North by north— lest we have to settle down
we can sail without the wind in this town
Things that London never saw
Northern winters start to thaw;
To islands on the sea,
lands I’ve never seen,
things will get calmer—follow me.

You said a long long time ago
you were happy being someone
Let's go far far far from home
I'll be glad to be with someone

Land pneumonia, your engines in repair;
plant begonias, and orchids in your hair.
Continents all made of clay
Dreamers leaving every day
To islands on the sea,
lands I’ve never seen,
things will get calmer—follow me.

Someone told me you had oceans in your eyes
Cold as shadows over European skies
Coasting out the shallow day
Leaving London in decay
To islands on the sea,
lands I’ve never seen,
things will get calmer—follow me.


Lyrics submitted by Sinai

North By North song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +3
    My Opinion
    Can't stop listenning to this song - it's so great. It reminds me so much of a mix between The Postal Service and Angus & Julia Stone. Such pretty lyrics too.
    blomon November 18, 2008   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation
    The way I hear this song is a guy rambling on about his fantasies to his girlfriend or S/O, places he'd like to go to escape because he doesn't enjoy his real life too much anymore. He both simultaneously reminisces about better times and dreams up new ones about where he'd like to be and go to be happy again. The chorus is her telling him that he can be happy again, he once was and that she's willing to help take him back to that place.
    WeirdoDudeManon March 22, 2014   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    i think its about a guy and girl or maybe two friends unhappy with their life, or just need a change. they want to leave their boring town to see exciting and exotic things to rediscover who they used to be or who they want to be.
    straightthugginon January 27, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Reguardless, excellent song. The music adds so much to the meaning of the lyrics.
    CheesyHUGSon June 07, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Faded Paper Figures is just fucking brilliant. I can pick apart this song for hours and get a thousand different interpretations. I love Dynamo so, so much.
    sixteenmistakeson April 17, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    The last verse is talking about how the other character has depression or something.
    TomMSon September 30, 2015   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    North by North isn't an actual cardinal direction. That could imply that whatever direction they are gonna take, as long as they dont settle down. And by sticking around he says they can sail without the wind, which isnt saying a lot. He asks her to go away with him. Her response is a little sardonic. He was content in the past but now isnt, but she'll go away anyways because she doesnt have much to hold her back. Him being someone is good enough for her. She, meanwhile is depressed and and is in a hole. And hes offering to get her away from mess she has found herself in.
    dakkerhatteron August 02, 2016   Link

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