Strange Times
The Black Keys Lyrics
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Travel all the way to earth
Coming restless mile
Easing all of them, all of them for you
Strange times, here
Strange times, here
Scratch you in the square
Meant so much when we first met
People come from far and near
Bless them me, bless them everyone
Strange times, here
Strange times, here
Stay here to dry your tear
I will be the one
To pull you through the mirror
Before you come, before you come undone
Strange times, here
Strange times, here
Strange times, here
Strange times, here
The lyrics to The Black Keys' "Strange Times" may seem a bit cryptic at first glance, but upon closer examination, it becomes clear that they're rich with imagery that serves to convey a sense of alienation and uncertainty. The opening lines, "Kings and sons of god/ Travel all the way to earth" evoke a sense of godhood and majesty, but one that has come down to our mundane world, as if the singer is suggesting that these powerful entities have made a journey to our level of reality. The next line, "Coming restless mile/Easing all of them, all of them for you" suggests some sort of troublesome arrival, and a desire to relieve someone's burden.
The chorus of "Strange times, here" repeats, cementing the idea that the world is undergoing some sort of upheaval, and the remaining stanzas continue to build on this theme. "Scratch you in the square/Meant so much when we first met" implies a sort of violence, or a sense of danger lurking under the guise of familiarity. The singer states that "people come from far and near/Bless them me, bless them everyone," which can be interpreted either as an attempt to offer solace to those seeking refuge, or as a sort of mythic role-playing, with the singer acting as some sort of savior figure. The final two stanzas suggest that the singer is attempting to reassure someone that it's going to be all right- "Stay here to dry your tear/I will be the one/To pull you through the mirror/Before you come, before you come undone." Overall, "Strange Times" is an invitation to explore a world that's in a state of flux- a little weird, a little scary, but full of potential nonetheless.
Line by Line Meaning
Kings and sons of god
People with high status or power, even those considered divine or godly,
Travel all the way to earth
Are making a journey to reach Earth, leaving their lofty positions or homes to do so
Coming restless mile
Arriving after a long, tiring and difficult journey
Easing all of them, all of them for you
Making their arrival easier or more comfortable, all for the sake of one individual
Strange times, here
The current situation is unusual or alarming
Scratch you in the square
A gesture that carries significance, possibly a form of initiation or marking upon meeting someone
Meant so much when we first met
That action held special meaning or significance when they first met one another
People come from far and near
Individuals from various distances and locations are converging together
Bless them me, bless them everyone
Showing gratitude or wishing well upon all of the people who have gathered
Stay here to dry your tear
Offering support and comfort to someone who is upset or in distress
I will be the one
Taking on the responsibility to provide assistance or guidance
To pull you through the mirror
Helping someone overcome or escape from a difficult or troubled situation
Before you come, before you come undone
Offering help before the person reaches a breaking point or difficult moment
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Daniel Quine Auerbach, Patrick James Carney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@quietberserker
I don't usually like music videos, but I love how this band writes a song, records it and and then just goes out and films themselves doing random, light hearted, stuff and and uses the footage to go with the song. At least thats what they seem to have done in this one. All the videos I've seen so far by them have at least been funny and creative.
@LowQualityl
I know right?
@Sekushiwolf
I remember hearing this song years ago. It still kicks ass.
@marceli-wac
I got to the point when I realized that Black Keys' videos are waaaay to cool to study to the music itself, gotta watch them
@ZachiswakYT
this video is terrible; i love it.
@iaincox9639
thats exactly right
@kennywrong
Here in 2020 because these are indeed strange times.
@Kanterwil
The black keys make me feel like music is finally allowed to be fun again....so tired of all the wannabe dark and ominous stuff
@harrisonr2193
Brothers anyone?
@nateman20
have you paid attention to the lyrics? a lot of them came from a dark place