Berlín
Aviv Geffen Lyrics


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I stayed up all night
Watching you smile
We were lost in dreams.
She had told me she'd better move out
To escape from the city
Me and my band just came from the south
And we drove such a long way
But when I looked in your eyes
It was worth every mile.

She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin
Like Berlin.

This rusty old coffee bar
Still reminds me of cold, cold winters
We remembered those places
that still gave us a shelter to love
I stood in your doorway tonight
But I was too scared to call you
So I just walked away on my own
withered like the night.

She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin




She was crazy like Berlin.
Like Berlin.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Aviv Geffen's song Berlin explore the themes of loss, longing, and nostalgia. The singer recounts a night spent with someone special, reminiscing about their shared dreams and experiences. However, they are ultimately separated by distance and circumstance, with the object of the singer's affection moving away to escape the city where they first met. The lyrics draw parallels between the person and the city of Berlin, which is described as "cold," "broken," "torn," and "crazy." The singer seems to have difficulty letting go of their past, as evidenced by their return to a familiar coffee bar and their reluctance to reach out to the person they miss.


The song's imagery is rich with symbolism and emotion. The reference to Berlin conjures up feelings of loneliness, isolation, and a longing for connection. The coffee bar, with its association to warmth and comfort, is contrasted with the wintry coldness of the singer's memories. The repetition of the phrase "like Berlin" emphasizes the singer's sense of identification with the city's struggles and scars.


Overall, the lyrics to Berlin paint a poignant picture of love and loss, evoking the bittersweet memories that linger long after a relationship has ended.


Line by Line Meaning

I stayed up all night
I passed an entire night without any sleep.


Watching you smile
I spent the night admiring your smile.


We were lost in dreams.
We were deeply entranced and lost in our dreams.


She had told me she'd better move out
She expressed her intention to leave her current location.


To escape from the city
She wanted to flee or avoid being in the city.


Me and my band just came from the south
My musical group and I recently arrived from the southern part of the area.


And we drove such a long way
We traveled a great distance to get here.


But when I looked in your eyes
When I saw your eyes, everything became worth the travel.


It was worth every mile.
The journey was all worth it.


She was cold just like Berlin
She displayed a cold emotion similar to that of the Berlin city.


She was broken like Berlin
She was emotionally broken like the city of Berlin after the war.


She was torn just like Berlin
She experienced significant emotional upheavals like the city of Berlin.


She was crazy like Berlin
She possessed some extent of madness similar to that of the city of Berlin.


This rusty old coffee bar
This old and neglected coffee place.


Still reminds me of cold, cold winters
This place still triggers my memories of the freezing and harsh winters.


We remembered those places
We have distinct memories of such places.


that still gave us a shelter to love
Places where we found comfort and solace in each other's love.


I stood in your doorway tonight
I was near your entrance this night.


But I was too scared to call you
I was too frightened to reach out to you.


So I just walked away on my own
I decided to walk away unaided.


withered like the night.
I felt abandoned and downcast like the night.




Contributed by Lauren J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

rothutbiene

Here are the full lyrics:
Aviv Geffen - Berlin -
I stayed up all night
Watching you smile
We were lost in dreams.
She had told me she'd better move out
To escape from the city
Me and my band just came from the south
And we drove such a long way
But when I looked in your eyes
It was worth every mile.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin
Like Berlin.
This rusty old coffee bar
Still reminds me of cold, cold winters
We remembered those places
that still gave us a shelter to love
I stood in your doorway tonight
But I was too scared to call you
So I just walked away on my own
withered like the night.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin.
Like Berlin.



All comments from YouTube:

bunnyhead71

i am DEFINITELY late to the party here. I have been a fan of Porcupine Tree and the many many side projects that Steven Wilson has been involved in over the past 25 years. One of those being Blackfield. Someone like Wilson would not just work with anyone. Thanks to him I have become a huge fan of Geffen's work. This man is just absolutely brilliant . Wilson has also led me to the work of Ninet Tayeb someone else i'd never had heard of if it were not for him. This is the kind of music I love to introduce people to. Staggeringly brilliant stuff. If fans of his have any suggestions of other things such as this they think I should check out, please let me know. I am a 43 year old music junkie that NEVER stops listening and learning. With a personal music collection of over 5700 lp's, I cover most genres.

Klaas Vos

I hear this song for the first time.😉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq5BQrjzxCA Great album of a Dutch band. Imo the same sort music. And Disreflect - My Dear.

timetraveler900

I don't think people realise just how extraordinary and incredible this song is.

Jason Musshorn

Unreal! Easily the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard. Just amazing.

rothutbiene

Here are the full lyrics:
Aviv Geffen - Berlin -
I stayed up all night
Watching you smile
We were lost in dreams.
She had told me she'd better move out
To escape from the city
Me and my band just came from the south
And we drove such a long way
But when I looked in your eyes
It was worth every mile.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin
Like Berlin.
This rusty old coffee bar
Still reminds me of cold, cold winters
We remembered those places
that still gave us a shelter to love
I stood in your doorway tonight
But I was too scared to call you
So I just walked away on my own
withered like the night.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin.
Like Berlin.

PMO

Mesmerising! And his voice in English is beautiful. Long live the King of Israeli music past and present! 

lilykuh

i live in berlin and i just realised. this song is very beautiful!

Kaitlyn Hill

Berlin is beautiful, a little sad, and hopeful...and so is this song.  :)  Thanks for sharing

Yallon Banoun

Wow! What a great song!

Andrea Campisano

no words. all i can say is "thank you"

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