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Miserere Lyrics
Do you ever look around,
Turn your ear to the ground, show your face to the sky
On a night when the skies echo sounds,
From inside of your mind
On a stage that you shone where the sun did become you and
Move with your thoughts through the signs and the scenes
Of the worlds you have seen and the sights that have been
Your reflection in shadows and dreams
Your reflection in shadows and dreams
Did you ever see a man who did walk down the street,
White robe with no shoes on his feet,
And on top of his head placed a box with two slits,
And a sign from his neck said “I do not exist”
Or a woman who could not remember her name,
Did stutter and stutter again and again,
And saw you and called you her son, Her eyes said
“My being is gone, but still I’m not dead”
Oh miserere, miserere, miserere, miserere, miserere
Have you ever seen a sound?
Have you listened to an image?
Have you ever touched a thought?
Have you ever tasted nothing?
Have you ever told a lie that was true more than truth?
Because truth it had lied all its life when it spoke to you
What did it say, it is that, it is this,
this goes here, here is there, It is not, yes it is
It was dulling your senses, your eyes they were bound
Have you ever, my friends, been looking around?
And the other replies with a wave of a hand,
I am already here in this promised land,
But not by a god, and not by a king,
And not by a spirit, deep from within.
I am here, because a miracle's a whim,
it’s a flash of glory it’s an empty tin,
Now 'maybe, might' lets you in,
not to save you but to keep on looking
Oh miserere, miserere, miserere, miserere, miserere
Oh miserere, miserere. Oh miserere, miserere
Have you ever been so happy that you’re sad,
That the lights turn to stars,
And the stars become eyes,
And hellos are goodbyes,
And the laughs are the sighs,
And the show disappears with a note
Until next time,
Long live living, if living can be this
Long live living, if living can be this
(Oh miserere, miserere)
Long live living, if living can be this
(Oh miserere, miserere)
Long live living, if living can be this
Do you ever look around?
Turn your ear to the ground?
Show your face to the sky on a night when the skies echo sounds?
From inside of your mind,
On the stage that you shone when the sun did become you and
Move with your thoughts through the signs and the scenes
Of the worlds you have seen and the sights that have been
Your reflection in shadows and dreams
Do you ever look around and find what is yet to be found?
Turn your ear to the ground, show your face to the sky
On a night when the skies echo sounds,
From inside of your mind
On a stage that you shone where the sun did become you and
Of the worlds you have seen and the sights that have been
Your reflection in shadows and dreams
Your reflection in shadows and dreams
White robe with no shoes on his feet,
And on top of his head placed a box with two slits,
And a sign from his neck said “I do not exist”
Did stutter and stutter again and again,
And saw you and called you her son, Her eyes said
“My being is gone, but still I’m not dead”
Have you listened to an image?
Have you ever touched a thought?
Have you ever tasted nothing?
Have you ever told a lie that was true more than truth?
Because truth it had lied all its life when it spoke to you
this goes here, here is there, It is not, yes it is
It was dulling your senses, your eyes they were bound
Have you ever, my friends, been looking around?
I am already here in this promised land,
But not by a god, and not by a king,
And not by a spirit, deep from within.
it’s a flash of glory it’s an empty tin,
Now 'maybe, might' lets you in,
not to save you but to keep on looking
Oh miserere, miserere. Oh miserere, miserere
That the lights turn to stars,
And the stars become eyes,
And hellos are goodbyes,
And the laughs are the sighs,
And the show disappears with a note
Until next time,
Long live living, if living can be this
Long live living, if living can be this
(Oh miserere, miserere)
Long live living, if living can be this
(Oh miserere, miserere)
Long live living, if living can be this
Turn your ear to the ground?
Show your face to the sky on a night when the skies echo sounds?
From inside of your mind,
On the stage that you shone when the sun did become you and
Of the worlds you have seen and the sights that have been
Your reflection in shadows and dreams
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. It's art.
I can't suggest a meaning for the entire song but I can offer a few for smaller parts.
Miserere apparently is a latin term for "have mercy!"
A man who walked down the street with a white robe and no shoes sounds like someone from a hospital, possibly a psych patient, but people ignore him, coz he's weird or whatever...
As for: "Or a woman who could not remember her name, Did stutter and stutter again and again, And saw you and called you her son, Her eyes said “My being is gone, but still I’m not dead”
...That is spot on for dementia/alzheimers. She can't remember her name and stutters, and she thinks everyone is her son. Very typical. And the bit about her eyes means that anything recognisable and any part of her mind is gone but her body lives on.
"Have you ever been so happy that you’re sad, That the lights turn to stars, And the stars become eyes, And hellos are goodbyes, And the laughs are the sighs, And the show disappears with a note Until next time"
Maybe this is realizing the shortness of life at the same time as appreciating the beauty of it. It could work...
but any other suggestions would be good.
this has got to be the best song in the world.. what would i do without the cat empire?
