Up, up in the air
And I run around, 'round, 'round, 'round this town, town
And act like I don't care
So when you see me flying by the planet's moon
You don't need to explain if everything's changed
Just know I'm just like you
And I see black, black, green and brown
Brown, brown, brown and blue
Yellow, violets, red
And suddenly a light appears inside my brain
And I think of my ways, I think of my days
And know that I have changed
No need to be sad
It really ain't that bad
No need to be sad
You've still got your health
Yea, he shot himself, 'self
There's blood on the wall
'Cause he couldn't face the truth
And tell your friends, friends
You'll be back again, 'gain
Before it's too late
No need to be sad
It really ain't that bad
It's the colours you have
No need to be sad
It really ain't that bad
No need to be sad
You've still got your health
Up, up in the air
And I float around, 'round, 'round, 'round this town, town
And know I shouldn't care
So, when you see us there, there out in the open road
You don't need to explain
If everything's changed
Just know that you don't know
Oh yea, that's what we call it
When we can't call it at all
Yea, we call it... life
Oh yea, that's what we call it
When you can't call it at all
Yea, we call it... love
That's right we call it... love
We do it for love... sweet love

I definitely think this song is about self-acceptance, like plenty of others have said, but I also think it goes a little deeper than that.
It's not just acceptance of who you are, but also who you used to be, and to accept the fact that you have changed and will probably continue to change for your entire life. I also get a feel that there's a bit of outward acceptance here (of other people, or that other people change), but that's probably just me because I can't really point to any specific lyrics.

"It's the Colours you have" not "if the colours bad"

I suppose he's saying not to be ashamed of who you are. He makes mistakes, causes trouble, maybe does drugs (nor sure how else he pulled the switch inside his head). No one should consume themselves with their faults, especially when looking back on what you've done. We all have regrets, he's just like you. You can always change going forward and what you've done in the past is just who you are, your colors.

I'm pretty sure that this song is about learning who you are and accepting it. I don't think the line about the switch in his head and the colors is a drug reference. I think it's just about self discovery and acceptance.

He pulls the switch, the switch inside his head, and he sees memories, memories, memories, memories, memories...
And suddenly a light appears inside his brain, And emits light upon all his memories
And knows that he has changed.
Plain and simple...
He's not doing LSD, silly gooses!
yeah, exactly... sounds like somebody has never done acid.
yeah, exactly... sounds like somebody has never done acid.
if you'd done acid, you know that self-discovery, letting go, being comfortable with who you are and becoming a different, more evolved person (basically everything described in the lyrics) are part of the experience.
if you'd done acid, you know that self-discovery, letting go, being comfortable with who you are and becoming a different, more evolved person (basically everything described in the lyrics) are part of the experience.
oh, and there's lots of colors.
oh, and there's lots of colors.
you should try it sometime, it's awesome and not at all hazardous to your health, despite what the propaganda says.
you should try it sometime, it's awesome and not at all hazardous to your health, despite what the propaganda says.
Fairly certain they were probably doing LSD during this song.. not saying that's what the song is about, but most songs do have different meanings - Perception. Their song "shark attack" is about an acid trip that they go to the desert and see the devil.
Fairly certain they were probably doing LSD during this song.. not saying that's what the song is about, but most songs do have different meanings - Perception. Their song "shark attack" is about an acid trip that they go to the desert and see the devil.
@jazztobak - SWIM is experienced with LSD and mushrooms of the psilocybin variety (specifically British liberty caps). LSD produces much more of a mental trip, whereas psilocybin is more spiritual.
@jazztobak - SWIM is experienced with LSD and mushrooms of the psilocybin variety (specifically British liberty caps). LSD produces much more of a mental trip, whereas psilocybin is more spiritual.
I cannot say for certain that this song is about a psychoactive substance to begin with, but comparison of the two, but although LSD does involve a lot of laughing, I would say mushrooms are definitely a better advised trip all round (particularly fresh).
I cannot say for certain that this song is about a psychoactive substance to begin with, but comparison of the two, but although LSD does involve a lot of laughing, I would say mushrooms are definitely a better advised trip all round (particularly fresh).

