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Man Is Not a Bird
Broadcast Lyrics


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The sky is faint, their tears remain
In me the rain has stopped falling
The fading light, walls barely white
In me the night has stopped calling

I will not lament with the sky
No longer feel night on the inside

Here in this room, no more a tomb
Thoughts of you conclude without ending
Caution will keep, worries still speak
Fewer the leaves are descending

I will not lament with the sky
No longer feel night on the inside

Here in this room, no more a tomb
Thoughts of you conclude without ending

The lonely distance and time
The only tears falling outside
I will not lament with the sky
No longer feel night on the inside

The lonely distance and time
The only tears falling outside

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Broadcast's song "Man Is Not a Bird" can be interpreted as a reflection on the passage of time and the process of letting go of the past. The first stanza describes a still, quiet space where the rain has stopped falling, and the night no longer calls. The singer seems to have found a sense of peace and detachment from the outside world. The second stanza continues to describe this calmness, suggesting that thoughts of the past are being processed and put to rest. The idea of caution and worry hint at the difficulties of this process, but the singer is resolute in their decision to move forward.


The final stanza brings in the idea of distance and time, perhaps reflecting on the physical or emotional distance that exists between the singer and someone or something in their past. The only tears falling are on the outside, indicating that the singer has found a way to separate themselves from the past and avoid being pulled back into it. The repeated refrain of "I will not lament with the sky, no longer feel night on the inside" emphasizes the singer's sense of control and determination to move past their struggles.


Overall, the song can be seen as a meditation on the process of healing and moving on from past pain. The imagery of rain stopping, walls fading, and leaves descending suggest a natural cycle of change and growth that the singer is going through. By the end of the song, the singer has found a sense of peace and acceptance that allows them to see the world with clarity and detachment.


Line by Line Meaning

The sky is faint, their tears remain
The sky is a dull blue color because of the absence of the sun. Despite this calm appearance, the rain clouds that previously filled the sky have not yet fully disappeared; their remnants are still present.


In me the rain has stopped falling
Any sadness or grief that had previously caused me to cry and feel like it was pouring down is now gone.


The fading light, walls barely white
As the last bit of light from the sun fades away, the walls seem less vibrant than before.


In me the night has stopped calling
The darkness that had once tempted and drawn me in is no longer a lure.


Here in this room, no more a tomb
Being in this room no longer feels like being trapped in a dark and suffocating place.


Thoughts of you conclude without ending
Despite trying to put closure to the thoughts of you, they continue to linger and never fully disappear.


Caution will keep, worries still speak
Remaining careful and vigilant won't allow my worries and concerns to completely fade away.


Fewer the leaves are descending
The number of falling leaves is decreasing as winter approaches.


The lonely distance and time
The distance and time between us is causing loneliness.


The only tears falling outside
The only tears being shed are from outside sources, not from me.


I will not lament with the sky
I refuse to commiserate with the gloomy and depressing atmosphere outside.


No longer feel night on the inside
I no longer feel a deep sense of sadness or fear within myself.




Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES CARGILL, PATRICIA ANN KEENAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@0zpike

The sky is faint, their tears remain
In me the rain has stopped falling
The fading light, walls barely white
In me the night has stopped calling
I will not lament with the sky
No longer feel night on the inside
Here in this room, no more a tomb
Thoughts of you conclude without ending
Caution will keep, worries still speak
Fewer the leaves are descending
I will not lament with the sky
No longer feel night on the inside
Here in this room, no more a tomb
Thoughts of you conclude without ending
The lonely distance and time
The only tears falling outside
I will not lament with the sky
No longer feel night on the inside
The lonely distance and time
The only tears falling outside



All comments from YouTube:

@noma35

I was listening to this song when I suddenly decided to google 'broadcast', only to find out Trish had died :( R.I.P. Trish, we'll always remember you!

@canyoudigit6321

One of my all time favourite bands too left field for mainstream radio. Killer drums with knock on door bass drum, R.i.p. 😢

@soundtrack1991

I know everyone is mentioning this but the this drumming is A+. Broadcast was amazing and they were so lucky to find this drummer for this album.

@pratzkaa

didnt they use drum machine on this album?

@neilbullock4317

@@pratzkaaI played drums on this track and the rest of the album. I can confirm I am not a machine. Best wishes.

@HidingFromFate

One of the coolest songs in the history of forever.

@TheLaughingCavalier

I listen to this album every day as I go into work. The drumming on this track is electric. Poor Trish.

@Rahzen0383

There is pain, love, and triumph in those drums.

@synthmalicious7541

“The lonely distance and time
The only tears falling outside”
Beautiful

@alicemarks7468

i will not lament with the sky

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