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New Orleans
Portugal. The Man Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I slip back down where we found
A meter milling maze
And the rest that we find sound
Will it find us on the bottom?
Will we find our way?
Will we fall apart useless machining the maze?
Find that sleep that we've lost

Na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na

Fair and tired living
Lives like little lifted leans
Shaking heads under the shade
Of them bright bright bright sweet pear trees
Mine is gone with the day
Never miss a beat never find a home
Mine is gone with all time. All time

Mother father brother sister son daughters
We are the rabbits that let the fox lead us
Out in the sun with the cold war fever
Beg for your money just please don't eat us

Deaf like the big guns foaming
At the mouth they're gnashing
Quiet like our words that roam and roll about
Let's march a train of thought to crack the boards that keep us out
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost

Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Portugal. The Man's "New Orleans" are open to interpretation and may have several meanings. On the surface, the song seems to allude to the city of New Orleans, giving tribute to its rich culture, history, and music. However, it delves deeper into the themes of loss, confusion, and the search for meaning.


The song begins with the singer slipping back down where "we found a meter milling maze," which suggests revisiting a place that once seemed familiar but now seems like a daunting and confusing maze. The singer questions if they'll find their way, fall apart useless machining the maze, or find the sleep that they've lost. These lines seemingly refer to the feeling of being lost in life, uncertain of how to move forward, and yearning for something to fill the void.


The lyrics then turn to the image of bright sweet pear trees where the singer's life is gone with the day. It then jumps to the lines, "Mother father brother sister son daughters we are the rabbits that let the fox lead us. Out in the sun with the cold war fever beg for your money just please don't eat us." These lines may refer to the helpless position the singer feels they are in, at the mercy of the powerful, and the fear or paranoia of the aftermath of the Cold War.


Overall, "New Orleans" seems to be a commentary on feeling lost and longing for a sense of security and purpose in life. The use of metaphor, imagery, and paradoxical lyrics adds to the depth of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

I slip back down where we found
Returning to where we started


A meter milling maze
A confusing and complicated journey


And the rest that we find sound
The discoveries we make along the way


Will it find us on the bottom?
Will we find success in the end?


Will we find our way?
Will we figure out our path?


Will we fall apart useless machining the maze?
Will we lose ourselves in the process?


Find that sleep that we've lost
Regain a sense of peace and rest


Fair and tired living
Trying to live a just and balanced life


Lives like little lifted leans
Living on a precarious edge


Shaking heads under the shade
Confused and uncertain


Of them bright bright bright sweet pear trees
Distracted by pleasing and attractive distractions


Mine is gone with the day
Lost opportunities


Never miss a beat never find a home
Always on the move, never settling down


Mine is gone with all time. All time
Lost opportunities in the past


Mother father brother sister son daughters
All members of a family unit


We are the rabbits that let the fox lead us
Allowing others to control us


Out in the sun with the cold war fever
Experiencing the tension and stress of conflict


Beg for your money just please don't eat us
Feeling vulnerable and in need


Deaf like the big guns foaming
Being overrun by overpowering forces


At the mouth they're gnashing
Acting aggressively and threateningly


Quiet like our words that roam and roll about
Silent and powerless


Let's march a train of thought to crack the boards that keep us out
Using our minds to break down barriers and limitations


Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again


Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again


Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again


Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again


Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again


Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again


Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again


Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Baldwin Gourley

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@JustinThomas-qt9hv

This album is their masterpiece. I hope the bandwagoners take the time to explore their stuff before they were recognized through radio and car commercials.

@brettdovahkiin7646

I love that they created a song the pertains within the experience of new orleans and actually bring in influences of new orleans music such as jazz.

@ridespirals

this song is probably the reason this entire album feels like New Orleans to me

@Paperbagman555

23,000 views?!? Travesty - this is one of PTM's best songs. That groove and hook are real - sexy bassline too.

@hiimmooky

The licks on this song make my toes curl up. So great

@dnddmdb642

Their best album, in my opinion.

@Scoty313

I love how jazzy it is ...... they should try something like this again

@_Mulberrystreetgirl01_

Wow

@mary-gx5cl

holy fckng shit this is cool

@lolvovolvo

<3

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