Amy Millan is a Canadian indie rock singer and guitarist, recording and per… Read Full Bio ↴Amy Millan is a Canadian indie rock singer and guitarist, recording and performing with the bands Stars and Broken Social Scene. Her debut solo album, Honey From The Tombs, was released by Arts & Crafts on May 30, 2006. In interviews Amy has stated that the songs on Honey from the Tombs were written over a period of years, but are only now being released. Millan released her sophomore album, Masters of the Burial, on September 8, 2009. The album is produced by Martin Kinack and musicians appearing include Evan Cranley, Dan and Jenny Whiteley, Leslie Feist and Liam O’Neil. The album features several cover songs, including some written by Death Cab for Cutie and Sarah Harmer.

Lost Compass
Amy Millan Lyrics

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It's not what you thought
What are the reasons for believing
Believing a body heads south

'Cause your mouth on my mouth
A fire I just can't put out

It's a fever I just can't

Stop what I start
Apart from believing
It's the leaving, the leaving
My body heads west

And I know you can't
I know you can't
I know you want it

And I know you can't
I know you can't
I know you want me

The faces I never thought I'd be
The places I never thought I'd go

Goes to show, goes to show
Goes to show love is crazy

Overall Meaning

In Amy Millan's song Lost Compass, the opening lines "It's not what you thought, what are the reasons for believing, believing a body heads south," suggest that the situation at hand is not what it initially appeared or what the singer expected. It is unclear what exactly they are referring to here, but it could be some kind of relationship or romantic encounter. The line "believing a body heads south" could suggest a reluctance to move on or leave a particular place or person.

The next few lines, "cause your mouth on my mouth, a fire I just can't put out, it's a fever I just can't stop what I start," uncover the true feeling behind the singer's reluctance. They are clearly drawn to this person and can feel a passion or desire that they cannot resist, however hard they may try. The repetition of "I know you can't, I know you want it" further emphasizes this intense desire that they are struggling to control.

In the chorus, the singer talks about leaving and heading west, which may suggest a physical or emotional journey they are about to embark on. The line "the faces I never thought I'd be, the places I never thought I'd go" suggests that they are leaving behind everything they know and love to pursue something more adventurous or unknown. The repeated line "goes to show, goes to show, goes to show love is crazy" highlights the unpredictability and often irrationality of love.

Overall, the song paints a picture of a person caught between their desire for someone, and the fear or uncertainty of what lies ahead. The repeated refrains, coupled with the emotive lyrics, create an atmosphere of intense longing and emotional turmoil.

Line by Line Meaning

It's not what you thought
Things are not as you believed them to be

What are the reasons for believing
What evidence or justification do you have for your beliefs

Believing a body heads south
Your belief that a person is going down the wrong path

'Cause your mouth on my mouth
The passionate kiss we just shared

A fire I just can't put out
The strong feeling of desire that I can't contain

It's a fever I just can't
It's an intense feeling that I cannot control

Stop what I start
I cannot stop myself once I have begun

Apart from believing
Besides holding onto my beliefs

It's the leaving, the leaving
What hurts me most is the act of leaving

My body heads west
I am moving on to something new

And I know you can't
I understand that you are unable to follow me