Paint what you know, not what you see
Hope blinds reason, thankfully
Know how it is when something fits
There's just a question of being it

I'd do anything to see you smile again
And I'd go anywhere so as not to feel your pain
I wanna live and the fear is all gone
I wanna protect and I know what it's from
I wasn't made for secrets like these
Chinese whispers, memories

Nothing is done without effect
There's nothing done that won't reflect
Pull one brick from an endless wall
Would it drown us all?

'Cause I'd do anything to see you smile again
And I'd go anywhere so as not to feel your pain
'Cause I wanna live where the fear is all gone
I wanna protect, and I know what it's from
I wasn't made for secrets like these
Chinese whispers and memories

You just need love like you say you do
And there may never be a time when it won't get through
Yeah, you know how it is when something fits
Now there's just a question of being it

And I'd do anything to see you smile again
But I'd go anywhere so as not to feel your pain
'Cause I wanna live and the fear is all gone
I wanna protect, and I know what it's from
Yeah I wasn't made for secrets like these
Chinese whispers, memories

Nothing is done without effect
There's nothing done that won't reflect
If I pull one brick from an endless wall
Would it drown us all?

Overall Meaning

The song "Anywhere" by Beth Orton is a heartfelt expression of the desire to protect and care for a loved one. The lyrics suggest that the act of painting what we know rather than what we see is a way to express ourselves genuinely and to avoid the distortion of reality that hope can bring. The line "there's just a question of being it" implies that there is a gap between what we know and what we feel or do, and that this gap can be bridged by simply "being" what we know, accepting it and living it.

The chorus expresses a deep longing to see the loved one smile again and a willingness to go anywhere to avoid their pain. The desire to live and to protect the loved one is rooted in a sense of fear and a need to keep secrets hidden. The question of whether pulling one brick from an endless wall would drown us all suggests that actions have consequences and that even small actions can have far-reaching effects.

This song is a beautiful example of Beth Orton's songwriting talent and emotional depth. Orton has the ability to write lyrics that are both poetic and accessible, combining vivid imagery with relatable emotions. The song has resonated with listeners since its release in 2002 and continues to be a favorite among fans.

Line by Line Meaning

Paint what you know, not what you see
Create art that is true to your experiences and emotions, not just what you observe around you.

Hope blinds reason, thankfully
Blind optimism can cloud rational thinking, but fortunately, hope in difficult times is necessary for our survival.

Know how it is when something fits
Understand the feeling of when something is perfect and harmonious.

There's just a question of being it
The only thing left is to embody that feeling or idea.

I'd do anything to see you smile again
The singer deeply cares for someone and will go above and beyond to bring them joy.

And I'd go anywhere so as not to feel your pain
The thought of someone else's pain is so distressing that the singer would do anything to avoid it.

I wanna live and the fear is all gone
The singer desires to live fully without the burden of fear holding them back.

I wanna protect and I know what it's from
The singer wants to defend someone or something they care about and understands where the threat is coming from.

I wasn't made for secrets like these
The singer doesn't feel comfortable with keeping certain truths hidden.

Chinese whispers, memories
The game of telephone where stories change as they're passed on, and memories that are not completely reliable.

Nothing is done without effect
Every action has a consequence, even if it's not immediately apparent.

There's nothing done that won't reflect
All actions leave a mark, even if it's not visible.

Pull one brick from an endless wall
Changing one small thing can have profound and far-reaching effects.

Would it drown us all?
The impact of this small change could have catastrophic consequences for everyone involved.

You just need love like you say you do
The singer is reassuring someone that their love is enough and they don't need anything more.

And there may never be a time when it won't get through
Love is a powerful force that can overcome many obstacles.

Now there's just a question of being it
The challenge is to fully embody and live out that love.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

just now