I forgot I forgot I forgot I forgot
I forgot I forgot I forgot I forgot I forgot
When you lately I forgot
Happening again in a slow diagonal
I forgot it's happening again
Slow diagonal I forgot I forgot
When you I never used to
Only I used to think there's nowhere to go
Happening in a slow diagonal
I forgot I forgot I forgot I forgot when you I forgot
Lately looking in your eyes
I've been feeling neo
I've been feeling neo
I forgot I forgot I forgot I forgot
When you I used to think s s s s
I forgot I forgot I forgot I forgot
Happening again in a slow diagonal
I forgot
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out!
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
I'm looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, I'm looking in your eyes
With a feeling
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
I'm looking in your eyes
You do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
You do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, I'm looking in your eyes
With a feeling
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, I'm looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, I'm looking in your eyes
With a feeling
I saw you today, you were like snow
I saw you today, you were like snow
And never but oh... like a snow
I saw you, g-gui-gui, I saw you
I saw you today, you were like
The sun's on my face, til Monday
I've been feeling neo
My tongue, my tongue, my tongue
Hair is long, I've been feeling
High sister, you're the high sister
I saw you today, you were like snow
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out!
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
I'm looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, I'm looking in your eyes
With a feeling
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
I'm looking in your eyes
You do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
You do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
Boy you drum, boy you drum, boy you drum, drummer boy
Boy you drum, boy you drum, boy you drum, drummer boy
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Oh ah, boy you drum
You do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
You do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
You do what you have to do, f..!
You do what you have to, f...!
I hear you sssh, I hear you, I hear you sssh
I hear you, I hear you shhhhh
For cars n ah, for cars n ah, cars n ah, cars n ah
If I rewind again, if I rewind again
I forgot, rhythm and knowledge
Rhythm and knowledge regenerate there
Rhythm and knowledge regenerate
Right on babe, rhythm and knowledge
If I rewind my baby
If I rewind, rhythm and knowledge, get
I rewind my baby
Every colour of you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Life Without Buildings' song "New Town" are enigmatic and elusive, leaving much to the interpretation of the listener. The repetition of "I forgot" creates a sense of forgetfulness or absent-mindedness, which is contrasted with the idea of something happening again "in a slow diagonal." The repetition of "looking in your eyes" suggests a connection or interaction with someone, while the lines "every colour of you fall out step out" invoke an imagery of shedding or discarding a former version of oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

I forgot I forgot I forgot I forgot
The singer forgot something important.

I forgot I forgot I forgot I forgot I forgot
The singer forgot something important and it feels urgent.

When you lately I forgot
The singer forgot something important related to the other person.

Happening again in a slow diagonal
Something is happening again in a gradual, but steady way.

I forgot it's happening again
The artist forgot that something is repeating itself.

Slow diagonal I forgot I forgot
Repetition of something is being emphasized.

When you I never used to
Something has changed regarding the other person.

Only I used to think there's nowhere to go
The artist used to feel lost.

Happening in a slow diagonal
Something is still happening gradually.

I forgot I forgot I forgot I forgot when you I forgot
The artist forgot something important related to the other person and it feels pressing.

Lately looking in your eyes
The singer has been recently gazing into the other person's eyes.

I've been feeling neo
The artist has been feeling new, different.

I forgot I forgot I forgot I forgot
The singer forgot something important.

When you I used to think s s s s
The other person used to make the singer feel confused.

Happening again in a slow diagonal
Something is happening again gradually.

I forgot
The artist forgot something important.

Every colour of you fall out step out
The artist is seeing different sides of the other person.

Every colour of you fall out step
The singer is seeing different sides of the other person.

Every colour of you fall out step out
The singer is seeing different sides of the other person.

Every colour of you fall out step
The artist is seeing different sides of the other person.

Every colour of you fall out step out
The artist is seeing different sides of the other person.

Every colour of you fall out step out
The singer is seeing different sides of the other person.

Every colour of you fall out step out!
The artist is discovering more aspects of the other person's personality.

Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
The singer is still gazing into the other person's eyes.

I'm looking in your eyes
The singer is looking into the other person's eyes.

With a feeling
There is an emotion involved in the act of looking into the other person's eyes.

You do what you have to do
The artist is giving permission or encouragement to the other person to act with agency.

You do what you have to, do it, do it!
The artist is strongly encouraging the other person to act on their own volition.

Boy you drum, boy you drum, boy you drum, drummer boy
The singer is addressing a male drummer.

Oh ah, boy you drum
The singer expresses excitement or approval towards the male drummer.

You do what you have to do, f..!
The artist is now adding intensity to their encouragement of the other person.

