It's a firm favourite of both the band and the audience live, and is usually played towards the end of the set.
Scenic World
Beirut Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lights go off
When things don't feel right
I lie down like a tired dog
Licking his wounds in the shade
When I feel alive
I try to imagine a careless life
Breathtaking
Breathtaking
The song Scenic World by Beirut is a reflective piece that speaks to the duality of human emotion. The first verse depicts the act of self-preservation and the tendency to withdraw into oneself when things don't feel right. The imagery of a tired dog licking their wounds in the shade evokes a sense of exhaustion and defeat. The lights going on and off represent the fleeting moments of hope and positivity in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelmingly dark.
The second verse introduces the concept of escapism, something that many people can relate to. The desire to imagine a world where sunsets are breathtaking and life is carefree speaks to a longing for a simpler, more idyllic existence. This is a common theme in Beirut's music, as the use of brass instruments and other unconventional sounds creates a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era. The repetition of the word "breathtaking" emphasizes the powerful nature of this fantasy world, and suggests a deep yearning for something more.
Line by Line Meaning
The lights go on
I'm surrounded by brightness and positivity, everything seems to go my way.
The lights go off
Suddenly, everything changes, and I feel like something is not right.
When things don't feel right
This is a moment of introspection, where I question my circumstances and my feelings.
I lie down like a tired dog
When life becomes overwhelming, I become submissive, and I seek shelter and rest.
Licking his wounds in the shade
I might be wounded, but I can find comfort in solitude and darkness.
When I feel alive
Sometimes, I'm able to transcend my surroundings and experience pure, intense vitality.
I try to imagine a careless life
At moments like this, I entertain the thought of living a simple, worry-free existence, free from life's complexities.
A scenic world where the sunsets are all
This idealized world I imagine is filled with beauty and wonder.
Breathtaking
It is so remarkable that it takes my breath away.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Zach Condon, Ryan Condon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mimmocuscela
[Verse 1]
The lights go on
The lights go off
When things don't feel right
I lie down like a tired dog
Licking his wounds in the shade
[Verse 2]
When I feel alive
I try to imagine a careless life
A scenic world where the sunsets are all
Breathtaking
Breathtaking
@trains70
I don't know how anyone can make music that is so happy and so sad at the same time.
@emilytetreault2516
It's definitely a melancholy song.
@arsoyaltinpinar2667
Johann Pachelbel my friend. This has resemblance with canon in d major ;)
@averylafon1240
Suciu part was insane
@ninavdsnconsulting2018
Lockdown Day 492
" I try to imagine a careless life
A scenic world where sunsets are all breathtaking"
Keep Hope
@marcosaurelioalvescutrimca4893
This song reminds me a lot of my father . He passed away last year. Shortly before he died, he was hospitalized for a month, and I was always in the hospital with him. When I slept there, early in the morning I would wake up and help him to the bathroom, and while supporting him I would watch the sun rise from the bathroom window.
@HoGMarcos
@Spaghetti God Thank you for the prayer, my friend.
@Pezerinno
God bless your late father
@bernardovargas7188
Espero que tu esteja bem.
@NATALIAARAUJO-pc8ev
<3