Monochrome

This beautiful song clearly depicts a man who is depressed and desparate. It also comments on the mundane life, how when one is depressed people go "Oh but you have a good job and good friends", yet this is obviously not sufficiant for somebody to get out of their depression nor is it the reason why somebody could get out of depression since there are untouchable things in this life that are far more important than "a good job and good old friends".

This is such a wonderfully articulated description of depression. I like that it isn't clichéd - that he's not talking about the pain he's in or how unhappy he is, just that everything's blank and meaningless to him; a 'white disorder'. It's not so much a negative song as a totally neutral and apathetic one.

I like the details: the books piling up under his bed; his 'old bicycle you loved' (who is 'you'?). I get the feeling he's trying to pretend he's fine, and going along with his old life, but it doesn't mean anything to him any more.

The repetition that's often present in Yann Tiersen's work (inevitable given that he's influenced by minimalism, which is typically very repetitive) is especially effective in this song, I think - the man's life is circular and mundane, and it's reflected nicely in the structure.

I like this song more for not being in wholly fluent English - it's refreshing, and stops it from falling into hackneyed phrases.

Whenever I hear this song, I imagine a man standing near a grave, "talking" to someone that died, perhaps his wife. (hence the depression and the overall "grayness") He's telling her that everything is alright and that she doesn't have to worry about anything. As Tleilaxu said, this song is open to many interpretations. :P

Wonderful song, and beautiful lyrics. I love his music...

just downloaded a couple dozen of his songs or so, and this is so far the best. i can't describe why because i haven't gotten his key points i like down into proper syntax yet, but it just flows and totally satisfies me emotionally.

instead of just writing personal anecdotes i'll actually follow the guidelines for this site in the first place. and with that being said..

the firsthalf, to me, sounds like a kind of an empty, lost path fo thought that's he's slipped into because of recent break up swift change ofsurroundings or feelings or whatever, and he recognizes this but does nothing to apprently change it, while making clear to point out to whoever he's speaking to that they shouldn't worry about him (like it was partly of their concern and fault)

and the second part seems like he admits however briefly that he is stuck in this sort of melancholy state and makes futile efforts to get out of it and have a little passion towards something in his life again. i don't know. i wish there were more comments to reflect on.

i get the impression that the song simply about a man that has given up on life, but is not willing to take the ultimate step to end it, and instead comforts himself with what he does have. i agree that the second half is more hopeful, at least he is doing things rather than sitting on his bed. It doesn't matter though, the circle continues...

This is such a wonderfully articulated description of depression. I like that it isn't clichéd - that he's not talking about the pain he's in or how unhappy he is, just that everything's blank and meaningless to him; a 'white disorder'. It's not so much a negative song as a totally neutral and apathetic one.

I like the details: the books piling up under his bed; his 'old bicycle you loved' (who is 'you'?). I get the feeling he's trying to pretend he's fine, and going along with his old life, but it doesn't mean anything to him any more.

The repetition that's often present in Yann Tiersen's work (inevitable given that he's influenced by minimalism, which is typically very repetitive) is especially effective in this song, I think - the man's life is circular and mundane, and it's reflected nicely in the structure.

I like this song more for not being in wholly fluent English - it's refreshing, and stops it from falling into hackneyed phrases.

He does seem very depressed. However, as User tonightwefly states, he talks about a 'You' in the song. A lot of people would think he's talking about someone else. My first thought was maybe a loved one of some sort:

He states, "But don't be scared, I found a good job and I go to work every day on my old bicycle you loved."

and

"But don't worry I often go to dinners and parties with some old friends who care for me, take me back home and stay."

However, he also states that he has a Monochrome (meaning black and white or grayscale) life, house, and states how everything in life is just overall very gray scale. So this would raise the question of why he's alone?

I think he's talking to either an ex-lover of some sort or maybe he's gone through a divorce and is referring to his daughter that's in the ex-wifes custody? - "bicycle you loved". He could also be talking about his mother who is worried about him and how he's getting on with his life when he lives alone and has so few friends.

Really, this song is open to many interpretations :)

I think its someone who is deeply depressed by their daily routine, someone who longs for love and good friends that hang out with him, maybe he moved away to study or to work in another city. The person he addresses could be a variety of persons: mother/father, a good old friend or an exgirlfriend. he wants help, but doesnt want to sound desperate or as depressed as he really is. the whole song is saying "yes thanks i'm fine", but with a really sad expression on the face.

This song seems to be pretty obviously about the depression that ensues after an unwilling separation from one's significant other - by their choice. "But don't be scared, I found a good job and I go to work every day on my old bicycle you loved"... honestly, I do not get the impression that who he's singing to here is dead. I just imagine he's speaking to an ex-lover. You could say they're dead, sure, but I'm just going by Occam's Razor here.