2 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
The Other Side Of Life Lyrics
Well it's been a long time
How should I feel?
What can I say?
With fantastic stories
You present yourself
In different ways
Some particular places
Remembered so well
Are hard to forget
We've travelled so far now
Then we were young
Hard to impress
But she comes and goes
The other side of life
Sheltering only
The other side of life
These single occasions
We seem to share
Stumble and fall
If you could remember to wave
A sign of life my way
But she comes and goes
The other side of life
Sheltering only
The other side of life
How should I feel?
What can I say?
With fantastic stories
You present yourself
In different ways
Some particular places
Remembered so well
Are hard to forget
We've travelled so far now
Then we were young
Hard to impress
The other side of life
Sheltering only
The other side of life
We seem to share
Stumble and fall
If you could remember to wave
A sign of life my way
The other side of life
Sheltering only
The other side of life
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I can't believe nobody has commented on this wonderful piece of music! This one has to be one of my favourite Japan songs. The interpretation I get from the lyrics are two people, a man and woman, who have a very strong, undeniable connection with one another. I see it as a close friendship, not so much a romantic relationship, just two good friends. They were friends when they were younger "Then we were young", however, time has brought them apart from one another. Perhaps they just led different lives, and grew apart from each other. Regardless of why they were apart, the writer has had a hard time moving on from this separation "Some particular places/Remembered so well/Are hard to forget". The girl has moved on, and seems to have had an exciting life "With fantastic stories/You present yourself/In different ways". One could even say she lives on 'The Other Side of Life' from him, the exciting side of life. He knows how she feels and what a great life she is having because they occasionally see each other "These single occasions/We seem to share". When they do meet, the connection is gone "Well it's been a long time/How should I feel?/What can I say?" These meetings they have simply don't feel like they used to, hence the lyrics "Stumble and fall" after mentioning the occasions when they meet. This separation from the writers friend has taken such a toll on him he almost feels dead, and he wishes that "If you could remember to wave/A sign of life my way". That is just how I see this song anyway.
Not sure if that was the intended meaning behind the song, but regardless it makes me love the song even more. This is almost identical to a situation with myself and an old friend of mine. Unfortunately, in that situation I play the role of the writer.
@MrJohnnyPanic I agree with your interpretation. This is my favourite Japan song from my favourite album from my favourite band of all time! I used to lie on my bed listening to it with the lights off when I was 18-19 years old. Still have the record in great condition and still play it, although I invested in the 2011 triple red vinyl release as well.
@MrJohnnyPanic I agree with your interpretation. This is my favourite Japan song from my favourite album from my favourite band of all time! I used to lie on my bed listening to it with the lights off when I was 18-19 years old. Still have the record in great condition and still play it, although I invested in the 2011 triple red vinyl release as well.
Japan were superb songwriters and extremely talented musicians.
Japan were superb songwriters and extremely talented musicians.
@MrJohnnyPanic, I agree with your interpretation. I feel that I have often been the woman in the song. I moved away from my small town in the US to a big European city. I did modelling and traveling and I would go back home every few years and meet-up with old friends and lovers. I began to notice the impact my visits had. Not always positive. There was still love and a great deal of memories, but I realised that I was no longer “from” my home town. I tried not to talk about my life, because I felt that some people didn’t...
@MrJohnnyPanic, I agree with your interpretation. I feel that I have often been the woman in the song. I moved away from my small town in the US to a big European city. I did modelling and traveling and I would go back home every few years and meet-up with old friends and lovers. I began to notice the impact my visits had. Not always positive. There was still love and a great deal of memories, but I realised that I was no longer “from” my home town. I tried not to talk about my life, because I felt that some people didn’t believe me or felt that I thought I was superior. I didn’t, but There was (and is) part of me that knows that I can never completely go back.
Totally agree on both counts Mr Jonny Panic. a) the fact no-one has commented and b) the meaning.
She's moved on to the other side of life. He can't move on and laments what they once had.
Beautiful song in so many ways.