No Red Indian
British Sea Power Lyrics


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Wah wah wah wah

In a place where no one goes I secede whilst next door low and behold
A girl is waiting pleasantly placing animals through my hair and hers
I have no complaints to restrain me, the ship has gone to places far gone
She will follow elegant strides, forget-me-nots, thunder in my guts

You are the custodian of your own stomach and all that's in it
Colonic irrigation dear followed by sex and beer
I am there while you are here, I am no Indian you are no fairy
This place will be a mess in a day, so why no go our separate ways





I am no red Indian

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "No Red Indian" by British Sea Power paint a vivid picture of a strange and unexpected encounter, full of surreal and enigmatic imagery. The opening lines, "In a place where no one goes I secede whilst next door low and behold", suggest a sense of detachment or isolation, as if the singer has withdrawn from the rest of the world. However, this sense of solitude is quickly disrupted by "a girl waiting pleasantly", who proceeds to place "animals through my hair and hers". This sudden intrusion of intimacy and physical touch creates a jarring juxtaposition between the internal and external worlds of the singer, as he tries to make sense of this strange and unexpected connection.


Despite the overwhelming sensory experience of the encounter, the singer seems to be at peace with it, stating that he has "no complaints to restrain" him. The reference to a ship going to "places far gone" suggests a sense of distance or escape, as if the singer is trying to leave behind the limitations of his own reality. This feeling of liberation is reinforced by the image of the girl following his "elegant strides", as if they are both in sync and moving towards a common goal. The final lines, "I am no Indian, you are no fairy/This place will be a mess in a day, so why not go our separate ways", suggest a recognition of the impermanence and transience of their encounter, as well as a desire to avoid getting too attached or invested in it.


Line by Line Meaning

In a place where no one goes I secede whilst next door low and behold
I'm in a secluded place where no one else goes, while right next door is something surprising.


A girl is waiting pleasantly placing animals through my hair and hers
A girl is waiting for me and we're playing with animal shapes in our hair.


I have no complaints to restrain me, the ship has gone to places far gone
I'm not holding back any complaints, as the ship has taken me to faraway places.


She will follow elegant strides, forget-me-nots, thunder in my guts
She'll tag along with me confidently, and my feelings for her are strong.


You are the custodian of your own stomach and all that's in it
You're responsible for your own health and well-being.


Colonic irrigation dear followed by sex and beer
After cleaning out your system, it's time for indulgence.


I am there while you are here, I am no Indian you are no fairy
I might be physically present, but we are very different people.


This place will be a mess in a day, so why no go our separate ways
Since this place will become a mess soon, why don't we go our own separate ways?


I am no red Indian
I'm not associated with Native American culture or beliefs.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAN SCOTT WILKINSON, MARTIN NOBLE, MATTHEW JAMES WOOD, NEIL HAMILTON WILKINSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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