Neptune City
Atkins Nicole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the way down
Trailing the procession
I'll hide out a few more days
Then I'll be leaving this place soon
Our hearts are singing out just for you
A cemetery song for summer
A cemetery song we'd not sing
I'm sitting over Neptune City
I used to love it
It used to be pretty
I'll come down, walk around a while
Until I'm sure I can never go home again
Maybe if I paid attention
I could learn to love the landscape I was born to
By the river in the rain
Let it make me new again
Our hearts are singing out just for you
A cemetery song for summer
And if we knew just what we could do
A cemetery song we'd not sing
I'm sitting over Neptune City
I used to love it
It used to be pretty
I'll come down, walk around a while
Until I'm sure I can never go home again
In "Neptune City," Nicole Atkins describes a bittersweet reflection on her hometown that is both nostalgic and melancholic. The opening line, "You can't see me from this view," suggests a distance from her past life, and the repeated refrain of "I'm sitting over Neptune City" reinforces a sense of separation. She watches the procession of life from afar, contemplating her current position and longing for a way to connect with her roots. However, as she states, "I'll be leaving this place soon," indicating that her memories of the city cannot keep her anchored.
Atkins talks about her complex relationship with Neptune City, a place she used to love for its prettiness but now feels a disconnect from. She notes that "Maybe if I paid attention, I could learn to love the landscape I was born to." Her perspective suggests that distance and time have given her a new appreciation for the beauty of her birthplace, but it is too late to fully reclaim that connection.
The "Cemetery Song" takes on a symbolic significance throughout the lyrics. It becomes a heart-wrenching way for the dejected speaker to convey their struggle and catharsis of leaving the past behind. "Our hearts are singing out just for you/A cemetery song for summer/And if we knew just what we could do/A cemetery song we'd not sing." The singer is aware of the need for change and the inevitability of moving on, and this awareness becomes the centerpiece of the elegiac song.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't see me from this view
I am hiding, keeping myself distant and away from the people.
All the way down
I have gone to the depths of solitude.
Trailing the procession
Following the events of life without fully participating.
I'll hide out a few more days
I will continue to avoid reality a little longer.
Then I'll be leaving this place soon
I intend to escape this environment soon.
Our hearts are singing out just for you
We express love and emotions towards you.
A cemetery song for summer
Exaggerating a dark feeling or mood with a metaphor.
And if we knew just what we could do
If we had a solution for our current state.
A cemetery song we'd not sing
We would feel hopeful and not settle for despair if we had an answer.
I'm sitting over Neptune City
I am overlooking or observing Neptune City.
I used to love it
In the past, I had an affection for it.
It used to be pretty
It had aesthetic beauty at one time.
I'll come down, walk around a while
I will descend and wander for a bit.
Until I'm sure I can never go home again
Until I know for certain that I will never return to my starting point.
Maybe if I paid attention
Perhaps becoming more aware or observant.
I could learn to love the landscape I was born to
Appreciating and accepting where I came from.
By the river in the rain
In or next to a body of water during precipitation.
Let it make me new again
Allowing an experience to transform me for the better.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NICOLE ATKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LokiPii
You can't see me from this view
All the way down
Trailing the procession
I'll hide out a few more days
Then I'll be leaving this place soon
Our hearts are singing out just for you
A cemetery song for summer
And if we knew just what we could do
A cemetery song we'd not sing
I'm sitting over Neptune City
I used to love it
It used to be pretty
I'll come down, walk around a while
Until I'm sure I can never go home again
Maybe if I paid attention
I could learn to love the landscape I was born to
By the river in the rain
Let it make me new again
Our hearts are singing out just for you
A cemetery song for summer
And if we knew just what we could do
A cemetery song we'd not sing
I'm sitting over Neptune City
I used to love it
It used to be pretty
I'll come down, walk around a while
Until I'm sure I can never go home again
diavlosuelto
I've just discovered this woman and her band and I'm transfixed. What lush and overpowering music.
LokiPii
You can't see me from this view
All the way down
Trailing the procession
I'll hide out a few more days
Then I'll be leaving this place soon
Our hearts are singing out just for you
A cemetery song for summer
And if we knew just what we could do
A cemetery song we'd not sing
I'm sitting over Neptune City
I used to love it
It used to be pretty
I'll come down, walk around a while
Until I'm sure I can never go home again
Maybe if I paid attention
I could learn to love the landscape I was born to
By the river in the rain
Let it make me new again
Our hearts are singing out just for you
A cemetery song for summer
And if we knew just what we could do
A cemetery song we'd not sing
I'm sitting over Neptune City
I used to love it
It used to be pretty
I'll come down, walk around a while
Until I'm sure I can never go home again
rdk322
I like the dark haunting nature of this song, very emotional.
James Houlahan
Such a gorgeous voice.
Giselda Stornant
She's great and her music takes you away💙💜💛
Yans R
Es simplemente perfecta, es tan difícil encontrar canciones que te lleguen al corazón de esa manera
Kate Hutton
I love this song so much, my dad introduced me to this album and it reminds me of good times with him 💜
Jon Murdock
album was and is amazing Im a hardcore hip hop artist and fan but this is a great piece of work.5 stars for sure
Christopher Alexander
As of tonight, I am a fan. Such beautiful music, and, live, such funny, personal banter. Seriously - I was in line getting a drink when she came on, and I forgot everything else - and my place in line - and could do nothing but stand there and listen.
Ana D
such a beautiful song! I like the way Nicole's voice is soaring ' i'm sitting over Ne-e-eptune city, ...I used to love it, you used to be pretty '