Lime Tree
Bright Eyes Lyrics


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I keep floating down the river but the ocean never comes
Since the operation I heard you're breathing just for one
Now everything is imaginary, especially what you love
You left another message, said it's done
It's done

When I hear beautiful music it's always from another time
Old friends I never visit, I remember what they're like
Standing on a doorstep full of nervous butterflies
Waiting to be asked to come inside
Just come inside

But I keep going out
I can't sleep next to a stranger when I'm coming down
It's 8 a.m., my heart is beating too loud
Too loud
Don't be so amazing or I'll miss you too much
I felt something that I had never touched
Everything gets smaller now the further that I go
Towards the mouth and the reunion of the known and the unknown
Consider yourself lucky if you think of it as home
You can move mountains with your misery if you don't
If you don't

It comes to me in fragments, even those still split in two
Under the eaves of that old lime tree I stood examining the fruit
Some were ripe and some were rotten, I felt naseous with the truth
There will never be a time more opportune

So I just won't be late
The window closes, shocks roll over in a tidal wave
And all the color drains out of the frame
So pleased with a daydream that now living is no good




I took off my shoes and walked into the woods
I felt lost and found with every step I took

Overall Meaning

The song "Lime Tree" by Bright Eyes explores the theme of uncertain relationships and the fear of losing someone. The opening lines “I keep floating down the river but the ocean never comes” suggest a sense of emptiness and incompleteness. This could be interpreted in terms of the singer's searching for closure and resolution in a relationship but never finding it. The following line “Since the operation I heard you're breathing just for one” implies that the singer is disconnected from this person; they are no longer sharing the same air or experiences. These opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, which is melancholic and introspective.


The second verse of the song deals with nostalgia and the longing for happier, simpler times. The line “When I hear beautiful music it's always from another time” suggests that the singer yearns for things from his past that are now out of reach. This sentiment is further expressed in the following lines, “Old friends I never visit, I remember what they're like, Standing on a doorstep full of nervous butterflies, Waiting to be asked to come inside, Just come inside”. This nostalgic yearning is tempered with the fear of losing what little connection he still has with the present.


The final verse of the song returns to the theme of uncertainty and the inevitability of loss. The image of the lime tree recurs in this verse, representing the passage of time and the sense of impermanence. The line “There will never be a time more opportune” suggests that time is running out for the singer to make a decision or take action. The lines “So pleased with a daydream that now living is no good, I took off my shoes and walked into the woods, I felt lost and found with every step I took” holds the promise of redemption; the possibility of finding a way back to a happier and more fulfilled life.


Line by Line Meaning

I keep floating down the river but the ocean never comes
I'm stagnant and unchanging despite time passing by


Since the operation I heard you're breathing just for one
Since your surgery, I hear you're only breathing for yourself


Now everything is imaginary, especially what you love
Nothing seems real anymore, especially not what you care about


You left another message, said it's done
You gave up and moved on, leaving me behind


When I hear beautiful music it's always from another time
I can only find beauty in things from the past


Old friends I never visit, I remember what they're like
I haven't seen my old friends in a while, but I still remember them


Standing on a doorstep full of nervous butterflies
I'm anxious and hesitant to take the next step


Waiting to be asked to come inside
I'm waiting for someone else to make the move


But I keep going out
Despite my anxiety, I keep trying


I can't sleep next to a stranger when I'm coming down
I can't sleep with someone I don't know well when I'm not okay


It's 8 a.m., my heart is beating too loud
I'm hyper aware of everything and my heart is racing


Don't be so amazing or I'll miss you too much
If you're too good, I'll miss you more when you're gone


I felt something that I had never touched
I experienced something new and profound


Everything gets smaller now the further that I go
Everything seems less significant as time goes on


Towards the mouth and the reunion of the known and the unknown
Heading towards the end and the uncertainty of what's after


Consider yourself lucky if you think of it as home
Be grateful if you feel at home somewhere


You can move mountains with your misery if you don't
You can accomplish great things when you're unhappy


It comes to me in fragments, even those still split in two
Memories come to me in pieces, even when they're incomplete


Under the eaves of that old lime tree I stood examining the fruit
I stood under the shelter of a lime tree, looking at its fruit


Some were ripe and some were rotten, I felt naseous with the truth
Some fruit was fresh and some was decayed, and it made me feel sick with the reality


There will never be a time more opportune
There will never be a better time for something than right now


So I just won't be late
I won't miss my chance to act


The window closes, shocks roll over in a tidal wave
Time is running out, and consequences are coming like a massive wave


And all the color drains out of the frame
Everything feels dull and uninteresting


So pleased with a daydream that now living is no good
I'm so content to dream that reality feels undesirable


I took off my shoes and walked into the woods
I removed my shoes to feel the ground beneath me and ventured into the wilderness


I felt lost and found with every step I took
I experienced both confusion and clarity with each step I took on this journey




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CONOR OBERST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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