In any other world you could tell the difference
And let it all unfurl into broken remnants
Smile like you mean it and let yourself let go

'Cause it's all in the hands of a bitter, bitter man
Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in
Take a bow, play the part of a lonely, lonely heart
Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in
To the world you thought you lived in

I tried to live alone but lonely is so lonely, alone
So human as I am, I had to give up my defenses
So I smiled and tried to mean it to let myself let go

'Cause it's all in the hands of a bitter, bitter man
Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in
Take a bow, play the part of a lonely, lonely heart
Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in
To the world you thought you lived in

'Cause it's all in the hands of a bitter, bitter man
Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in
Take a bow, play the part of a lonely, lonely heart
Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in
To the world you thought you lived in

Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in
Say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in
Say goodbye

In any other world you could tell the difference


Lyrics submitted by vickiminx

Any Other World [DVD] Lyrics as written by Michael Holbrook Penniman

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Any Other World song meanings
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46 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    Mika quotes in an interview:

    There is a little spoken introduction that many people may miss.

    It’s a family friend of mine who lost her eye during the war in Lebanon and I realised in everyone’s life their comes one point — or several points — where something happens and you have to completely change the way you have lived your life because of one event.

    And it really makes you readjust and rethink and rejudge parts of your life all over again.

    That happens to some people in a dramatic way like Rafa who lost both her eye and her husband within six months. Or it can be in a much quieter way like when you are 22-years-old and you finally leave university after being in education all your life or when you lose your job.

    I wanted to put that in the song, because when you’re 68 or 14, it’s still the same feeling and it’s still just as hard.

    I wanted to try to capture that quite difficult period that people have to go through at least once in their life.

    :-)

    Del Marquison April 06, 2007   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    To me it sounds like a waking up after being in "love." He sees the a whole new world, cold, bitter, alone. And he says "smile like you mean it" as opposed to smiling on the outside only. So he says to let yourself let go... it's time to move on and smile but that just can't happen. I've been smiling on the outside and feeling what he's feeling for the past 5 months :(

    silverprodon March 05, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think you guys hit the nail on the head, BUT, does anybody think that maybe the 'bitter, bitter man' part could be about God? I hope not, due to the fact that if it is, it's controversial, and Mika would be going against everything he represents.

    Possibly?

    Sarah-Stagediveon May 29, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    If I was to try to interpret this literally I would…“Cause it’s all in the hands of a bitter, bitter man” reminds me of being in a controlling relationship and being told to smile, and numbing yourself not to feel anything. You have to give up all of your being and let your self let go. You are with the other person just so you are not alone. But the way the song sounds I feel that it’s about a person dying, and they are now seeing the truth in their life, and having to say good bye to their world they thought they lived. It has been a deception and they are no finding this out as they are turning their life over to someone else. I don’t know…just a thought or two, tell me what ya’ll think?...:)

    lyricjunkieon February 17, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    If I was to try to interpret this literally I would…“Cause it’s all in the hands of a bitter, bitter man” reminds me of being in a controlling relationship and being told to smile, and numbing yourself not to feel anything. You have to give up all of your being and let your self let go. You are with the other person just so you are not alone. But the way the song sounds I feel that it’s about a person dying, and they are now seeing the truth in their life, and having to say good bye to their world they thought they lived. It has been a deception and they are no finding this out as they are turning their life over to someone else. I don’t know…just a thought or two, tell me what ya’ll think?...:)

    lyricjunkieon February 17, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I completely agree with silverprod. Same feeling here. :(

    MavDudeon March 12, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This struck me as more of a global song. I thought of the bitter, bitter man as Geo. W. and about having my liberties taken away. Mika is from a war-torn area and has lived a life I cannot imagine, and so I wonder if this song is about living under a dictatorship -- smile and take it because you have no choice and you don't know any better anyway because you haven't been allowed to leave and travel anywhere else, to see any other world.

    JeanneMeon April 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song just sends me into space! I can't help but think it's about coping with love, how you're letting the decision fall into the hands of your partner. Probably wrong, I can't define too well...eek.

    LillyDarkoon February 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I also think that silverprod is right. To me this is a woman talking to his friend and she is so sad because she just realised that her love story is over. This friend lived the same situation some time ago and explained that life is really hard when you're alone and even if it is really difficult to trust someone after having suffered so much we don't have any other chance to "give your defences". The first part of the song can be explained to me because this is the human being is the only living species able to feel love and in any other place or world such feeling would just be "remnants".

    bertrand9483on March 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This struck me as more of a global song. I thought of the bitter, bitter man as Geo. W. and about having my liberties taken away. Mika is from a war-torn area and has lived a life I cannot imagine, and so I wonder if this song is about living under a dictatorship -- smile and take it because you have no choice and you don't know any better anyway because you haven't been allowed to leave and travel anywhere else, to see any other world.

    JeanneMeon April 01, 2007   Link

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