Where are we?
What the hell is going on?
The dust has only just begun to form
Crop circles in the carpet
Sinking, feeling
Spin me around again
And rub my eyes
This can't be happening
When busy streets
A mess with people
Would stop to hold their heads heavy

Hide and seek
Trains and sewing machines
All those years
They were here first
Oily marks appear on walls
Where pleasure moments hung before
The takeover
The sweeping insensitivity of this
Still life
Hide and seek
Trains and sewing machines

(You won't catch me around here)
Blood and tears
They were here first
Mm, what'd you say?
Mm, that you only meant well
Well of course you did
Mm, what'd you say?
Mm, that it's all for the best
Of course it is
Mm, what'd you say?
Mm, that it's just what we need
You decided this
Mm, what'd you say?
Mm, what did she say?

Ransom notes keep falling out your mouth
Mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cutouts
Speak no feeling, no, I don't believe you
You don't care a bit, you don't care a bit
Ransom notes keep falling out your mouth
Mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cutouts
Speak no feeling, no, I don't believe you
You don't care a bit, you don't care a bit

(You don't care a bit)
Oh, no, you don't care a bit
Oh, no, you don't care a bit
Uh-uh, you don't care a bit
You don't care a bit
You don't care a bit


Lyrics submitted by music*ismyboyfriend, edited by frenzydiamonds

Hide and Seek Lyrics as written by Imogen Jennifer Heap

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing

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Hide and Seek song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    Crappypunnkrock is right. This lyrics was a mysterium to me for years til my man very unexpectedly left me. I sat in chock on the floor and listened to this song and the word suddenly made total sense. They communicate the exact feeling when you are beeing left and dont understand what is happening. Fragmentaric thoughts, the panic, anger, chock, the confusion that the the world outside is still running as usual - trains and sewingmachines and all the other shit out there... The tears on you face and the blood in you vains is the only thing that you know from before and that you can hold on to, they were there from the beginning of your life. The The oily marks i believe is referring to the stains on the wall beside the bed, from feet and hands making them during "pleasure moments".

    marypranksteron May 15, 2010   Link

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