Trees grew leaves in the weeks I was gone
No response when the neighbours came to call
And you wouldn't want it any other way
We know everything changed

Remember
Sometimes summer wears away
When we want to see the sky
When you look down
You'll see, you'll find

In the warmth of the winter we cried out
"take what's left of your time and decide"
And you wouldn't look beyond the other way
We know everything changed

See how we watch the world go by when we wander
We even let all our plants die, don't think about them
Oh seeking can be so time consuming

Trees grew leaves in the weeks i was gone
Hands turn keys to the locks in the door
And we wouldn't want it any other way
We know everything changed

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Au Revoir Simone's song "Organized Scenery" describe the feeling of coming back home after a period of absence and realizing that everything has changed. The singer notices how trees have grown leaves in the weeks she was gone, and how the neighbors didn't bother to respond when they came to call. The singer acknowledges that this change was expected and even desired, as she states: "And you wouldn't want it any other way, we know everything changed."

Throughout the song, there is a sense of reflection and contemplation, as the singer muses about the passing of time and the inevitability of change. She asks the listener to remember that "sometimes summer wears away," and that we should take the time to look up at the sky and appreciate the passing of time. The chorus repeats the message that everything has changed, and that it's important to embrace this change and move forward.

The second verse of the song adds more depth to the theme of change and acceptance. The singer describes a moment when she and someone else cried out in the warmth of winter, telling each other to "take what's left of your time and decide." The message seems to be that even though time is fleeting, we still have the power to make choices and shape our lives. The song ends with a repetition of the opening lines, emphasizing the cyclical nature of time and the fact that change is inevitable.

Line by Line Meaning

Trees grew leaves in the weeks I was gone
Nature continued to grow and evolve even in the absence of the singer

No response when the neighbours came to call
There was no one to tend to the house or answer visitors while the singer was away

And you wouldn't want it any other way
The lack of interference or interruption in the singer's life was intentional and desired

We know everything changed
Despite the desire to keep things the same, there have been inevitable shifts and altered circumstances

Sometimes summer wears away
The fleeting nature of time and its impact on the world

When we want to see the sky
The beauty and value of looking up and taking in the world around us

When you look down
The singer's acknowledgement of their own tendency to be introspective

You'll see, you'll find
Despite the introspection, there is still discovery to be had in the outside world

In the warmth of the winter we cried out
A time of emotional intensity and catharsis for the artist and those around them

"take what's left of your time and decide"
Urgency and pressure to make choices and take action before time runs out

And you wouldn't look beyond the other way
The singer and those involved focused intently on the present moment and didn't want to look too far ahead

See how we watch the world go by when we wander
Observing and experiencing the world as it naturally unfolds during moments of aimlessness

We even let all our plants die, don't think about them
The singer and those involved neglected some aspects of their lives and didn't want to dwell on their failures

Oh seeking can be so time consuming
The struggle to find meaning and purpose can be all-consuming and exhausting

Hands turn keys to the locks in the door
The routine and mundane tasks of everyday life continue, even in the midst of larger changes

And we wouldn't want it any other way
The artist has come to accept and value the natural evolution of and lack of control over their life

We know everything changed
Even when we resist change, it is inevitable and ultimately changes our lives

Contributed by Leah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it