Huge fan of this song, thought I'd share what I think this song is about. I think it's about social alienation from those closet through him, about him out growing his social and romantic circles, or, more accurately them out growing him. He doesn't want to grow up, his friends have all settled down and he's lost partners wanting the same, he doesn't want anything to change but everything has changed and he's powerless to prevent it. Now he's lonely man out partying on a playground of memories he once shared those closest.
I'm not a man, I'm a machine
Chisel me down until I am clean
I buy books I never read
And then I'll tell you some more about me
(Here his situation, another introduction to another set of strangers probably in some smoking area of club while out on his own)
Beneath the concrete there's a sound
A muffled cry below the ground
There is a poison in the air
A mix of chemicals and fear
(His feelings on what his pre night anticipation has become for what would have once been excitement and unity)
manners are just hunches (This line is 'Mam & Da just hunches' North east turn of phrase for mum and dad)
I'm not sure what they mean
You're asking for commitment
When I'm somewhere inbetween
(Here he's told his parents his problems, they agree with everyone else he should grow up too to but he's in denial)
Never never try to gauge temperature
When you tend to travel at such speed
It's our velocity
(His lifestyle)
Is it cold where you are this time of the year?
You didn't leave a scar
(Their new life style but they seem happy.)
A stream of numbers hit a screen
And you're expected to know what they mean
Throughout the conflict, I was serene
I can't outrun the sadness I've seen
(monotony of day to life, the 9-5, the set routine, it's not for him, can't hold down jobs, can't hold down relationships)
Are you willing to resist
The people you've never met?
The devil's wheel revolves
But it needs to be reset
(Best bit in the lyrics, can't resist the lifestyle, people keep passing him by, this his vice, a vicious circle, deep down he knows he needs to start settling down but can't break the cycle.)
Never never try to gauge temperature
When you tend to travel at such speed
It's our velocity
Please tell me is it cold where you are this time of the year?
You didn't leave a scar
I've got no-one to call in the middle of the night anymore
I'm just alone with these thoughts
I've got no-one to call in the middle of the night anymore
I'm just alone with my thoughts
(Becoming self explanatory now, pushed anybody important in his life away)
I watched a film to change my feelings
Strong enough to bear a burden
If everyone became this sensitive
I wouldn't have to be so sensitive
(Finally accepting he needs to make change in his life. He's blamed everybody but himself but now he's willing to take some of the blame.)
If everyone became so sensitive
Perhaps I wouldn't be so sensitive
(Nobodies interested anymore, they're no longer emotionally invested in him)
Love is a lie, which means I've been lied to
Love is a lie, which means I've been lying too
Love is a lie, which means I've been lied to
Love is a lie
(Feels he's betrayed everybody he's ever cared about and that they have also betrayed him.)
I've got no-one to call in the middle of the night anymore
I'm just alone with these thoughts
I've got no-one to call in the middle of the night anymore
I'm just alone with my thoughts
Never never try to guage temperature
When you tend to travel at such speed
It's our velocity
Huge fan of this song, thought I'd share what I think this song is about. I think it's about social alienation from those closet through him, about him out growing his social and romantic circles, or, more accurately them out growing him. He doesn't want to grow up, his friends have all settled down and he's lost partners wanting the same, he doesn't want anything to change but everything has changed and he's powerless to prevent it. Now he's lonely man out partying on a playground of memories he once shared those closest.
I'm not a man, I'm a machine Chisel me down until I am clean I buy books I never read And then I'll tell you some more about me (Here his situation, another introduction to another set of strangers probably in some smoking area of club while out on his own)
Beneath the concrete there's a sound A muffled cry below the ground There is a poison in the air A mix of chemicals and fear (His feelings on what his pre night anticipation has become for what would have once been excitement and unity)
manners are just hunches (This line is 'Mam & Da just hunches' North east turn of phrase for mum and dad) I'm not sure what they mean You're asking for commitment When I'm somewhere inbetween (Here he's told his parents his problems, they agree with everyone else he should grow up too to but he's in denial)
Never never try to gauge temperature When you tend to travel at such speed It's our velocity (His lifestyle) Is it cold where you are this time of the year? You didn't leave a scar (Their new life style but they seem happy.)
A stream of numbers hit a screen And you're expected to know what they mean Throughout the conflict, I was serene I can't outrun the sadness I've seen (monotony of day to life, the 9-5, the set routine, it's not for him, can't hold down jobs, can't hold down relationships)
Are you willing to resist The people you've never met? The devil's wheel revolves But it needs to be reset (Best bit in the lyrics, can't resist the lifestyle, people keep passing him by, this his vice, a vicious circle, deep down he knows he needs to start settling down but can't break the cycle.)
Never never try to gauge temperature When you tend to travel at such speed It's our velocity Please tell me is it cold where you are this time of the year? You didn't leave a scar
I've got no-one to call in the middle of the night anymore I'm just alone with these thoughts I've got no-one to call in the middle of the night anymore I'm just alone with my thoughts (Becoming self explanatory now, pushed anybody important in his life away)
I watched a film to change my feelings Strong enough to bear a burden If everyone became this sensitive I wouldn't have to be so sensitive (Finally accepting he needs to make change in his life. He's blamed everybody but himself but now he's willing to take some of the blame.) If everyone became so sensitive Perhaps I wouldn't be so sensitive (Nobodies interested anymore, they're no longer emotionally invested in him) Love is a lie, which means I've been lied to Love is a lie, which means I've been lying too Love is a lie, which means I've been lied to Love is a lie (Feels he's betrayed everybody he's ever cared about and that they have also betrayed him.) I've got no-one to call in the middle of the night anymore I'm just alone with these thoughts
I've got no-one to call in the middle of the night anymore I'm just alone with my thoughts
Never never try to guage temperature When you tend to travel at such speed It's our velocity