Sister Europe
Foo Fighters Lyrics
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So sick upon a Steinway the sailors drown
See them talk and see them drown
And see them drink and fall around upon the floor
Sister of mine, home again
Sister of mine, home again
Lonely in a crowded room
The radio plays out of tune so silently
The radio upon the floor
Is stupid it plays Aznavour so out of key
Sister of mine, home again
Sister of mine, home again
Broken on a ship of fools
Even dreams must fall to rules so stupidly
Words are all just useless sound
Just like cards, they fall around and we will be
Sister of mine, home again
Sister of mine, home again
Buy a car and watch it rust
Sister see them fall to dust, they fall around
In another crowded room
Paint me like the shirt I'm in, honestly
Sister of mine, home again
Sister of mine, home again
Sister of mine
Sister of mine
Sister of mine
Sister of mine
Sister
Europe is a song by Foo Fighters, originally recorded by The Psychedelic Furs. The song tells the story of a lonely soul, drowning in the noise of a crowded room. The opening line, "Stupid on the Steinway" refers to the piano, and how the music being played on it is so terrible that the sailors around it drown in their own sorrows. The second stanza describes the loneliness of the singer as he hears the radio play out of tune, and the music on the radio is so terrible that it adds to his agitation. The third stanza mentions the phrase "Broken on a ship of fools". This lyric represents the singer's mental state as he feels like he's on a ship full of fools who are just going through life without any real purpose.
Next, the song delves into the futility of dreams in the face of rules, and how words are just "useless sound". This connects back to the theme of the singer feeling lost in the bustle of life. The final verse talks about how one can buy a car, but it will eventually rust and fall apart. The singer sees everything around him falling apart, and he feels that all he can do is be honest with himself, even if nobody else sees him.
Overall, the song's themes revolve around loneliness, futility, and the eventual decay of all things. The lyrics are poetic and use metaphors to portray the singer's state of mind. Dave Grohl's vocals add a layer of vulnerability and helplessness to the song, making it a standout track in the Foo Fighters' discography.
Line by Line Meaning
Stupid on the Steinway
Someone is playing foolishly on the piano, while sailors drown around them
So sick upon a Steinway the sailors drown
The person playing the piano is so self-absorbed and sick that they don't even notice the sailors drowning around them
See them talk and see them drown
The people around the person playing the piano are both talking and drowning at the same time, showing their inability to truly connect and help one another
And see them drink and fall around upon the floor
The people continue to drink and fall apart, while the person playing the piano remains unresponsive to their pain
Sister of mine, home again
The singer is longing for their sister to return home
Lonely in a crowded room
The singer feels alone despite being surrounded by people
The radio plays out of tune so silently
The radio is playing poorly, but no one seems to care
The radio upon the floor
The radio has been neglected and is lying on the ground
Is stupid it plays Aznavour so out of key
The radio is playing Charles Aznavour's music poorly and incorrectly
Broken on a ship of fools
The singer feels broken on a boat full of foolish people
Even dreams must fall to rules so stupidly
Even the singer's dreams are limited by foolish and pointless rules
Words are all just useless sound
The singer believes that words are ultimately meaningless and ineffective
Just like cards, they fall around and we will be
Words are easily discarded and forgotten, just like people
Buy a car and watch it rust
The singer is questioning the value of material possessions, which will inevitably decay
Sister see them fall to dust, they fall around
The singer is urging their sister to recognize the fleeting nature of worldly things, which will eventually crumble and disappear
In another crowded room
The singer is once again in a crowded room, feeling alienated and disconnected
Paint me like the shirt I'm in, honestly
The singer is urging someone to look past their external appearance and see them for who they truly are, in all their honesty and vulnerability
Sister of mine, home again
The singer repeats their longing for their sister to come back home
Sister of mine
The singer repeats their plea for their sister
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Duncan Kilburn, John Ashton, Richard Butler, Roger Nicholas Morris, Timothy Butler, Vincent Davey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind