abandons and doesn't always contact

    At the end 1-4 are brought together perfectly by the last few lines.

    I would go so far as to say that:

    Oh, that wasn't what I meant to say at all From where I'm sitting, rain Washing against the lonely tenement Has set my mind to wander

    And the rest of that verse are the best lyrics I can think of outside a Bob Dylan song, and from me that's very high praise indeed.

    caitsith01on May 03, 2005   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Wow, I've heard this song soo many times, but never really listened to the lyrics. It's beautiful.

    I think (pretty much like everyone else) that it's about the songwriter being really optimistic and naive and imaginative. He tries to write a song but gets really carried away by it.

    Still it was worth it as I turned the pages solemnly, and then With a winning smile, the boy With naivety succeeds At the final moment, I cried I always cry at endings

    I think the song he's writing absorbs him so much that he gets drawn into his own story. Then he suddenly realises what he's written, hence the:

    Oh, that wasn't what I meant to say at all From where I'm sitting, rain Washing against the lonely tenement Has set my mind to wander

    He becomes aware of the naive story he's written, and he's jolted back to reality. I think the "get me away from here I'm dying" is talking about reality/imagination, so it's not a physical escape, just a mental one.

    I love "Thought there was love in everything and everyone, you're so naive"

    Jcramson March 21, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I didn't think it was about dying, I thought the "get me away from here, I'm dying" was about how he's fed up with his mundane life, and is only 'dying' metaphorically.

    TFFMOon February 03, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    He's definitely not actually dying. it's a metaphor. he feels trapped the way his life is going and wants someone to 'get him away'. The guy is sitting alone on a bus and starts to reflect - the song is like his stream of conciousness- all that stuff is going through his mind. he feels sad and then wants to listen to a song that will make him feel better, but he can't think of one so he starts to write his own. then he starts to read a book and compares the boy in the book to himself, but then it gets mixed up in the song but he didn't want ther book in the song "that wasb't what I meant to say at all" then he gets distracted by the rain and thinks about his lovers and then he goes back to the book again. it's a great song, and he does make me cry with those words!

    planet_queenon October 29, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Love this song, One of my favourite B&S songs Isn't it "They always reach a sorry ending, they always get it in the end"? and "Falling" instead of "Washing"?

    TheGeniusNextDooron September 22, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    These lyrics are beautiful. I love that all of their songs have such happy tunes, but a lot of the lyrics are sad. I think it kind of describes how people act. Most people don't notice when others are upset because they try putting on a show, but if you actually listen to what they're saying, they aren't happy. I love that about Belle and Sebastian's music. You have to listen close to see the truth.

    ringlingon April 12, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's about a person who naively does his best whenever he can. He's innocent and he means well, and he's dying because of it.

    He knows he doesn't stand a chance, but he still tries, because if there's any genuine sentiment left in the world, the underdog will somehow succeed in the end.

    Everyone roots for the underdog in the movies and books. Not so much in real life, sadly.

    Schizimaon January 10, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Play me a song to set me free Nobody writes them like they used to So it may as well be me

    Ain't it obvious? It's about music business and about dissapointment in doing what you like and not being payed for it and for people listening 'wrong' music and so on... It's also about being aware of yout talents and being aware that noone else has to recognize them... One of my favourite B&S songs...

    mali_djavaon March 04, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.