"you've still got your health" should be "you've still got your hands."
I was so curious I tweeted at them and they answered!

Hmm, I actually really think its a Be Yourself with subtle gay themes. The chorus sounds pretty straightforward about being yourself and so is the first verse, but that last line hints at something:
So when you see me flyin' by the planet's moon You don't need to explain if everything's changed Just know I'm just like you
With all the hysteria about gays destroying the world he just wants you to know they're people just like everyone else. Different, sure, but the same nonetheless.
So I pull this switch The switch, the switch inside my head And I see black black, green and brown brown brown brown, And blue yellow violet's red
This could be sarcasm directed at the people who believe its a choice. Either way he sees his colors for what they are.
And suddenly a light appears inside my brain And I think of my ways, I think of my days And know that I have changed
The sudden epiphany where you realize you're a completely different person from a couple years ago, perhaps he didn't accept himself before but now he's no longer ashamed of being gay. Doesn't have to relate but thats how I see it.
So mistress, mistress Have you been up to the roof? He shot himself self, there's blood on the wall 'Cause he couldn't face the truth
This one just seemed weird until I realized it could be about the gay men who spend their whole lives denying who they are and trying to live a more acceptable charade, only to end up cheating on their wives (hence the use of the word mistress) and committing suicide.
Oh knock that down, leave the ground and find some space And tell your friends friends, you'll be back again gain Before it's too late
This is like a bit of friendly advice. Forget about your current troubles and try to think things through before you do anything drastic. The telling your friends part is pretty important when you feel suicidal. I think the "before its too late" speaks for itself.
Que chorus about accepting yourself, its not so bad at least you're healthy yadda yadda
So when you see us there, there out in the open road You don't need to explain if everything's changed Just know that you don't know
I think this is telling people who are afraid of acknowledging gay rights (or even gay people in general) and who think gay marriage is the beginning of the end of the moral fabric of society that you really don't know what's going to happen. No one does, but that's life, its unpredictable. Then at the outro he says "Yeah we call it... love". It's life, it's love. You may think it's hell on Earth but people are going to have to accept that this is real and its here to stay so deal with it.

I think this song is saying how life changes in bad ways yet you still have to go on and try to not let it bother you.

Wow, can you not just copy & paste half-assed lyrics from every other site? Here are the ACTUAL lyrics:
Yeah I am a man, man man man Up up in the air And I run around round round, round this town town And act like I don't care
So when you see me flyin' by the planet's moon You don't need to explain if everything's changed Just know I'm just like you
Huh, ha (x4) (ahhhh-ahhh-ahh)
So I pull this switch The switch, the switch inside my head And I see black black, green and brown brown brown brown, And blue yellow violet's red
And suddenly a light appears inside my brain And I think of my ways, I think of my days And know that I have changed
It's the colours you have No need to be sad It really ain't that bad
It's the colours you have No need to be sad You still got your health
So mistress, mistress Have you been up to the roof? He shot himself self, there's blood on the wall 'Cause he couldn't face the truth
Oh knock that down, leave the ground and find some space And tell your friends friends, you'll be back again gain Before it's too late
It's the colours you have No need to be sad It really ain't that bad
(woaaaah)
It's the colours you have No need to be sad It really ain't that bad
It's the colours you have No need to be sad You still got your health
So I am a man, man man man Up up in the air And I float around round round, round this town town And know I shouldn't care
So when you see us there, there out in the open road You don't need to explain if everything's changed Just know that you don't know
We call it... life Oh yeah that's what we call it We can't call it hell
Yeah we call it... life Ho yeah that's what we call it When you can't call it hell-ohhh
Yeah we call it... love That's right we call it... love We do it for love Sweet love

I kind of think it's about life, and the hand you are dealt. Like, you know when you were a kid and you would complain about the color of the crayon you get, I think there is a connection there. Like: "It's the colors you have, don't be sad, it really ain't that bad." Like this is the life you have, don't be sad. Anyhow, who knows? It's probably different for everyone.