The Noise
Austra Lyrics


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I can't sleep at night
The noise, the noise.
My eyes they open wider
The noise, the noise.
I came to relate
The noise, the noise.
Help me compensate for
The noise, the noise.

But I wouldn't do anything.
The thundering that throws me away.
I wouldn't do anything.

I won't go to church
The noise, the noise.
The preacher wouldn't care for
The noise, the noise.
I don't know what's real from
The noise, the noise.
I can't hear a thing for
The noise, the noise.
The noise.
The noise.
The noise.

I wouldn't do anything.
The thunder that throws me away.
I wouldn't do anything.
There's something that keeps me away.
I wouldn't do anything.
Something that begs me to stay.




I wouldn't do anything.
Something that throws me away.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Austra's song The Noise convey the frustration of the singer with the constant noise in their environment, preventing them from finding peace or rest. The opening lines "I can't sleep at night, The noise, the noise, My eyes they open wider, The noise, the noise" suggest the sleeplessness that the noise is causing. The singer then expresses a desire to relate to others, possibly seeking solace or a sense of community in their struggle. However, they also acknowledge that they cannot compensate for the noise themselves, suggesting a feeling of helplessness.


The singer then states that they won't go to church, as the preacher wouldn't care about their noise, highlighting the sense of isolation they feel. They express confusion about what is real and struggle to hear anything over the noise. The repetition of "The noise" throughout the song reinforces the oppressive, unrelenting nature of the noise. The lyrics conclude with the singer stating that there is something that keeps them away but also begs them to stay, suggesting conflicting impulses within them. They end by repeating that the noise "throws them away," emphasizing how powerless they feel in the face of it.


Line by Line Meaning

I can't sleep at night
I have difficulty sleeping at night


The noise, the noise.
I am disturbed by a constant noise


My eyes they open wider
My eyes are wide open due to the noise


The noise, the noise.
I am disturbed by a constant noise


I came to relate
I came to understand and connect with something


The noise, the noise.
I am disturbed by a constant noise


Help me compensate for
Assist me in managing and coping with


The noise, the noise.
I am disturbed by a constant noise


But I wouldn't do anything.
Even though I am disturbed, I will not take action


The thundering that throws me away.
The loud and overpowering noise that disorients and overwhelms me


I won't go to church
I will not attend religious services


The noise, the noise.
I am disturbed by a constant noise


The preacher wouldn't care for
The religious leader would not show concern for


The noise, the noise.
I am disturbed by a constant noise


I don't know what's real from
I am unable to distinguish reality from


The noise, the noise.
I am disturbed by a constant noise


I can't hear a thing for
I am unable to hear anything due to


The noise, the noise.
I am disturbed by a constant noise


The noise.
The constant noise that is affecting me


The noise.
The constant noise that is affecting me


The noise.
The constant noise that is affecting me


I wouldn't do anything.
Even though I am disturbed, I will not take action


The thunder that throws me away.
The loud and overpowering noise that disorients and overwhelms me


There's something that keeps me away.
There is something that prevents me from taking action


I wouldn't do anything.
Even though I am disturbed, I will not take action


Something that begs me to stay.
Something that urges me to remain in a state of inaction


I wouldn't do anything.
Even though I am disturbed, I will not take action


Something that throws me away.
Something that disorients and overwhelms me to the point of inaction




Contributed by Vivian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

ion agon

I can't sleep at night
The noise, the noise.
My eyes they open wider
The noise, the noise.
I came to relate
The noise, the noise.
Help me compensate for
The noise, the noise.

But I wouldn't do anything.
The thundering that throws me away.
I wouldn't do anything.

I won't go to church
The noise, the noise.
The preacher wouldn't care for
The noise, the noise.
I don't know what's real from
The noise, the noise.
I can't hear a thing for
The noise, the noise.
The noise.
The noise.
The noise.

I wouldn't do anything.
The thunder that throws me away.
I wouldn't do anything.
There's something that keeps me away.
I wouldn't do anything.
Something that begs me to stay.
I wouldn't do anything.
Something that throws me away.



Andrew Van de Kamp

I can't sleep at night
The noise, the noise
My eyes, they open wider
The noise, the noise
I came to relate
The noise, the noise
Help me compensate for
The noise, the noise
But I wouldn't do anything
The thundering that throws me away
I wouldn't do anything
I won't go to church
The noise, the noise
The preacher wouldn't care for
The noise, the noise
I don't know what's real from
The noise, the noise
I can't hear a thing for
The noise, the noise
The noise...
But I wouldn't do anything
The thundering that throws me away
I wouldn't do anything
The something that keeps me away
I wouldn't do anything
Something that begs me to stay
I wouldn't do anything
Something that throws me away



All comments from YouTube:

MagerialPage

this is one of my favorites of their songs. for me it's about having a holding in a power that's bigger than yourself (perhaps something touched on in "Spellwork"). It's beautiful and terrifying and sometimes you appear as a monster to those who don't understand. It cannot shelter you from your own fears and need to be accepted.

Jessie Gifford

YESSSSSS!! It also terrifies me because it could also be about losing your mind from actual insanity... "I don't know what's real from the noise, the noise..." beautiful and haunting, for sure. I like your artistic interpretation I'll tryyyyyyy to stay open minded :)

Alex Vyse

For the same reasons.

Alex Vyse

MagerialPage mine is the Choke.

ion agon

I can't sleep at night
The noise, the noise.
My eyes they open wider
The noise, the noise.
I came to relate
The noise, the noise.
Help me compensate for
The noise, the noise.

But I wouldn't do anything.
The thundering that throws me away.
I wouldn't do anything.

I won't go to church
The noise, the noise.
The preacher wouldn't care for
The noise, the noise.
I don't know what's real from
The noise, the noise.
I can't hear a thing for
The noise, the noise.
The noise.
The noise.
The noise.

I wouldn't do anything.
The thunder that throws me away.
I wouldn't do anything.
There's something that keeps me away.
I wouldn't do anything.
Something that begs me to stay.
I wouldn't do anything.
Something that throws me away.

BiguaBigcx

I always think she says "I will endure anything" before "something is begging me to stay".

BiguaBigcx

Thank you!

Andrew Van de Kamp

I can't sleep at night
The noise, the noise
My eyes, they open wider
The noise, the noise
I came to relate
The noise, the noise
Help me compensate for
The noise, the noise
But I wouldn't do anything
The thundering that throws me away
I wouldn't do anything
I won't go to church
The noise, the noise
The preacher wouldn't care for
The noise, the noise
I don't know what's real from
The noise, the noise
I can't hear a thing for
The noise, the noise
The noise...
But I wouldn't do anything
The thundering that throws me away
I wouldn't do anything
The something that keeps me away
I wouldn't do anything
Something that begs me to stay
I wouldn't do anything
Something that throws me away

Kaspars Kvieshons

so many memories from one song

Arlen Cepeda

This is the perfect Autumn Song 🍁

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