Their sound is a mix of indie rock and electronic music, most recently integrating organic sounds into their music. Friends since the age of fourteen, Athlete have wide-ranging influences that include Grandaddy and Flaming Lips.
The Outsiders
Athlete Lyrics
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We can't see quite right
We've lost the plot
And we can't get it back
So lets lose ourselves
Lets lose ourselves
Can you spot the English here?
Let's pick a fight on whomever we like
Cause we're never wrong
Nobody likes us
We don't care
So let's lose ourselves
Let's lose ourselves
Can you spot the English here?
We can see it for real
But it doesn't make sense
We're the outsiders
We can see all this speech
Come staggering out
And we can climbs its way
To the top of that cloud
I'm away with the fairies now
[x4]
This familiar environment
Gets my lungs confused
I breath in every particle
That you drive through
That you drive through
Well can you spot the English here?
We can see it for real
But it doesn't make sense
We're the outsiders
We can see all this speech
Come staggering out
And it can its way to the top
Of that cloud
Oh I'm away with the fairies now
[x4]
The opening lines of Athlete's The Outsiders paints a picture of a group of people who are lost, disoriented and directionless. They are walking in straight lines, suggesting that they are conforming to certain standards or expectations placed on them by society. However, they can't see quite right, indicating a loss of clarity or vision. They've lost the plot and don't know how to find their way back. This state of confusion and aimlessness is captured perfectly in the chorus when the singer urges the group to "lose ourselves'", suggesting that they can only find themselves by letting go and surrendering to the apparent chaos they find themselves in.
The second verse delves into the group's alienation from the rest of society. They have become detached and nonchalant in their attitude towards others, picking fights "on whomever we like" because they believe they are never wrong. They have become so contemptuous of people's opinions of them that they don't care if they are disliked. The chorus repeats itself, emphasizing their disconnection from society and their attempt to climb their way to the top of that cloud, which is possibly a metaphor for a sense of purpose or direction.
The final part of the song is more introspective and melancholic in tone. The singer talks about the physical environment and how it affects him. The familiar environment is no longer comforting or welcoming, but rather confusing and even toxic. Every particle he breathes in makes his lungs confused. The final chorus brings the song full circle, underscoring the idea that the outsider's detachment and loss of self leads them to a state of confusion and disorientation.
Line by Line Meaning
We can walk in straight lines
We have a clear path to follow
We can't see quite right
Our perspective is skewed
We've lost the plot
We're confused and disoriented
And we can't get it back
We're unable to regain control of the situation
So lets lose ourselves
Let's forget our problems
Lets lose ourselves
Let's forget our problems
Can you spot the English here?
An ironic statement, questioning the clarity of the message being conveyed
Let's pick a fight on whomever we like
Let's challenge authority and rules
Cause we're never wrong
We have a belief in our superiority
Nobody likes us
We're outsiders and unpopular
We don't care
We're apathetic to the opinions of others
So let's lose ourselves
Let's forget our problems
Let's lose ourselves
Let's forget our problems
We can see it for real
We have a true understanding of the situation
But it doesn't make sense
Despite our understanding, we're still confused
We're the outsiders
We don't fit in with the rest of society
We can see all this speech
We can see through the lies being told
Come staggering out
The lies are being exposed
And we can climb its way
We can rise above the lies and confusion
To the top of that cloud
We can reach a place of clarity and understanding
I'm away with the fairies now [x4]
We've escaped reality and are lost in our own world
This familiar environment
Our usual surroundings
Gets my lungs confused
We're disoriented and unsteady
I breath in every particle
We're fully immersed in our surroundings
That you drive through
The outside world is still functioning without us
Well can you spot the English here?
An ironic statement, questioning the clarity of the message being conveyed
We can see it for real
We have a true understanding of the situation
But it doesn't make sense
Despite our understanding, we're still confused
We're the outsiders
We don't fit in with the rest of society
We can see all this speech
We can see through the lies being told
Come staggering out
The lies are being exposed
And it can its way to the top
The truth can rise above the confusion
Of that cloud
We can reach a place of clarity and understanding
Oh I'm away with the fairies now [x4]
We've escaped reality and are lost in our own world
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CAREY WILLETTS, JOEL POTT, STEVEN ROBERTS, TIMOTHY WANSTALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind