The Other Side of Paradise Lyrics

Lyric discussion by shallowkittyartist 

Cover art for The Other Side of Paradise lyrics by Glass Animals

So I have my own interpretation of this song. So I'm gonna break down the lyrics.

"When I was young and stupid my love Left to be a rock and roll star He told me please don't worry Wise little smile that spoke so safely" -Guy 1 (the singer/the main character) was in a relationship with Guy 2 who pursued to become a rock star. Guy 2 assures he will be okay and Guy 1 is a bit sceptical on Guy 2 leaving.

"He booked a one way ticket Out west that's where they'd make it Six kids stuck in a bedsit To sunswept poolside riches" -I interpreted the first line indicates Guy 2 did not plan on coming back to Guy 1. Guy 2 goes west (probably somewhere like California) and makes it big while there. Guy 2 becomes famous with his 5 other band members, living in a small apartment. Guy 2 enjoys the fame and money.

"He met a girl who wore Versace Pink feather coats and jumbo jewellery Gonna be a hoop phenomenon He's gonna be Hakeem Olajuwon" -Guy 2, while becoming popular, meets a lady fan who seems to also be rich? Maybe the lady is someone who wants to make him a real rock star. Another way to interpret it is he met the girl he would later cheat with on Guy 1. The last line is a reference to a guy who made it to the hall of fame, so I'd interpret it meant the lady promised he'd be that famous one day.

"He's got a gold Camaro He said over the payphone I try to keep my cool but My life turns in slow motion" -Guy 2 talks about how great it is being famous and rich to Guy 1, who isn't taking it well. Guy 1 is having a breakdown cause Guy 2 is changing and in a bad way. Guy 1 also notes that Guy 2 was calling him on a payphone (perhaps hiding Guy 1 from his other girlfriend and not taking chances calling Guy 1 on his phone?)

"Bye bye baby blue I wish you could see the wicked truth Caught up in a rush, it's killing you Screaming at the sun, you blow into Curled up in a grip when we were us Fingers in a fist like you might run I settle for a ghost I never knew Superparadise I held on to But I settle for a ghost" -Guy 1 is saying bye to Guy 2's former self (his innocence/humblness evolving into greed) Guy 2 is blinded by the fame and Guy 1 wishes he'd snap out of it. Guy 1 does not want Guy 2 to leave him. The ghost part is foreshadowing for the ending of the song.

"Where I was from NOLA no one Left to be a rock and roll star He'd stay and treat his lady Give everything to his new baby" -Guy 1 is from New Orleans, where its unlikely someone would leave to become something like a rock star. Guy 1 is in denial about Guy 2 finally breaking up (or maybe even not breaking up and Guy 1 finding out Guy 2 was cheating) Guy 1 talks about how Guy 2 has a new lover.

"I miss him don't you blame me That boy went stone cold crazy Caught up in camera lust he's Chasing that pappy pipe dreams" -Guy 1 misses Guy 2 and seems be having a interaction with himself, in which he both blames himself for Guy 2's cheating and thinks its not his fault and is having an internal conflict with himself. Guy 2 became a dick cause of the fame and money and kept going up the latter because of his greed.

At this point in the song, the song seems to pick up as if it was going to drop the chorus again, but it seemed abruptly stopped by a noise that resembled a shot gun being pumped (that's just where my mind went when I heard it) Then it goes calm.

"I know you don't but I I know you don't but I still try" -Guy 1 seems broken to me in these next few lines. I imagined Guy 1 looming over Guy 2's body or something while talking these lines.

"My thunder shook him down My thunder came and shook him down" -I interpreted Guy 1's "thunder" to be the sound a shotgun makes. He killed Guy 2.

"That girl is gone but I That girl is gone but I still try I think it's over now The bullet hit but maybe not" -More lyrics that point to Guy 1 murdering Guy 2. Guy 1 is actually in shock and wondering if he was actually dead. This also sort of hints the girl left Guy 2 as well cause Guy 2 was a dick.

"I feel so fucking numb It hits my head and I feel numb My body's looking wrong My body's looking wrong My body's looking wrong" -Guy 1 is in total hysteria. He says hes feeling numb cause of the adrenaline of killing his ex. Or maybe he doesn't feel remorse and he realizes how fucked up that is and is freaking out about it. The music in the background picks up and gives the listener anxiety because that is probably what Guy 1 is experiencing.

"Bye bye baby blue I wish you could see the wicked truth" -Guy 1 is saying bye to his own innocence this time I believe. The "wicked truth" being he is now a murderer and doesn't believe he just killed Guy 2.

"Caught up in a rush it's killing you Screaming at the sun you blow into Curled up in a grip when we were us Fingers in a fist like you might run" -Adrenaline rush from murder. He remembers the times before any of this happened.

I settle for a ghost I never knew Superparadise I held on to But I settle for a ghost" -He thinks he is being haunted by the ghost of his ex. "Ghost I never knew" refers to his Ex being a different person his lover. He lives his life in constant paranoia.

Well, that's my interpretation on it. Probably some bumpy details, especially the ending. But ya know.

@shallowkittyartist what if guy1 killed the girl who wore versace instead of guy 2 and that’s why the song says: « that girl is gone »?

@Vitlos That's definitely a possibility. I always imagine the line <That girl is gone but I That girl is gone but I still try> as sort of evidence that the girl left Guy 2 (cause he became a asshole) and that Guy 1 is comparing himself with the girl. (Saying he never left, but she did. Maybe he would have continued the relationship even after Guy 2 became an asshole. But because Guy 2 broke off the relationship, he ended up in this situation where he was truly alone.)

My Interpretation

@shallowkittyartist I have a little bit different theory, Here it is.

So there's a couple One of them want to be a rockstar: ("When I was young and stupid my love Left to be a rock and roll star")

The other one don't like the idea (let's call them baby blue) But he keep telling baby blue is fine: ("He told me please don't worry Wise little smile that spoke so safely")

He doesn't think about the relationship anymore, continuing his dream: ("He booked a one way ticket Out west that's where they'd make it")...