No subtile men
Anna Ternheim Lyrics


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It's getting late
I think my time is running out
No one special
Nothing lasting with inside

How should I stay calm
When panic lies just ahead?
Everyone can see my youth
Hanging by a thread

No subtle men
Came to my town
No subtle men
Begging for my hand

I'm one of few who's left
When everyone has gone
The train is leaving
And it's too late to get on

So much for running
When no one stays to wait
For another broken promise
To slip my mind by mistake

Who would take my word
On anything these days?
I felt so many times
Saying I'm gonna change

No subtle men
Came to my town
No subtle men

No lifelong friend
Lives in my town




No subtle men
Begging for my hand

Overall Meaning

Anna Ternheim's "No Subtle Men" is a melancholic song that reflects on the paradox of growing older, feeling the pressure of time running out, and realizing that nothing lasting has been accomplished. The lyrics begin with the admission that time is slipping away, and the singer regrets missing opportunities. The song talks about how the singer is the only one remaining in a place where everyone else has left. She's feeling downhearted and broken, and nobody is there to pick her up. She is seen as a youth, hanging by a thread, and there don't appear to be any offers of help.


The chorus of the song "No subtle men" seems to indicate that the singer is looking for someone straightforward and sincere. However, the men who come her way are anything but subtle. Instead, they are desperate and pushy, and they come with broken promises, as she points out later in the song. The singer is looking for a true lifelong friend, but there is no one in her town who fits the bill. She is left feeling quite alone, and the train is leaving, carrying away chances missed.


Overall, the song is about the difficulties of finding real love and lasting relationships, despite the passage of time. The singer feels overwhelmed by the transience of life and the difficulty of finding someone real in a world where promises are often broken.


Line by Line Meaning

It's getting late
Time is passing and I am aware of it


I think my time is running out
I feel like I am running out of time to accomplish something meaningful


No one special
I have not found someone significant in my life


Nothing lasting with inside
I have not found anything that fills me deeply or last for long


How should I stay calm
I am feeling anxious and do not know how to calm myself


When panic lies just ahead?
I am fearful of what may come in the future


Everyone can see my youth
People can see that I am young and inexperienced


Hanging by a thread
My youth is fragile and could end at any moment


No subtle men
No one has pursued me subtly or gently


Came to my town
No one has come looking for me in my small town


Begging for my hand
No one has expressed a strong desire to be with me or marry me


I'm one of few who's left
Many people have left my town or moved on in life


When everyone has gone
Most people have left the town I live in


The train is leaving
Opportunities for change or growth are passing me by


And it's too late to get on
I feel like I have missed my chance to pursue opportunities


So much for running
I have tried to run away from my problems and feelings


When no one stays to wait
No one sticks around to support me or help me work through my issues


For another broken promise
I have made many promises to change but have failed to follow through


To slip my mind by mistake
I sometimes forget my promises or goals


Who would take my word
I am worried that no one will believe me


On anything these days?
I feel like I am not trustworthy in other people's eyes


I felt so many times
I have experienced this feeling many times in the past


Saying I'm gonna change
I have promised to change or improve but have struggled to follow through


No lifelong friend
I have not found a friend who will be with me for life


Lives in my town
No close friend lives in the same town as I do


No subtle men
No one has pursued me softly or gently


Begging for my hand
No one has expressed a strong desire to be with me or marry me




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANNA TERNHEIM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Angry Metal Guy

Ah, great stuff. She has such an excellent and unique voice. Also, it's pretty impressive how they don't over-produce her vocals on her records so that she sounds basically the same just in an impromptu show. I hope she gets really, really big.. she deserves it.

Jonathan Lopez

I still listening this song... what an artist !

AdamW - Karma Believer

Shivers deep in my soul, thank you Anna, but curse you for making me hopelessly falling in love with you...😎🙏❤️

Kaylie Mo

My favourite version of this song <3

Hilde Myran

Elsker sangen din Anna:) Nydelig:) Lovely!!

terramaximus

Swedish melancholy showing one of its better sides. Tack Anna!

Michael Butler

This song is amazing

Ann-Sofie Savilahti

Har sett Anna live i Luleå och givetvis här och det är så skönt att se att det är hennes röst rakt igenom.. Inget tillagt, inget tillgjort, bara Anna och rösten. Underbart!

john davies

I think I'd have just picked up the phone first ring and slammed it straight down again. No call could be important enough to interrupt such a beautiful, heartbreaking rendition of this song.

oceansoul63

Beautiful!

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