I write this alone on my bed
I've poisoned every room in my house
The place is quiet and so alone
Pretend there's something worth waiting for.
There's nothing nice in my head
The adult world took it all away
Wake up with the same spit in my mouth
Cannot tell if it's real or not.

I try to walk in a straight line
An imitation of dignity
From despair to where
From despair to where

Outside opened mouthed cows
Pass each other as if their drugged
Down pale corridors of routine
Where life falls unatoned
The weak kick like straw
Till the world means less and less
Words are never enough
Just cheap tarnished glitter

I try to walk in a straight line
An imitation of dignity
From despair to where
From despair to where

A cripple walks in a straight line
An imitation of dignity
From despair to where
From despair to where


Lyrics submitted by ShiverForMe

From Despair to Where Lyrics as written by Nicholas Jones James Bradfield

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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From Despair To Where song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    "In the Western world, living conditions really aren't that bad. Most people have somewhere to live and enough to eat - and yet most people are unhappy. I don't think many people ever come home at night thinking 'What a great day that was!' And that's why totalitarianism will always be tempting - because a fascist leader can say 'I'll make all your decisions for you. You don't need to have any responsibilities. I'll take care of your life.'" (Richey James)

    manic4manicson October 23, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Like in the song of "Yourself" (''too many teenage holes to fill'') there is a reference to the adolescence and the difficulty of growing up with this line : ''The adult world took it all away''. All his diseases come from his teenage I suppose.

    regenbogenon April 11, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Love this song. Definitely a song about how adulthood takes the joys out of life, and the idea of past mistakes lingering- 'poisoning' every room in the house. As the negative memories of the area build, there's nowhere left to go for peace. I know some people think those few lines are dramatic, but I quite like them.

    I try and walk in a straight line An imitation of dignity From despair to where From despair to where

    ^ Very depressing, but I think it sums up well how Richey felt at the time. Like what was left of him was this stumbling shell, and he was trying to pretend everything was still going ok.

    thisnameplson April 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think it's got to do with how, as you grow up, life seems less and less exciting and hopeful and simple.

    "There's nothing nice in my head The adult world took it all away"

    I think that's the key lines right there.

    Hellenic-Samuraion October 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    I think it explains depression; definitely a song that Richey wrote. I also agree with the whole growing up thing; and, it's the truth. Growing up isn't all that exciting.

    xpwoppaon June 19, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The depression of Richey.

    SonofSunTzuon May 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I swear it's 'open mouthed crowds'. Not cows.

    manic4manicson October 23, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Also, Joy Division has a song called "From Safety To Where" probably no relation to this song but that might be where Richey got the title of this song Beautiful song by the way

    nava115370on October 27, 2014   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    this song represents nothing worth looking forward too and as if to say your so down now where do you go from here? a depressing song by the manics but saying that most them are.

    forever delayedon June 12, 2003   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    Yea, rocks out tho, u woudlnt guess it was so desperate without the lyrics

    Mortonium Iceon January 15, 2005   Link

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