Bucharest
The New Division Lyrics
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But I see your face and hair shinning like gold
You walked up to me and told me to sit down
You bring me food as I walk into your home
"What are you doing here?" she asked in Romanian
I didn't know how to respond in her words
I simply looked into her eyes then I kissed her
She threw me and out into a city of hurt
All by myself
All by myself
All by myself
To be myself
To my knowledge there's nobody in this town
But I've seen your face and hair shinning like gold
You walked up to me and told me to sit down
You brought me food as I walked into your home
All by myself
All by myself
All by myself
To be myself
The lyrics of The New Division's "Bucharest" tell a melancholic tale of isolation, longing and love in a foreign land. The song opens with the singer stating that he believes there is no one in town, yet he sees a woman's face and hair shining like gold. She walks up to him, invites him into her home, and brings him food. The singer mentions that she spoke in Romanian and he didn't know how to respond, but he simply kissed her. She throws him out into "a city of hurt." The song then repeats itself, but instead of saying "But I see your face," the singer says "But I've seen your face." The final repeat of the chorus ends with the phrase "To be myself."
The lyrics suggest a feeling of disconnect and loneliness, as the singer is in a foreign place where he doesn't understand the language or the culture, and he is yearning for human connection. The woman he meets represents a glimmer of hope, but their encounter is brief and ultimately ends in rejection.
This song captures the experience of being a stranger in a strange land, and the longing for companionship that can arise from such a situation. The repeating chorus of "All by myself, to be myself" conveys a sense of self-reliance and individuality, but also a sense of resignation to the fact that the singer is alone.
Line by Line Meaning
To my knowledge there's nobody in this town
As far as I'm aware, this place is deserted.
But I see your face and hair shinning like gold
Although there seems to be no one around, I observe that you are present and shining brightly with your golden hair.
You walked up to me and told me to sit down
Approaching me, you kindly requested that I take a seat.
You bring me food as I walk into your home
As I entered your abode, you generously offered me some nourishment.
"What are you doing here?" she asked in Romanian
Inquiring as to my purpose, she vocalized the question in her native language of Romanian.
I didn't know how to respond in her words
Unable to comprehend her speech, I lacked the ability to answer her inquiry using her dialect.
I simply looked into her eyes then I kissed her
Choosing to use my actions rather than words, I gazed into her eyes and tenderly embraced her with a kiss.
She threw me and out into a city of hurt
Reacting negatively to my gesture, she figuratively threw me out into a city filled with emotional pain and turmoil.
All by myself
Without companionship from others,
All by myself
Alone,
All by myself
Solitarily,
To be myself
In order to exist as my true self.
Contributed by Jeremiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.