This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
An old fairytale told me
The simple heart will be prized again
A toad will be our king
And ugly ogres are heroes
Then you'll shake
Your fist at the sky
"Oh why did I rely
On fashions and small fry?"
All promises broken
Feed your people or lose your throne
And forfeit your whole kingdom
I'd sooner lose it than still live in it alone
You were our golden child
But the gentle and the mild
Inherit the earth, while
Your prince's crown
Cracks and falls down
Your castle hollow and cold
You've wandered so far
From the person you are
Let go brother, let go
Cos now we all know
Soon, someone will put a spell on you
Perfume, treasure, sorcery, every trick they know
You will lie in a deep sleep
That's when
Your prince's crown
Cracks and falls down
Your castle hollow and cold
You've wandered so far
From the person you are
Let go brother, let go
Cos now we all know
The simple heart will be prized again
A toad will be our king
And ugly ogres are heroes
Then you'll shake
Your fist at the sky
"Oh why did I rely
On fashions and small fry?"
All promises broken
Feed your people or lose your throne
And forfeit your whole kingdom
I'd sooner lose it than still live in it alone
You were our golden child
But the gentle and the mild
Inherit the earth, while
Your prince's crown
Cracks and falls down
Your castle hollow and cold
You've wandered so far
From the person you are
Let go brother, let go
Cos now we all know
Soon, someone will put a spell on you
Perfume, treasure, sorcery, every trick they know
You will lie in a deep sleep
That's when
Your prince's crown
Cracks and falls down
Your castle hollow and cold
You've wandered so far
From the person you are
Let go brother, let go
Cos now we all know
Lyrics submitted by N/U/T/T/Y/?
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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."
I love this song! It's one of my favorites by Keane cuz it has a double meaning. It's about how people will treasure the simple things again, and stuff. But it also tells this cute story, kind of.
One of the things i really love about this album is the reference to various fairy tales in various songs and via various lyrics. Its refreshing to see inspiration being drawn from other sources. I loved this song the from the first notes in the intro. It really works well and the lyrics are stunning. Its a warning and a story in one. Kinda like a warning to a close friend who has unwittingly morphed into something that maybe only you as their friend can still recognise and see right through the new disguise and although you dislike what they've become you care about them far too much not to warn them but its easier to do it via metaphor. There are notes of what too much power will do to someone and that the only way to reverse its effects is to "let go brother, let go."
I really like this song. About self detachment? And childhood innocence? Not sure But nice melody
Also: really like the music box sound at the end - reflects the childhood bit
The Frog Prince is a beautiful song and I fell in love with it way before I even heard it. I think it's about someone letting the bright lights and stardom get to them (Soon, someone will put a spell on you/ Perfume, treasure, sorcery, every trick they know) and they have forgotten about much, if not all, of the simple things around them that possibly got them to where they are. It's a perfect finale to Under The Iron Sea, and I will love this song for a long time to come.
I think this song is reffering to someone who has worked to get to a certain position, but along the way they've lost their morals and now they are falling. It's a beautiful sounding song, and I find it very relaxing. Keane really are an exceptional band.
The melody got me first then pretty much listened to the lyrics straight after and they arent bad either. It's got a very lifting ending to it...
I wasn't wowed by this song until after a few listens, and then when I actually paid more attention to the lyrics I fell in love. This is probably my 3rd favorite on the album. First Altantic, then Try again, then The Frog Prince. :D
This song is about Johnny Borrell of Razorlight.
About how he's a really talented singer and songwriter who was in a small indie band and then left to become something bigger, but upon reaching his goal became mean and crude, badmouthing other bands-keane included.
And this is fact, it's what the song's about, NME confirmed it.
"It's a reaction to a certain singer who seemed to make it his mission to slag us off at every point, but really didn't seem to be being true to himself, or to have understood what we are. We don't want to get into some tabloid slanging match, but we just felt like he was acting a part, and really pretending to be someone he is not. We really feel that you don't have to be all glitzy and tabloid to make good music, and that there's a bond between musicians and artists that should be held up - why not talk about a band you love or a song that inspired you?" - Richard - ilikemusic.com - Source "Well another theme that runs through the record is the idea of a surreal and sinister kinda fairytale world gone wrong. And that runs through A Bad Dream, Crystal Ball, Broken Toy and the whole thing of The Iron Sea definitely has a slightly macabre unreal feel to it, and I think The Frog Prince is the most literal expression of that. Again, a bit like Leaving So Soon?, it was written on behalf of all three of us. It was inspired by a conversation that Tom and I were having in a slightly drunken state in a hotel in Toronto, and we were talking about someone in another band who we felt was a really talented songwriter and really intelligent and talented person, but we felt he was busy bad-mouthing us and every other band that was around it seemed. It was very frustrating to see him go from a cool great songwriter in a small indie band, to suddenly becoming this person who's playing the part of the arrogant rock star. And I guess we in some stupid way felt that was some sort of betrayal, because you feel that you're part of a community of bands and people who started at kind of at the same time. So that song was a defence of us, and it's a plea not to betray who you actually are, in the hope of impressing other people. And I guess it's using the idea of this sinister fairytale as a way of manifesting the weird world of the media and so on, and if you wander into it thinking you can say whatever you want then people encourage you to play a part. But they'll just as soon stab you in the back, as give you a big hug and tell you how wonderful you are. It's very dangerous game to play, and it ends up with you ceasing to be who you really are. And we've always, rather naively, tried to get by on being completely who we are, and being completely honest about who we are and being completely honest about who we are - and a lot of people really respect that, but on the other hand it leaves you exposed, you don't have a shield up of any sort; so that's what the song is about." - Tim - Podcast 6 (19th June 2006)