Slow Motion
David Gray Lyrics

David Gray's song Slow Motion is a hauntingly beautiful track that speaks about the disorienting nature of life and how it can feel like everything is moving too slowly. The main theme of the song revolves around a slow dissolve, which is something that generally happens in films where one scene gradually fades into another, giving the impression of a slow, smooth transition. However, in this song, the slow dissolve is being applied to life itself, as if time is slipping away and everything is slowly dissolving into nothingness.

The repetition of the phrase "while I was watching you did a slow dissolve" creates a sense of unease and detachment, as if the singer is watching their surroundings in slow motion but unable to fully engage with them. The imagery of the walls holding the singer hypnotized adds to this sense of detachment, as if the world around them is an illusion that they cannot break free from.

The second half of the song introduces a sense of loneliness and longing, as the singer catches snowflakes in their hands and describes the person they're with as their long lost friend. This suggests that the sense of detachment and disorientation is linked to a feeling of isolation, as if the singer is searching for connection in a world that feels unreal and distant.

Overall, Slow Motion is a beautifully crafted song that speaks to the human desire for connection and meaning in a world that can often feel unknowable and strange.