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."
When I feel left out
I feel run over
I know it's in my head
But I feel dead
When I'm not invited
Will I always be the one left behind the door?
Could I ever be the one you will open for?
Whenever you need me
I'll forget it all
Whenever you need me
I'll believe that I belong
Whenever you need me
Whenever you reach out
I'll be there
Whenever you change
Your mind I'll forgive
You made me wrong
Sometimes I feel ashamed
That I am longing
To be a part of you
One of the few
Why is it so exciting?
Who am I to always preach on equality?
When all I really ever am is a wannabe
Whenever you need me
I'll forget it all
Whenever you need me
I'll believe that I belong
Whenever you need me
Whenever you reach out
I'll be there
Whenever you change
Your mind I'll forgive
You made me wrong
Whenever you need me
Whenever you need me
Whenever you need me
I'll forget it all
Whenever you need me
I'll believe that I belong
Whenever you need me
Whenever you reach out
I'll be there
Whenever you change
Your mind I'll forgive
You made me wrong
Whenever you need me
I feel run over
I know it's in my head
But I feel dead
When I'm not invited
Will I always be the one left behind the door?
Could I ever be the one you will open for?
Whenever you need me
I'll forget it all
Whenever you need me
I'll believe that I belong
Whenever you need me
Whenever you reach out
I'll be there
Whenever you change
Your mind I'll forgive
You made me wrong
Sometimes I feel ashamed
That I am longing
To be a part of you
One of the few
Why is it so exciting?
Who am I to always preach on equality?
When all I really ever am is a wannabe
Whenever you need me
I'll forget it all
Whenever you need me
I'll believe that I belong
Whenever you need me
Whenever you reach out
I'll be there
Whenever you change
Your mind I'll forgive
You made me wrong
Whenever you need me
Whenever you need me
Whenever you need me
I'll forget it all
Whenever you need me
I'll believe that I belong
Whenever you need me
Whenever you reach out
I'll be there
Whenever you change
Your mind I'll forgive
You made me wrong
Whenever you need me
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Whenever You Need Me Lyrics as written by Lina Rafn Adam Powers
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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