Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Judging by the look on the organ-grinder,
He'll judge me by the fact that my face don't fit.
It's touching that the monkey sits on my shoulder.
He's waiting for the day when he gets me,
But I don't need no alibi - I'm a puppet on a string.
I just need this stage to be seen.
We all need a pantomime to remind us what is real.
Hold my eye and know what it means.
'Cause I'm out of my mind.
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind.
Judging by the look on the organ-grinder,
He'll judge me by the fact that my face don't fit.
It's touching that the monkey sits on my shoulder.
He's waiting for the day when he gets me,
But I won't be your concubine I'm a puppet not a whore.
I just need this stage to be seen.
Won't you be a friend of mine to remind me what is real?
Hold my heart and see that it bleeds.
'Cause I'm out of my mind.
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind.
'Cause I'm out of my mind.
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind.
He'll judge me by the fact that my face don't fit.
It's touching that the monkey sits on my shoulder.
He's waiting for the day when he gets me,
But I don't need no alibi - I'm a puppet on a string.
I just need this stage to be seen.
We all need a pantomime to remind us what is real.
Hold my eye and know what it means.
'Cause I'm out of my mind.
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind.
Judging by the look on the organ-grinder,
He'll judge me by the fact that my face don't fit.
It's touching that the monkey sits on my shoulder.
He's waiting for the day when he gets me,
But I won't be your concubine I'm a puppet not a whore.
I just need this stage to be seen.
Won't you be a friend of mine to remind me what is real?
Hold my heart and see that it bleeds.
'Cause I'm out of my mind.
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind.
'Cause I'm out of my mind.
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind,
I'm out of my mind.
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More Featured Meanings
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Everybody's comments and interpretations are very interesting and i agree with parts of them. But this is my interpretation of the song.
'Judging by the look on the organ-grinder' - As the other comments explained, by the 'organ grinder' he is meaning societies face in general.
'He'll judge me by the fact that my face don't fit' - James is basically saying that in this world everyone's judgments are based on vanity, you have to look like societies idea of perfection to 'fit in', and he doesn't think he does.
'It's touching that the monkey sits on my shoulder' - he still has a friend left that's got his back and hasn't turned against him like everybody else.
'He's waiting for the day when he gets me' - Everybody is waiting for the day that his only trusted friend, 'the monkey' turns against him too.
'But I don't need no alibi - I'm a puppet on a string' - He doesn't want to make any excuses for himself, he admits he is playing along with what society wants and he is being the 'puppet', but he is aware of that.
'I just need this stage to be seen' - He is playing societies puppet because he knows he needs their help to get what he wants, to be noticed.
'We all need a pantomime to remind us what is real' - Meaning that there has to be something fake to remind us what is really reality, something that we can compare.
'Hold my eye and know what it means' - Try to look at life as if you were him and you will understand.
'I'm out of my mind' - This could mean anything really, he either feels insane, or he could be referring to how he doesn't feel like himself anymore due to pretending to be a puppet for society for such a long time.
'But I won't be your concubine - I'm a puppet not a whore' He may be pretending to be a puppet but he is not going to be payed into doing something for other peoples entertainment or enjoyment, he has more dignity than that. He is being somewhat rebellious.
'Will you be a friend of mine to remind me what is real?' - He has been engrossed in societies falseness for so long that he is struggling to see what is actually fake and what is actually real anymore, he needs someone real to save him.
'Hold my heart and see that it bleeds' - He's crying out for help, he needs someone to see that he is actually hurting inside.
Ok so this is just my opinion on the lyrics, i hope you understand where i'm coming from :-)