Per the FAQ on Keane's website, Keane's drummer Richard Hughes, stated the following:
"We've been asked whether "Somewhere Only We Know" is about a specific place, and Tim has been saying that, for him, or us as individuals, it might be about a geographical space, or a feeling; it can mean something individual to each person, and they can interpret it to a memory of theirs... It's perhaps more of a theme rather than a specific message... Feelings that may be universal, without necessarily being totally specific to us, or a place, or a time..."
With the nostalgic sentiment and the overall tone of the song, I think Keane is attempting to express a Portuguese term known as 'saudade', which does not have a direct English translation but roughly means "that which we remember because it is gone."
You believe it (you better)
I got their number
Classic camcorder
I saw everything
Dinner plate specials
The shapes of cucumber
I'm going to the papers
I am going to sing
In the cool, cool night
And in the middle of the day
I'm watching my back
I'm waiting my visitation
From the men in black
Are they grey or is it my own nation?
Its been a good year
Its been a good summer
I wait for the door or that phone to ring
Our little race
I don't want to fall
So just in case
I made you a copy
And I put it in the mail
You believe it
I got their number
Classic camcorder
I saw everything
I got their number
Classic camcorder
I saw everything
Dinner plate specials
The shapes of cucumber
I'm going to the papers
I am going to sing
In the cool, cool night
And in the middle of the day
I'm watching my back
I'm waiting my visitation
From the men in black
Are they grey or is it my own nation?
Its been a good year
Its been a good summer
I wait for the door or that phone to ring
Our little race
I don't want to fall
So just in case
I made you a copy
And I put it in the mail
You believe it
I got their number
Classic camcorder
I saw everything
Lyrics submitted by hardcor_toonz
Men in Black Lyrics as written by Charles Thompson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings

Somewhere Only We Know
Keane
Keane

Sunglasses at Night
Corey Hart
Corey Hart
In the 1980s, sunglasses were a common fashion for people who wanted to adopt a "tough guy" persona (note all the cop shows from that era -- Simon & Simon, Miami Vice, etc. -- where the lead characters wore shades). So I think this song is about a guy who wears shades as a way of hiding his insecurity after learning that his girlfriend is cheating on him. He's trying to pretend that he's a "tough guy" to hide the fact that his girlfriend's affair is disturbing him.

High On Life
Viyaa
Viyaa
This track marks the first collaboration between the artists. It was produced in its entirety by Datbeatgod and released for public consumption on January 1, 2021.

Better Than Feeling Lonely
Olivia O'Brien
Olivia O'Brien
This standalone single is the latest in the artiste's album run out. It was produced by Rogét Chahayed, Taylor Dexter & Wesley Singerman, and released via major streaming platforms on January 1, 2021.

2021
Lauv
Lauv
This standalone single by Lauv marks the end of the year 2020. The track was produced by Jamil “Digi” Chammas & Lauv, being released via major streaming platforms on December 31, 2020.
He is wondering if the Men in Black are related to Grey Aliens or if they are CIA/FBI what have you.
Some people have hypothesized if they are alien, they are either robots, or aliens in some sort of disguise.....