I hear you sssh, I hear you, I hear you sssh
The artist is acknowledging something said softly by the other person.

I hear you, I hear you shhhhh
The artist is actively listening to the other person who is being quiet.

For cars n ah, for cars n ah, cars n ah, cars n ah
Unclear.

If I rewind again, if I rewind again
The artist is reflecting on the past.

I forgot, rhythm and knowledge
The singer is aware they have forgotten important information.

Rhythm and knowledge regenerate there
Rhythm and knowledge are coming back or being renewed.

Rhythm and knowledge regenerate
Rhythm and knowledge are returning or being revitalized.

Right on babe, rhythm and knowledge
The artist is acknowledging someone or something positively and associating it with rhythm and knowledge.

If I rewind my baby
The artist is thinking about the past with affection.

If I rewind, rhythm and knowledge, get
The singer is reflecting on the past, and thinking about how they can learn from it.

I rewind my baby
The singer is thinking fondly about revisiting the past.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@adamchater7

3y↑7

I forgot i forgot i forgot i forgot
I forgot i forgot i forgot i forgot i forgot
When you lately i forgot
Happening again in a slow diagonal
I forgot it's happening again
Slow diagonal i forgot i forgot
When you i never used to
Only i used to think there's nowhere to go
Happening in a slow diagonal
I forgot i forgot i forgot i forgot when you i forgot
Lately looking in your eyes
I've been feeling neo
I've been feeling neo
I forgot i forgot i forgot i forgot
When you i used to think s s s s
I forgot i forgot i forgot i forgot
Happening again in a slow diagonal
I forgot
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out!
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
I'm looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, i'm looking in your eyes
With a feeling
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
I'm looking in your eyes
You do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
You do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, i'm looking in your eyes
With a feeling
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, i'm looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, i'm looking in your eyes
With a feeling
I saw you today, you were like snow
I saw you today, you were like snow
And never but oh... like a snow
I saw you, g-gui-gui, i saw you
I saw you today, you were like
The sun's on my face, til Monday
I've been feeling neo
My tongue, my tongue, my tongue
Hair is long, i've been feeling
High sister, you're the high sister
I saw you today, you were like snow
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out
Every colour of you fall out step out!
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
I'm looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Looking in your eyes, i'm looking in your eyes
With a feeling
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
I'm looking in your eyes
You do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
You do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
Boy you drum, boy you drum, boy you drum, drummer boy
Boy you drum, boy you drum, boy you drum, drummer boy
Looking in your eyes, looking in your eyes
Oh ah, boy you drum
You do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
You do what you have to do
You do what you have to, do it, do it!
You do what you have to do, f.!
You do what you have to, f...!
I hear you sssh, i hear you, i hear you sssh
I hear you, i hear you shhhhh
For cars n ah, for cars n ah, cars n ah, cars n ah
If i rewind again, if i rewind again
I forgot, rhythm and knowledge
Rhythm and knowledge regenerate there
Rhythm and knowledge regenerate
Right on babe, rhythm and knowledge
If i rewind my baby
If i rewind, rhythm and knowledge, get
I rewind my baby

All comments from YouTube:

@idlejim

14y↑110

I head this song literally years ago and have been searching for it from time to time ever since... think John Peel played it or something when it came out. Then this evening, randomly, in the shower, I suddenly thought "Life Without Buildings"... and yes. Finally.

@craigwalker7415

4y↑1

Unnerstan .

@aleksar6755

4y↑2

Gotta love our brains

@blueconversechucks

4y↑2

Same thing happened to me today. I saw the name "Nghia" which made me think of "Tin Nghia" a vegetarian restaurant I dined at in ho chi minh city in 1996.

And last week I thought of a line from a song "heba heba heba". At first I thought it was a song from my childhood that my oldest sister sang. But about two hours later, unprompted, I realized it was from the song "old man on the bridge" by king kong.

I hadn't thought of either of those things in literally decades.

@june0136

that's so cool

@thompegg3100

praise be to Allah!

@kristeltapia8738

3y↑41

ok i'm in love...i'm so sad that i just discovered this today.

@victorymansions

3y↑3

Better now than to have never discovered it at all :)

@shakiMiki

13y↑56

I want this song to be the last thing I forget. It's so beautiful it hurts.

@grahamandrews5524

5y↑47

this sounds like like a tidal wave of memories and nostalgia that you get washed up in whether you want it or not

@LauritZenc

14y↑39

This takes me back to my uni days in the late 90s, all alone in a new big city, not knowing anyone. Great track, so subtle yet so powerful.

@marceloadelar

4y↑18

It's amazing how this song moves me. It's far from being a straight up sad song, but it always gets me on the verge of tears.