Did you ever see a man, Who did walk down the street, white robe with no shoes on his feet, And on top of his head placed a box with two slits, And a sign from his neck said “I do not exist”
i always thought this was some god metaphor..?
anyways this is such a beautiful song... i love the singing in the background.. i love the lyrics.. its so beautiful is makes me want to cry
What a great song, seriously. I've heard songs that were spiritual and well put together but this song just keeps getting deeper and deeper and its sucking me in. It's a very rare talent to be able to tie phrases together so beautifully and then to afterward fill it in with near-perfect music.
What a great song, seriously. I've heard songs that were spiritual and well put together but this song just keeps getting deeper and deeper and its sucking me in. It's a very rare talent to be able to tie phrases together so beautifully and then to afterward fill it in with near-perfect music.
But back to the interpretations, I agree with Light bulb101 about the man being "Christlike". In literature, a character that is introduced as barefoot is often considered to be christlike. Also, I feel as though the white robe is a sign of god as well, and that...
But back to the interpretations, I agree with Light bulb101 about the man being "Christlike". In literature, a character that is introduced as barefoot is often considered to be christlike. Also, I feel as though the white robe is a sign of god as well, and that when i imagine this song, it feels like the first half is based in a night time, and a man walking down the street with a white robe almost sounds glowing. But the real thing that sells me to believing this man represents god is "On top of his head placed a box with two slits". The two slits experiment is designed around cutting two small slits in a small piece of something slightly thicker than paper, or at least thick so light wont shine through except the slits. If light is shone on the slits with a surface behind it the light not only lines against the surface in the shape of the two slits, but spreads out like waves.
If you are more of a visual learner, the two slits experiment can be shown here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfPeprQ7oGc
With the two slits on the top of his head, things can come out of his head and wave across, spreading. Your head can produce, ideas, taste, smell and sight but it also contains your brain commanding your body what to do. Everything done by you is related back to your head. The two slits is talking about a christlike figure demonstrating to the world how to live life in my opinion.
As for the "I do not exist" part, I am still wondering what he could be getting across.
This is all just my interpretation of this, please feel free to comment back with any comments or disagreements.
This has to be one of my all time favourite songs. Whenever I listen to it, it just makes me so emotionally happy. I know some people think it's sad, but I think it celebrates life. I think the lyrics reflect a moment when Felix felt an overwhelming appreciation for just being alive.
My guess is the white robe man is a reference to the double slit experiment which suggests things have the potential to be anything until you observe them, until you sit back and take notice of the life you have. The woman who can't remember her name might be a reference to people who forget how lucky each and every one of us are to simply be alive, they exist but really don't appreciate it.
Seen a sound, listened to an image, etc, I've always thought referred to experiencing things as more than what they seem at face value. Eg. if you close your eyes and listen it can manifest a visual experience, or like the time I saw these guys at the Melbourne Zoo and cannot separate the sight of bats taking to the nights sky with the music as they played Brighter than Gold.
Not by a God, not by a king... I am here, because a miracle's a whim... I've thought this section refers to the fact that no person gave us the right to live, we aren't here as part of some plan. We are here by chance, a fleeting moment our parents had, and nothing more. And the song is about appreciating the opportunity that we have been given.
Long live living, if living can be this!
That is the song in a nutshell. We each have a gift, the gift of existence. And we should appreciate every moment, every little aspect, that our life delivers.
This isn't a sad song, this song is an inspiration. It does make me cry, but not because of sadness. It makes me cry because I appreciate existing every time I hear it.
I've told my girlfriend, more times than she thinks I should have, that she must play this song at my funeral. Again, not because it's sad, but because I would want everyone to know that no matter what live serves up, I always say long live living, if living can be this.
the little boy's voive in the song is feilx's younger brother max
feilx said that the song maght sound sad and depressing, but it is meant to be an uplifting song
i actually find it really uplifting from about the 4m30s mark where the beat picks up and the long live living bit starts i jsut get goosebumps, its definately about appreciating what u have, and respecting those who dont have it as good
what a beautiful song. when i first got this album i skipped past this song because i preferred the more upbeat tracks but now it's one of my favourites. love the trumpet :D long live music, if music can be this :)
I love this song... the lyrics are so awesome, and it really is an uplifting song, especially at the end. I think the song kind of takes you on a journey, early on it shows the trouble that some people can have in their life, the situations of those 'less fortunate'... and then, moving to appreciate the beauty of everything...
Have you ever seen a sound? Have you listened to an image? Have you ever touched a thought? Have you ever tasted nothing? Have you ever told a lie that was true more than truth? Because truth it had lied all its life When it spoke to you
I love this verse, it really invites you to explore everything around you with all of your senses and not to take anything for granted. Anyway, the song then becomes wonderfully uplifting in its style as well as its lyrics... this verse is my absolute favourite... musical genius, i say
Have you ever been so happy that you’re sad, That the lights turn to stars, And the stars become eyes, And hellos are goodbyes, And the laughs are the sighs, And the show disappears with a note Until next time
Long live living, if living can be this
And what a last line! Sums up the goal of the song in one perfect line... I just try to think this line as often as possible and it really makes you appreciate life.
Thankyou Cat Empire for this awesome song... i love all of their music but this is just so brilliantly done.
This song sounds really really sad, but it does seem to have a sort of happy/uplifting message... It still makes me want to cry though...