Based in Glasgow, Scotland, Belle and Sebastian released their first two albums in 1996 at the peak of the chamber pop movement.
Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying
Belle & Sebastian Lyrics
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Play me a song to set me free
Nobody writes them like they used to
So it may as well be me
Here on my own now after hours
Here on my own now on a bus
Think of it this way
You could either be successful or be us
With our catchy tunes, and us
Now we're photogenic
You know, we don't stand a chance
Oh, I'll settle down with some old story
About a boy who's just like me
Thought there was love in everything and everyone
You're so naive!
After a while they always get it
They always reach a sorry end
Still it was worth it as I turned the pages solemnly, and then
With a winning smile, the boy
With naivety succeeds
At the final moment, I cried
I always cry at endings
Oh, that wasn't what I meant to say at all
From where I'm sitting, rain
Washing against the lonely tenement
Has set my mind to wander
Into the windows of my lovers
They never know unless I write
"This is no declaration, I just thought I'd let you know goodbye"
Said the hero in the story
"It is mightier than swords
I could kill you sure
But I could only make you cry with these words"
Oh, get me away, I'm dying...
Belle & Sebastian's song "Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying" is a melancholic but reflective ballad that explores themes of disillusionment, unrequited love, and the desire to break free from the confines of a mundane existence. The opening line, "Ooh! Get me away from here I'm dying," sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer longs for something more than what he has. He asks for a song that can set him free, but acknowledges that nobody writes them like they used to, so it may as well be him. This sentiment is an acknowledgement of the challenges of creating original and meaningful art in a world that is saturated with content.
The chorus describes the band's plight as underdogs in an industry that prioritizes success over artistic integrity. "With our winning smiles, and us // With our catchy tunes, and us // Now we're photogenic // You know, we don't stand a chance" is a commentary on the superficiality of the music industry, where looks and marketability often trump talent and authenticity. The second verse shifts focus to the singer's personal life, as he reflects on his unrequited love for someone who may not even know he exists. He muses on the power of words to express feelings and make an impact on someone's life, even if they may not fully understand or reciprocate those feelings.
Overall, "Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying" is a poignant ode to the struggles of the creative process, the disillusionment of unrequited love, and the search for something more meaningful and fulfilling in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh! Get me away from here I'm dying
Expressing a strong desire to escape from the current situation and surroundings, feeling like it's unbearable.
Play me a song to set me free
Asking for something to distract from the reality and make the situation more bearable.
Nobody writes them like they used to
So it may as well be me
Feeling like the songs and stories of the past have lost their appeal, so might as well create your own to fill the void.
Here on my own now after hours
Here on my own now on a bus
Being alone in a crowded space, feeling lost and disconnected from people.
Think of it this way
You could either be successful or be us
With our winning smiles, and us
With our catchy tunes, and us
Now we're photogenic
You know, we don't stand a chance
Reflecting on the struggles of trying to make it in the entertainment industry and realizing that success is hard to come by, no matter how talented someone is.
Oh, I'll settle down with some old story
About a boy who's just like me
Thought there was love in everything and everyone
You're so naive!
Escaping into a fictional story to avoid facing real life, but then realizing that the main character's naivety is similar to one's own views.
After a while they always get it
They always reach a sorry end
Still it was worth it as I turned the pages solemnly, and then
With a winning smile, the boy
With naivety succeeds
At the final moment, I cried
I always cry at endings
Accepting that most stories have a sad ending but still finding a sense of hope and inspiration from them, empathizing with the characters and feeling emotional at the end.
Oh, that wasn't what I meant to say at all
From where I'm sitting, rain
Washing against the lonely tenement
Has set my mind to wander
Realizing that the previous reflection was not the intended thought and instead feeling the melancholy mood of the rainy setting, allowing the mind to wander freely.
Into the windows of my lovers
They never know unless I write
"This is no declaration, I just thought I'd let you know goodbye"
Thinking about past relationships and how they have ended, feeling the need to communicate but not actually reaching out, writing a farewell note in mind.
Said the hero in the story
"It is mightier than swords
I could kill you sure
But I could only make you cry with these words"
Reflecting on the power of words to hurt or heal, realizing that despite the desire to take revenge, the most effective way to hurt someone is through words.
Oh, get me away, I'm dying...
Repeating the opening line as a way of emphasizing the desperation and urgency of wanting to escape the current situation and emotions.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, ISOBEL CAMPBELL, MICHAEL COOKE, RICHARD COLBURN, SARAH MARTIN, STEPHEN JACKSON, STUART MURDOCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind