Smoke & Mirrors

This song is about impostor syndrome. Look it up.

I think this song is about self-doubt. It's about bluffing your way through life to get ahead. But never really believing in yourself.

To me this song reminds me of cramming for a job interview in a field or something that is way over your head. "You're a fraud and you know it / But it's too good to throw it all away"

You aren't really qualified for the job but you know it's your dream job. It's what you've always wanted. You're willing to work your ASS off to pull it off. it's really difficult for you to keep up that intensity. you work overtime 6 days a week just to meet deadlines and keep your job. "Anyone would do the same / You've got 'em going / And you're careful not to show it / Sometimes you even fool yourself a bit"

You're not sure how long you can keep up this charade. "Are you only trying to please them / (Will they see then?) / You're desperate to deliver" Basically, you're trying your best to succeed and impress your boss or the people around you.

It played on the new USA Criminal Drama 'Suits.' Similar concept

This song is a good picture of Borderline Personality Disorder. Poor sense of self you are a people pleaser so you can get a positive projection of self from others that you can see when you look in the mirror. In other words, they dont really know who they are so they put on fraudulent displays. Emotional disregulation, the hallmark of the disorder, is also evident by the "highs and lows."

Finally, the origin of BPD, although unknown, most studies point to issues in parental attachment explaining the mother reference. A good example would be an overbearing mother who is never satisfied with her child's accomplishments. She too likely suffers from the same disorder.

I think this is about a person that maybe grew up with a overbearing mother that only cared about achievements. They live their life in a way that they are not happy about, but they are really keen to impress/satisfy the mother, as well as everyone around (That could as well be the father, or both parents, it's just my interpretation of "Mother, are you watching"). They pretend to be what they are not, because they seek acceptance. Sometimes they even fool temselves a bit, that this is what the they really want: a career, a fmily, whatever.

My opinion is that it's a reflection on Gotye's success as an artist or at life in general- in interviews, he's mentioned he doesn't always feel he deserves the praise he's been given, and that most of his "original" ideas come from putting together ideas from artists that have come before him. At the same time, he's also often thankful for the opportunities his success has given him; this may be a part of the "highs and lows" referred to in the song.

Given that Gotye said "a lot of the lyrics in the songs are the different voices in my head sort of having it out internally"), the song is most likely a discussion on the Gotye's thoughts about it, asking himself if he should "put on the show" and keep selling this "act" because people enjoy it. He's reassured and validated by the reaction, but he's worried he can't keep up with expectations. Finally (a bit of a stretch) when he calls out "mother, are you watching?" I believe it's sort of a desperate plea for a higher authority to tell him what he's doing is right.

Having struggled with many of these feelings myself, I understand where Gotye would be coming from; unless you're able to convince yourself you really did deserve something, you can never truly escape that feeling of guilt it brings.

Alright guys, I'm going to give you my opinion of what the song means. It reminds me of my ex girlfriend. There are people out there that have mental problems and disorders of certain kinds, and this song explores an example of an individual like this.

"You're a fraud and you know it But it's too good to throw it all away Anyone would do the same You've got 'em going And you're careful not to show it Sometimes you even fool yourself a bit It's like magic But it's always been a smoke and mirrors game Anyone would do the same"

Basically this is saying this individual (in my opinion, a female or ex g/f) puts on a "Show", being one person, but acting like another, like split personalities. The person is a "fake" or "fraud". They're a fraud. It's a smoke & mirrors game means that this person is putting on a front, working magic to get what they want, they are selfish.

"So now that you've arrived, well, you wonder - What is it that you've done to make the grade? And should you do the same? (Is that too easy?) Are you only trying to please them? Will they see then- You're desperate to deliver Anything that could give you A sense of reassurance When you look in the mirror"

The making the grade part is meant to come off as sarcastic, meaning this person really hasn't accomplished anything. Pleasing people is mentioned in here as well, which is self explanatory. They will do anything, even act out of desperation to make themselves feel better at the end of the day, they are insecure.

"Such highs and lows You put on quite a show All these highs and lows And you're never really sure What you do it for Well do you even want to know? You put on quite a show"

High and lows refers to how inconsistent this person is with their life, whether emotions, relationships or career. This person is unsure about why they do what they do, but at the same time you wonder if they do it on purpose, to put on a show. Ultimately, this person, deep down does not have a purpose for what they do, no excuse for their actions.

"You're a fraud and you know it And every night and day you take the stage And it always entertains You're giving pleasure And that's admirable you tell yourself And so you gladly sell yourself To others Mother Are you watching?"

This is saying that the person puts on a show, like an entertainer, both physically and mentally. Playing mind games with people, while also selling herself or her body to get what she wants, no matter the consequences. "Mother, are you watching?" has stumped me, but my best guess is that he's asking the person's mother if she is watching how crazy and psychotic this person is, the one she raised.

That's my opinion, any comments are welcome.

This song is about how the famous are put on a pedestal. It may seem they have it all...But deep inside, they don't feel great.

http://www.thumbser.blogspot.com

This song reminds me of the guy I was with at the time. He was a former heroine addict and current cocaine addict. I didn't know it at the time but gradually realized this as I began to unravel the well crafted wall of lies he built. Drug addicts are truly gifted at lying. He had me defending him when other people called him out on it and he would tell me lies upon lies about everything. This song actually fits the situation so perfectly from my perspective it's creepy. He had issues with his mother which he of course distorted when telling me about it. He made her out to be the bad guy but really she just wouldn't let him come home until he could pass a drug test. He only ever admitted to me once that he was still using then tried to deny it afterwards. I honestly think that sometimes he even thought he was okay. It got the point where it was like he was hanging off a cliff and I was holding his hand, constantly slipping closer to the edge, and I realized that if I let go, he would hit the bottom, and if I held on, he would hit bottom. It came down to whether or not I was going to fall too. I couldn't save us both, and I didn't even do drugs. It was the emotional burden of trying to help someone who isn't ready to be helped.

i'm sure every song has a different meaning to the artist and to everyone who hears it but that's just what this song means to me.

I could be completely off, but my interpretation of this song is about maybe a girl working as a stripper or at a burlesque club.

to me, it's her struggle to justify it to herself as she hides her 'second life' from friends and family. when she takes to the stage she 'gives them pleasure 'And that's admirable, you tell yourself And so you'd gladly sell yourself to others'