@LauritZenc

8y↑72

Takes me back to the complete solitude I felt at uni back in 1998.

@oliveandrews8026

7y↑16

In uni now feeling this strongly

@LauritZenc

7y↑1

+Olivia Andrews Feeling the solitude or the tune or both?

@oliveandrews8026

7y↑8

Definitely both

@LauritZenc

7y↑19

+Olivia Andrews Hang in there, it gets better. That sounds SO clichéd but it's true. The only benefit I got from uni was the qualification to put down on my CV and looking back I'm fine with that. I did all my 'growth' a few years later.

@oliveandrews8026

5y↑36

Laurit Zenc Hi Laurit it’s been a couple years ! I’m doing a lot better but just wanted to let you know I think about your words a lot. Hope life is treating you well.

2 More Replies...

@Risewithfallen21

13y↑15

Does anyone really understand the amount of people their that enjoy different things in life, its unimaginable how many people there are and what brings them to that happy place in the world, its just crazy!

@markanderson3870

2y↑4

A friend played this for me a while back and I thought it was something new. Now everyone I play it for loves it, and then I tell them it was from the 90s. Hah!

@chichi3661

3y↑5

111, people in these comments are talking of the nostalgia of starting uni and being alone while listening to this.. will be me this year :’)

@hardeealex

3y↑5

Such an incredibly beautiful and infectious song.

@grante101

8y↑18

Remember Steve Lamacq playing this way back when, and scrambling for a blank cassette to record it. Love it! A personal time-capsule. Golden!!!

@endl3ssbliss723

27w↑2

i love this track smm ^_^

@clarkstewart6561

4y↑4

Found this on Late Night Tales. Gorgeous! Love it!

@mikebowers3841

3y↑1

Thank you Radio 6!

@stavraski

13y↑25

i LIKE to cry EVERY TIME i heard this song. (i dont want to find the reason)

@kaysha4477

How about now?:)

@iampunitan

12y↑13

this is probably the best tune ever made - i think i like the breeders off you and anjelicas bring back her head so much because they remind me of this track....ting ting look around

@BarnabyWild13

Just found this, 2021. Blown away! Glad I came across it!

@MaterialSquid

4y↑1

god bless youtube, ive been looking for this song for about 20 years

@caliado

15y↑5

Probably my most favorite song of all time

@ESmith-rq1lk

4y↑5

I want to thank T. Shelby for the intro and LWB for being a genuinely unique band.

@LilikakiTsikris

9y↑6

my santaclaus gift.
perfect discovery.
thanks.

@adamchater7

3y↑7

@briancox9357

Thanks for this

@BereniceWeber

9y↑4

my new old favorite song, love this: Life Without Buildings - New Town

@rymaster111

11y↑21

Gorgeous song. There's something about these chords. Same chords as The Knife's "Heartbeats", Arcade Fire "Sprawl II" etc.

@MarceloHenkin

4y↑3

yeah, for Oblivion and New Town the chord progression is D Bm, and those from arcade fire and the knife are Eb Cm. it's basically I-VI chord progression and is one of the most common in music, and certainly has this strong "feeling" to it. The songs that use this progression are usually emotional. Another example is Canned Heat's Time Was (which is C Am).

@literalwho9017

4y↑5

most of the album has these midwest indie kind of chords (they're Scottish lmao) with minor and suspended positions using two fingers, one of them on a root note on the E string and the other on the G string in the same fret or a semitone higher or lower, leaving the A string muted and the D string open (see: 7X07XX or 5X06XX), beautiful chords, Archie (King Krule) uses these chords on his last album in Energy fleets for example

@nedgnc6181

7y↑17

New Town is only the best song I've ever heard.

@timbailey7646

10y↑12

SO VERY HAPPY I GOT TO SEE THEM PLAY TO 12 PEOPLE IN EXETER, BACK IN THE DAY.

@deBuchias

10y

thats cool - i used to jam with will bradley in abbergavenney back in the day...

@sunshaped

5y↑1

so lucky!

@sunshaped

btw, there's a recording of that Exeter gig now up. Search for Bryce Doudle here on YT, check out his channel, and you can see the individually uploaded tracks from that show. Also, if you're on FB, check out his fan page Life Without Life Without Buildings...it's full of info and interviews, including links to more recently unearthed live recordings (which you'll find directly on Bryce's channel, anyway)

@maddy-nq1jh

3y↑1

soooo cool!!

@maddy-nq1jh

@@sunshaped any live video??

