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Thru These Walls Lyrics
I can hear through these walls
I can hear it when they're foolin' around
I can hear through these walls
And I hear every sign, every sound
I can hear through these walls
In the dark with the shades pulled down
Every word that they say
Every move they make feels it's coming my way
My favorite moment
Putting the glass up next to the wall
Imagination
Tho' I see nothing, I hear it all
Putting my sign up
Do not disturb me, speak or shout, inside out
Oh and my clothes, they're all laid out
I can see through my windows
I can see the girls and the boys
I can see through my windows
And I can imagine the noise
I can see through my windows
I can see them playing with toys
Oh, I hope it won't end
Ooh, if I promise not to touch, just be a friend
Life is so lonely
I don't get high off just being me
I like pretending
Wanting to touch them, wanting to see
It's only normal
Creeping behind you, now don't shout, 'cos it's alright
They keep the windows locked and the door shut tight
Oh I'm feeling like I'm locked in a cage
No way in, no way out, and it gets so lonely
Am I really asking a lot
Just to reach out and touch somebody
'Cause when I look through my windows or open my door
I can feel it all around me
And I can hear through these walls
I can hear it when they're foolin' around
I can hear through these walls
I can hear every sight, every sound
Ooh, I can hear through these walls
In the dark with the shades pulled down
And every word that they say
Every move they make feels it's coming my way
Ah yeah
Ah yeah
Ah yeah
Ah yeah
I can hear it when they're foolin' around
I can hear through these walls
And I hear every sign, every sound
I can hear through these walls
In the dark with the shades pulled down
Every move they make feels it's coming my way
Putting the glass up next to the wall
Imagination
Tho' I see nothing, I hear it all
Putting my sign up
Do not disturb me, speak or shout, inside out
Oh and my clothes, they're all laid out
I can see the girls and the boys
I can see through my windows
And I can imagine the noise
I can see through my windows
I can see them playing with toys
Ooh, if I promise not to touch, just be a friend
I don't get high off just being me
I like pretending
Wanting to touch them, wanting to see
It's only normal
Creeping behind you, now don't shout, 'cos it's alright
They keep the windows locked and the door shut tight
No way in, no way out, and it gets so lonely
Am I really asking a lot
Just to reach out and touch somebody
'Cause when I look through my windows or open my door
I can feel it all around me
I can hear it when they're foolin' around
I can hear through these walls
I can hear every sight, every sound
Ooh, I can hear through these walls
In the dark with the shades pulled down
Every move they make feels it's coming my way
Ah yeah
Ah yeah
Ah yeah
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This song came to mind today and I didn't understand why, which is why I went looking here. I didn't find an explanation in the lyrics nor other interpretations. Is the song about a pervert? Creep? Child abuse? And if it were, how would it have been such a popular song?
A couple hours later I realized what it's really about: loneliness. The emotional core of the song is the bridge. It's presenting us with the context - the truth - underneath the content. Which as is so often the case in life, distracts us with obfuscating details.
[Edit: typo]
This song troubles me as it seems very dark and menacing. Can't believe no one else has commented on it!
@Fan36Otr I agree. Like he appears a 'sex addict'; lots of casual relationships and he 'can't commit'... but perhaps it's all a disguise. Very broken boy it seems. Like these frequent, meaningless sexual encounters fill him with terror and sadness.
@Fan36Otr I agree. Like he appears a 'sex addict'; lots of casual relationships and he 'can't commit'... but perhaps it's all a disguise. Very broken boy it seems. Like these frequent, meaningless sexual encounters fill him with terror and sadness.
To me, the first part of the song is about a creepy guy in a hotel room listening to people in the room(s) next to him having sex.
"I can hear through these walls, I can hear it when they're foolin' around"
The reason I think he is in a hotel is this line
"Putting my sign up, Do not disturb me, speak or shout, inside out"
but then its about watching - I'm guessing children since he says "I can see the girls and the boys" but he is at a distance and can't hear them - "And I can imagine the noise"
and the question I guess is does the guy act on his thoughts or just fantasize about it? "Life is so lonely, I don't get high off just being me, I like pretending, Wanting to touch them, wanting to see"
because at the end it seems like maybe he does more than watch?
"It's only normal, Creeping behind you, now don't shout, 'cos it's alright"
Like he grabs someone and says "don't shout" and then maybe he keeps them locked up?
"They keep the windows locked and the door shut tight"
Or maybe its a guy in an institution locked up and watching things in the distance and occasionally he hears people in the institution having sex?
Definitely a creepy song!
Nah... it means the pathetic stalker is going to get the opportunity of his lifetime and be able to watch how it's done, effectively and easily.
Time and time and time again. Get used to it!!
Come on people are yous messing? It's blatantly obvious from the introduction before the song performed at Perkins Palace Pasadena that if they got any stronger the child abusive undertones in this song would quite possibly jump out and bite you. It's changed my whole perception of Phil Collins and being a poet/Lyricist myself I am well aware that as writers we write what we know, ya with me,? Dodgey food for thought eh y'all