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."
Speak in this close communion
Though this hour seems timeless still
I wait for your words that bid me come
Breathe in me, Holy Spirit
The will when my tomorrow comes
To follow when this song is gone
So I await the words that you say
I open my life
I am longing just to hear these words
That you say, that you say
Shape me with words of wisdom
Free my torn heart from this world
Renew my mind and form my will
Teach me to wholly offer
More than words that I can sing
So I become the song I bring
So I await the words that you say
I open my life
I am longing just to hear these words
That you say, that you say
Speak in this close communion
Though this hour seems timeless still
I wait for your words that bid me come
Breathe in me, Holy Spirit
The will when my tomorrow comes
To follow when this song is gone
So I await the words that you say
I open my life
I am longing just to hear these words
That you say, that you say
So I await the words that you say
I open my life
I am longing just to hear these words
That you say, that you say
Can I be an instrument of praise
And here pursue your heart
So my life will tell of who you are
Can I be a channel of your love
A reflection of your light
And live to bring you praise and serve you, Lord
So I await the words that you say
I open my life
I am longing just to hear these words
That you say, that you say
Though this hour seems timeless still
I wait for your words that bid me come
Breathe in me, Holy Spirit
The will when my tomorrow comes
To follow when this song is gone
So I await the words that you say
I open my life
I am longing just to hear these words
That you say, that you say
Shape me with words of wisdom
Free my torn heart from this world
Renew my mind and form my will
Teach me to wholly offer
More than words that I can sing
So I become the song I bring
So I await the words that you say
I open my life
I am longing just to hear these words
That you say, that you say
Speak in this close communion
Though this hour seems timeless still
I wait for your words that bid me come
Breathe in me, Holy Spirit
The will when my tomorrow comes
To follow when this song is gone
So I await the words that you say
I open my life
I am longing just to hear these words
That you say, that you say
So I await the words that you say
I open my life
I am longing just to hear these words
That you say, that you say
Can I be an instrument of praise
And here pursue your heart
So my life will tell of who you are
Can I be a channel of your love
A reflection of your light
And live to bring you praise and serve you, Lord
So I await the words that you say
I open my life
I am longing just to hear these words
That you say, that you say
Lyrics submitted by XiAOBAOBEi
Words That You Say Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
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