I could feel at the time
There was no way of knowing
Fallen leaves in the night
Who can say where they're blowing
As free as the wind
Hopefully learning
Why the sea on the tide
Has no way of turning

More than this, there is nothing

More than this, tell me one thing
More than this, there is nothing

It was fun for a while
There was no way of knowing
Like a dream in the night
Who can say where we're going
No care in the world
Maybe I'm learning
Why the sea on the tide
Has no way of turning

More than this, you know there is nothing
More than this, tell me one thing
More than this, no there is nothing

More than this
Nothing
More than this
More than this
Nothing

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Roxy Music's song "More Than This" are quite enigmatic and open to interpretation. The first verse sets the mood for the rest of the song, with the singer reflecting on a moment in time where they felt lost and uncertain about their future. The falling leaves are a symbol of change and impermanence, and the wind represents freedom and the unknown. The second half of the verse introduces the idea of the sea on the tide having no way of turning, which is a metaphor for the inevitability of life's changes and how we must learn to adapt.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "More than this, there is nothing" three times, before asking for someone to tell the singer "one thing" that is more than what they are experiencing. It could be interpreted as a yearning for something more meaningful or a melancholic acceptance of the limitations of their current situation. The second verse is similar to the first, with the singer reflecting on a past experience that was enjoyable but ultimately temporary, and again referencing the sea on the tide as a reminder of life's cyclical nature.

Overall, the lyrics can be seen as a commentary on the human desire for more and the fleeting nature of happiness. The song's dreamy instrumentation and Bryan Ferry's vocals add to the wistful, nostalgic mood.

Line by Line Meaning

I could feel at the time
At that moment, I distinctly sensed something.

There was no way of knowing
Despite my strong feelings, there was no absolute guarantee what I sensed was true.

Fallen leaves in the night
I see leaves that have tumbled from trees on a dark night.

Who can say where they're blowing
It's impossible to predict where the wind will take the leaves.

As free as the wind
The leaves are moving unencumbered by restraints, similar to the wind itself.

Hopefully learning
I'm hoping to obtain knowledge and develop as a person.

Why the sea on the tide
I wonder why the ocean behaves the way it does when the tide rises and falls.

Has no way of turning
The ocean's pattern of tides is inexorable and predetermined with no option to change.

More than this, there is nothing
There is nothing beyond the present moment worth pursuing or contemplating.

More than this, tell me one thing
Can you give me a single example of something more consequential than the present moment?

It was fun for a while
In the past, I enjoyed myself for a spell.

Like a dream in the night
My happy memories seem like a haze, much like a dream in someone's sleep.

Who can say where we're going
It's challenging to determine what direction our current trajectory will take us.

No care in the world
There wasn't a worry in the world during that time.

Maybe I'm learning
I might be gaining new insights and acquiring more knowledge.

More than this, you know there is nothing
You know just as well as I do that there's nothing more significant or satisfying than the present moment.

More than this, tell me one thing
Do you believe there's a single thing more substantial or profound than the current moment?

More than this, no there is nothing
We may ponder at length, but there is nothing more substantial than the present moment.

More than this
Ultimately, there's nothing more significant or satisfying than the here and now.

Nothing
There is no value or worth in any pursuit beyond what is in front of us right now.

More than this
No matter what, this moment is the most important moment of our lives

More than this
This moment is the only moment of importance and is all there is to life.

Nothing
Anything beyond the present moment is hollow and worthless by comparison.

just now