Footsteps
Brian Eno / John Cale Lyrics

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I'm a man of many colours:
Only yesterday I was blue.
Ten days from now, I'll be different
And so will you.
Written there in capital letters
So as not to be misunderstood
Making sure I'm clear,
Telling bad from good.

Two weeks ago in Tokyo,
A man from Islamabad:
Selling shells back to the rebels,
Shells they never had.
All is clear: I can see for miles and miles.
I can hear your footsteps in my heart.
Somebody make me an offer
I've got to get away from here, ooh, ooh, ooh.
Driving hard through the snow-drift
Like a moth to a naked light
To keep an appointment in Zurich
With a man who hears footsteps in the night.
Tired of what he's been doing,
What it's done to his life...
Getting most if what he needed
Has left him with less than he had.

All is clear: I can see for miles and miles.
All I hear are your footsteps in my heart.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Brian Eno / John Cale's song Footsteps are introspective and speak to the ever-changing nature of both the world and ourselves. The singer describes themselves as a "man of many colors," acknowledging that they are constantly evolving and changing. They make it clear that this applies to everyone, saying "Ten days from now, I'll be different, and so will you." This recognition of impermanence is further emphasized with the lines "Two weeks ago in Tokyo, a man from Islamabad / Selling shells back to the rebels, shells they never had." The man's location, occupation, and situation has completely changed in just two weeks.

The chorus of the song speaks to the singer's desire to escape their current situation. They hear the "footsteps in [their] heart" of someone they long to be with, and they want someone to "make [them] an offer" so they can leave. This could be interpreted both literally and metaphorically. The singer may want to physically leave a place, but they also might want something to change in their life so they can move on emotionally.

Overall, the song Footsteps speaks to the fleeting and ever-changing nature of life. The singer is introspective and recognizes that change is constant, and they long for something different.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm a man of many colours:
I am a multifaceted person.

Only yesterday I was blue.
Just the other day, I was feeling down and sad.

Ten days from now, I'll be different And so will you.
As time passes, we will both change and evolve.

Written there in capital letters So as not to be misunderstood Making sure I'm clear, Telling bad from good.
I wrote this message in bold text to ensure that it is not misinterpreted. I am clarifying the difference between right and wrong.

Two weeks ago in Tokyo, A man from Islamabad: Selling shells back to the rebels, Shells they never had.
In Tokyo, I met someone from Islamabad who was selling weapons to the rebels, even though they did not actually possess any weapons.

All is clear: I can see for miles and miles. I can hear your footsteps in my heart.
Everything is becoming clearer to me, and I feel a deep connection to you.

Somebody make me an offer I've got to get away from here, ooh, ooh, ooh.
I am looking for a way out and hoping someone can make me an offer to help me escape.

Driving hard through the snow-drift Like a moth to a naked light To keep an appointment in Zurich With a man who hears footsteps in the night.
I am speeding through the snow to Zurich to meet someone who is afraid of imaginary footsteps in the dark.

Tired of what he's been doing, What it's done to his life... Getting most if what he needed Has left him with less than he had.
He is exhausted and regretful of his past actions and realizing that by getting what he wanted, he lost much more in the process.

All is clear: I can see for miles and miles. All I hear are your footsteps in my heart.
I have gained a better understanding of the world, but you are still the only thing that matters to me.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN ENO, JOHN DAVIES CALE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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