@abrahamrichie1

14y↑3

this song grabbed me and hasn't let go. i'm a bit obsessive anyway, so this song reverberates in my heart

@stavraski

13y↑4

i LIKE to cry EVERY TIME i heard this song

@shakiMiki

12y↑2

This is just stunning. A work of genius.

@majabl

4y↑2

Cracking song from a cracking album. Loved it since I first heard it on John Peel's show in 2000 (maybe as early as 1999?)

@confinedspace2006

14y↑3

amazing song, love the way it builds up just perfection really, thanks for posting this video, the world needs to see under-rated gems like this so much better than the shit that clogs up the charts

@QuestaFly

4y↑1

undoubtedly a masterpiece !

@prisedelaprose

11y↑3

incredibly elegant

@pettyyeti

5y↑1

Just heard this for the first time the other day sounds so fresh I thought it was a new song can't believe I've never heard of them before.

@SarnyGonzales

14y↑1

just heard this on radio 6. damn it's good!

@demeneye

14y

amazing, amazing lyrics. love this

@user-xy6vo3ju6w

5y↑5

I've been feeling nyao～🐱

@georgewoodruff7191

4y↑1

Love it

@raymondlind2880

7y↑1

Genius song.

@beermtb

15y

Fantastic.

@mrsinn2642

6y↑1

No doubt, this is a sweet Cool Tune!

@sgr9400

3y↑1

yeah !

@2020raindrops

10y↑2

Must be tough to forget all the time

@quillianfinsnsea

14y↑1

rhythm and knowledge

@abrahamrichie1

11y↑2

it's like getting the paddles if your heart has stopped.

@jeniavarabyeva2919

My favourite comment of all time! Overjoyed!

@dragoula

14y↑3

excelente=D

@AxelCalvet

9y↑25

It's so fucking sad to discover a great tune and at the same time learning that the band does'nt exist anymore. Does she still sing ?

@bennnnnjmennnnn

9y↑9

Performance and visual artist based in Glasgow

@rcavellanosa1600

doesn't anymore?

@marceloadelar

4y↑5

I mean, she does sing, in a way... hahaha. But it's weird if you are not into poetry slam and performance art

@thatseverin

13y

This is just such a cool number.... the buildup is so intoxicating. Would be unbelievable.... to listen to this in a fast car.***** kvs

@timmyredmist

6y↑2

I've been feelin NeeO 😁

@LettuceCookTogether

15y↑1

i really should get this album

@12samjam

13y

@dansleif ...yep,beautiful music.....can only buy the live version online though.....which is kick ass i might add.

@valentina-ci5pg

3y↑1

3:09 you were like snow

@darylmc2010

7y↑1

Oh I think this still a nice tune.

@12samjam

13y

@Risewithfallen21 very well said my friend

@Jimbos21st

Double J brought me here to feel neato!

@chavesa5

Whatever they got back in the day, they deserved better

@hallerd

10y

holy shit

@deBuchias

10y↑2

Is that will on drums?

@Tsiaman

13y

@stavraski cos words cant describe the beauty of this song file m

@ninishelli

14y

i forgot about everything until i found you until i found you lwb

@1975nece

12y↑1

Shit hot!!!!!

@MutedMimic

Interesting

@jayk9777

the color of ppl i step out

@nyreewaters

13y↑1

fuck, this is good.

@georgewoodruff7191

4y↑1

I am but a young child

@Tradelli7

12y

♥, !

@shakiMiki

13y

@chris1051 Me too.

@basquiatbaldwin

14y

@chris1051 agreed

@WOLFNUFFA

14y

rock the fuck on this is cool as fuch!!!

@adrianbarrientes

10y↑8

this is great. is she saying "looking in your ass." lol, serious question

@WaitingtoHit

10y

That's what it's always sounded like to me. Best misheard lyric ever...

@supperandjazz2249

9y↑4

lol *looking in your eyes

@davidwoodward9528

Adrian Barrientes eyes.

@erickovach3062

5y↑1

"Licking in your ass" ....????

@urbaniturbani

11y

sue, iwant to invite u to belgrade poet fest, do come.

@dreamofshrooms

14y

trippie xD

@jayk9777

life without buildings ?

@keithhanisek2465

2y↑1

What kind of dufus dislikes this? What a miserable existence it must be.

@yazzchan

10y↑1

lol

@SB-se7vb

I love this band and this song in general, but I can't help but hear "ass" every time she says "eyes" and it stops me from sharing it with other people lol.

@bencolemanart

The riff to this tune is similar to 'New Paths to Helicon' by Mogwai, to my ear. Probably just a coincidence- it's just a few chords after all. I don't have a problem with it, as I love both tunes and each one ends up in a very different place sonically, I just like pointing at these things and going 'look!' sometimes.