Don't Move
Phantogram Lyrics
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Each time we say goodnight
You picture buildings burning to the ground
From the basement in the street light
I'm not your drinking problem
A hole is in the sky
Its not your heart that you've you been thinking of
Just the feeling like you're going to die
All I have to do is shake, shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Our move is shake, shake, shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
I'm not your paranoia
When someone's at the door
There's a fast calling out of a throat of a body rising through the floor
I'm not your fortune teller
I'm not your spirit guide
I'm never like you
Uncomfortable to
This is starting to fuck with my head
All I have to do is shake shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Our move is shake shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Don't you realize you're fine
Or can't you see that you're fine
And you know you're still alive
You know that you're still alive
Why don't you know you're alive
Why don't you know you're alive
Right in the sky
All I have to do is shake, shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
Our move is shake, shake
Keep your body still
Keep your body still
The lyrics to Phantogram's song Don't Move seem to be describing a person's struggle with anxiety and the feeling of impending doom. The first verse talks about how the other person sees destruction everywhere and feels like they're going to die, but the singer is not causing these feelings. The chorus mentions shaking to keep still, which seems to be a coping mechanism for the other person's anxiety. The second verse describes the other person's paranoia and discomfort, and how it is starting to affect the singer as well. The final verse is a plea for the other person to realize they are still alive and not in danger.
The song paints a vivid picture of anxiety and how it can affect relationships. The singer seems to care about the other person and tries to understand what they are going through, but also feels like they are being dragged down by their anxiety. The chorus with its repeated phrase "shake, shake, keep your body still" is particularly powerful, suggesting a physical response to a mental problem. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of helplessness in the face of anxiety, but also a desire to help and support the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not your nervous feeling
I am not the uncertainty that you feel inside.
Each time we say goodnight
At the end of each day when we part ways.
You picture buildings burning to the ground
You imagine structures being destroyed.
From the basement in the street light
This image is conjured in your mind's eye from a particular place.
I'm not your drinking problem
I am not the cause of your addiction.
A hole is in the sky
There is a literal void in the atmosphere.
Its not your heart that you've been thinking of
You are not contemplating your emotions.
Just the feeling like you're going to die
You are experiencing a sensation of impending doom.
All I have to do is shake, shake
My only course of action is to physically move back and forth.
Keep your body still
Despite this, you should remain motionless.
Our move is shake, shake, shake
This is our prescribed method of action.
I'm not your paranoia
I am not the source of your irrational fears.
When someone's at the door
If someone is present outside.
There's a fast calling out of a throat of a body rising through the floor
You hear a quick and urgent sound from voice emanating from a person coming from below you.
I'm not your fortune teller
I do not possess clairvoyant abilities.
I'm not your spirit guide
I am not here to guide you through the afterlife.
I'm never like you
I am not similar to you in any way.
Uncomfortable to
In fact, you make me uneasy.
This is starting to fuck with my head
Your behavior is beginning to negatively affect my mental wellbeing.
Don't you realize you're fine
Are you not aware that everything is ok?
Or can't you see that you're fine
Maybe you are unable to recognize that you are alright.
And you know you're still alive
You are aware that you have not passed away.
Why don't you know you're alive
Why is it that you can not acknowledge that you are living?
Right in the sky
It is as plain as day.
All I have to do is shake, shake
Again, I must physically move back and forth.
Keep your body still
And again, you should remain still despite my movements.
Our move is shake, shake
This is still how we are going to proceed.
Keep your body still
And keep staying still.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSHUA CARTER, SARAH BARTHEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kon_radar
@@bumzz2056 There's too much of it, I just post examples from an old indie playlist from top:
New Young Pony Club - The Get Go
The Good Natured - Your Body Is A Machine
Teenagersintokyo - Talk to the Fire
Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Being bad feels pretty good
The Aikiu - The Red Kiss
Breton - Interference
Coconut Records - Nighttiming
Savoir Adore - Dreamers
Onili - You Want It I Want It
Electrocute - Tiger Toy
The Lankasters - Summer of Love'88
Computer Magic - Fuzz
Hey Champ - Shake
Charli XCX - Stay Away
I was listening to Austrian and Polish underground radio stations a decade ago.
