Wipe away the summer air
You don't wanna see
That's you in that Photograph from 1973
And you don't even know me

God only Knows I wanna be
The other side of misery
Gimme a plate of Fluorescein
I'm gonna paint an ugly scene
All of the things I wanna say
Can't get a word out anyway
Falling away after today
Nothing to lose so come what may

Don't wake me

You got away from me somehow
And all we tried to be
Everything is different now
The mind's eye fails to see
And all we know is TV

Inside, I rise above this shallow world
Inside, I rise above this sorrow


Lyrics submitted by kornchick, edited by michaeleqd

Fluorescein song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

15 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment
    avoidtheskyon January 25, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The song title is spelled 'Flourescein', for the record.

    And I love the chorus. It does remind me a little of high school, or maybe even trying to catch up with an old friend and realizing you don't really know them anymore.

    shikonaorion May 31, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is how you spell FLUORESCEIN. At least spell the title right.

    iamthescavengeron November 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The last lyrics are: Inside, I rise above this shallow world Inside, I rise above this sorrow

    resonnanton April 28, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Oh my God, I love this song. The chorus is amazing! "Falling away after today, nothing to lose so come what MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY!!"

    Gives me goose bumps every time. I love this band so much. Damn!

    l0ck3on May 05, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i feel the chorus as well, sometimes it makes me cry...

    anthonyjudeon May 10, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The song reminds me of all the garbage I went through in High School... Love Hate and the end of the world... I'd give anything to go back......

    Wicked1974on July 02, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song just has so much meaning.......God only knows i wanna be the other side of misery....i love that.......

    CrazedVampiresson August 03, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song just has so much meaning.......God only knows i wanna be the other side of misery....i love that.......

    CrazedVampiresson August 04, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    some idiot doesn't know how to spell the title correctly but anyways, this is a beautiful airy song. it's great how he can reach such high notes unlike some male singers

    Ethilienon March 29, 2003   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.