Search for "Radio Pernau FM4", and rewind the timeline back to around 2010, (from 2017 to today the list is empty), to see what was played
@fillashthrownout3309
I'm not your nervous feeling
Each time we say goodnight
You picture buildings burning to the ground
From the basement to the streetlight
I'm not your drinking problem
A hole is in the sky
It's not your heart that you've been thinkin of
Just the feeling like you're gonna die
All you know how to do is
Shake shake
Keep your body still, keep your body still
All you do is
Shake shake shake
Keep your body still, keep your body still
I'm not your paranoia
When someone's at the door
Virgin fires calling out the throat of a body rising through the floor
I'm not your fortune teller
I'm not your spinning bed
I'm never like you
Uncomfortable too
This is starting to fuck with my head
All you know how to do is
Shake shake
Keep your body still, keep your body still
All you do is
Shake shake shake
Keep your body still, keep your body still
Don't you realize you're fine
Oh can't you see that you're fine
And know that you're still alive
You know that you're still alive
Oh don't you know you're alive
Don't you know you're alive
Burning in the sky
@sydhera
I don't know if it's overthinking, but I believe this song is about depression and suicide. It fits with Sarah Barthel story: her sister committed suicide and during a concert she admitted that most of their songs are about her. The girl is blonde and looks a lot like her sister.
The cube looks like the ghost of depression itself. It has a mantel because that represents an human being, a voice (or death itself) who judges and talks with her. She tried to make contact but she hurts herself (blood on finger), she didn't realize what it is going on yet. Once she tried to focus it, the cube falls into "water" (in her subconscious) and became deeper. So depression came to life again with a black mantel. Behind the girl there are 3 other people (3 is a multiple meanings number, in my opinion they could represent the fear of time she leaves behind herself, made of "past", "present" and "future"). Now comes the rope. She is trapped now. In the car death drives, on right there is the fear of "present time" because she is still alive but she is going to kill herself far from home and when she looks at that figure she is really frightened because she has fear to do it but now she cannot stop the process. This could have been a dream, but she wakes up in a bed in the center of the bedroom (not with a side at wall, that makes her feel anxious and like still dreaming). In fact she is floating and she is drived away. She tried to take control again on depression, embrancing the cube, trying to accepting it, but it has grown too much. Next she is again in car and she get confused when she watches herself outside running in "alternative way", "alive" in a way she is not drived out and she can go where she wants. That's the part in the song that says: "why don't you know you're alive". She is her alternative herself. She faced the cube depression that now is huge and enormous. She is determinated now. She focuses on it and clenches her fist, this action represents courage and strenght. So she manages to destroy the cube and with it all the 3 masked fears fade out. Then she returns home and she finally can take the cube because it is part of herself but she can control it again. Last, with cube in her hand she turns the head to you (who watch the videoclip right now) warning you about that story. Sorry for my bad English und multiple fails. I hope someone else got the same meaning out of this videoclip and that I'm not totally crazy.
That's, plus, how I have read the lyrics:
"I'm not your nervous feeling
Each time we say goodnight" (she has fear of the night and she has fear to be alone)
"All I have to do is shake, shake" (she has to awake from this nightmare and feel alive again)
"Keep your body still" (don't hurt yourself, don't kill yourself)
"I'm not your paranoia
When someone's at the door" (I can't hurt you like your social anxiety does, please trust me)
"There's a fast calling out of a throat of a body rising through the floor" (this looks like someone dying)
"I'm not your fortune teller
I'm not your spirit guide" (I cannot give you a way out)
"I'm never like you" (I can't feel what you feel)
"Uncomfortable to
This is starting to fuck with my head" (and that makes me so mad, this drives me crazy)
"All I have to do is shake shake" (I must remember to feel alive)
"Don't you realize you're fine
Or can't you see that you're fine
And you know you're still alive
You know that you're still alive
Why don't you know you're alive
Why don't you know you're alive "(why can't you believe me that it can be all ok?)
@Trildin
Why the hell isn't Phantogram like 10x more popular?
@forgottenodyssey
Hell, I'm surprised they're as popular as they are. I'd never heard of them until Reddit brought me here, never once on the radio or in an ad or anything, but yet they have millions of views - just like a lot of of the bands I hear regularly on the radio. They deserve the popularity though, they're so damn amazing! I've been missing out for years.
@LBibeauB24
I heard them on my local Hard Rock/Metal station the other morning with "You Don't Get Me High Anymore" Was surprised it was on there but I'm glad I heard it.
@luiselehfeldt5001
Lakoda B7u4u8ueebout 8iiiio4íiīoi98op4p4op4p4
@cr0wsb0nes
i <3 radio likes them...
@SafeTripHome33
quality music is never popular
@finalgirljess_
The indie genre was so good 2008-2013. This song is so nostalgic and takes me to another world. Will forever love this song!!
@bradleeingram4957
Very underrated indie time
@stefanallard3084
Yes agree!!
@kon_radar
2009 was the peak. I remember when it got worse when there was much dubstep and later UK garage on the radio, around 2012-2013.