In 2008 the band won a prestigious Ivor Novello award for ‘People Help The People’, a recognition of Simon Aldred’s evocative songwriting.
The band have supported Amy Winehouse, Doves, crowded house, and Smog
Kissing Strangers
Cherry Ghost Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beauty the crashing bore
Time worn verse and phrase
Young hearts on the chase
Haste to dull the wits
Ransacking photo-fits
Smiles that don't belong
Been kissing strangers
Trawling the night sky
Drinking the bars dry
All is closing in
All is closing in
Heard you found your feet
And fell on a winning streak
A well groomed weakened brute
A seed that's taken root
And I'm the backward town
That needs razing to the ground
But you were passing through
Half way to somewhere new
Been kissing strangers
Trawling the night sky
Drinking the bars dry
All is closing in
All is closing in
Been kissing strangers
Running a long line
With luck of the wrong kind
All is closing in
All is closing in
Twitch from a neon heart
The fumbling in the dark
Been kissing strangers
Trawling the night sky
Drinking the bars dry
All is closing in
All is closing in
Been kissing strangers
Running a long line
With luck of the wrong kind
All is closing in
All is closing in
The Cherry Ghost song "Kissing Strangers" is a poignant look at the ephemerality of youth, the insecurity of modern existence, and the pressure to conform to societal ideals. The opening lines declare "Stifling a roar / Beauty the crashing bore" which can be seen as the collective frustration of young people who are boxed into a corner by society's cultural conventions. The "time-worn verse and phrase" that are being referenced are the well-meaning but ultimately hollow platitudes that we hear all too often in our daily lives. The fourth line "Young hearts on the chase" refers to the impulsive nature of youth who are always on the lookout for the next big adventure.
The next verse shifts the focus from the abstract to the concrete. The "haste to dull the wits" speaks of the need to shut out reality through artificial means - in this case, alcohol. The "ransacking photo-fits" hints at the dislocation that people feel in urban spaces where they are surrounded by faces they do not know. The "smiles that don't belong" are a reminder of how fleeting human connections can sometimes be, and the "one that's gone" alludes to a lost love.
The chorus is a plaintive cry about the desperation of modern existence. The repetition of "been kissing strangers" is a reference to the sense of longing and the search for meaning that people sometimes feel when they are lost or adrift. The final part of the chorus "All is closing in" speaks to the overwhelming feeling of being hemmed in by the pressures of modern life.
Line by Line Meaning
Stifling a roar
Suppressing a loud and uncontrollable expression of emotion
Beauty the crashing bore
The overwhelming, seemingly endless monotony of beautiful things
Time worn verse and phrase
Overused and clichéd language of poetry and writing
Young hearts on the chase
Youthful, eager hearts searching for love and adventure
Haste to dull the wits
The desire to quickly forget or escape reality by any means necessary
Ransacking photo-fits
Looking for someone, anyone to satisfy the longing and loneliness
Smiles that don't belong
Fake happiness that hides the true, more painful emotions
Like the one that's gone
Emulating happiness that was once felt, but is now gone
Been kissing strangers
Engaging in meaningless, temporary acts of affection with strangers
Trawling the night sky
Searching, often aimlessly, for something meaningful in the darkness
Drinking the bars dry
Using alcohol to numb the pain and create a temporary escape from reality
All is closing in
Feeling trapped with no escape from a painful reality
Heard you found your feet
It has been learned that you have built a successful life
And fell on a winning streak
You have prospered in your endeavors and are currently enjoying success
A well groomed weakened brute
One who appears polished and civilized, but is actually weakened or corrupt
A seed that's taken root
A situation or character trait that has been cultivated and is now hard to change
And I'm the backward town
Referring to oneself as an outdated and unimportant place or person
That needs razing to the ground
Desiring destruction and complete change for oneself or one's surroundings
But you were passing through
You were only briefly present before moving on to something better
Half way to somewhere new
On a journey to a new and better place, leaving behind the old and flawed
Running a long line
Continually seeking temporary happiness from others
With luck of the wrong kind
Experiencing the negative consequences of one's actions instead of positive outcomes
Twitch from a neon heart
A sudden and subtle movement or emotion from a person who appears superficial and shallow
The fumbling in the dark
The difficulties and confusion experienced in life when things are unclear
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ben Parsons, Grenville Harrop, Jim Rhodes, Phill Anderson, Simon Aldred
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hardi Mawan
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Stifling a roar
Beauty the crashing bore
Time worn verse and phrase
Young hearts on the chase
Haste to dull the wits
Ransacking photo-fits
Smiles that don't belong
Like the one that's gone
Been kissing strangers
Trawling the night sky
Drinking the bars dry
All is closing in
All is closing in
Heard you found your feet
And fell on a winning streak
A well groomed weakened brute
A seed that's taken root
And I'm the backward town
That needs razing to the ground
But you were passing through
Half way to somewhere new
Been kissing strangers
Trawling the night sky
Drinking the bars dry
All is closing in
All is closing in
Been kissing strangers
Running a long line
With luck of the wrong kind
All is closing in
All is closing in
Twitch from a neon heart
The fumbling in the dark
Been kissing strangers
Trawling the night sky
Drinking the bars dry
All is closing in
All is closing in
Been kissing strangers
Running a long line
With luck of the wrong kind
All is closing in
All is closing in
Source: LyricFind
didoma73
Phenomenal songwriting; I feel as if every word and every verse crafted so perfectly depict the wistfulness and longing from the song
no coat
+didoma73 Yes, It took me right away. I heard Tom Chaplin of Keane sing it on his channel. He does it justice.
Ian Murray
Loved this the first time I heard it and it is still magnificent now
no coat
Strikingly well conceived tune. I think this is one of the best pop songs ever done. Such yearning. Lovely and tireless melody
CaptainOatwright
nice one, looking forward to the new album!
Pavla Figurova
I just can´t get enough of this song! Absolutely addictive!!!
Nova Wolf
So stunning! Thank you!!!
Rob Baxter
Amazing song and beautifully depicted in this video!
Aurality
Absolutely Stellar! Everything. Everyone did an amazing job. Magical song, amazing work by Doug and fantastic performance by the Actor. I would be extremely proud to have had any involvement in this project whatsoever. Thanks for letting me listen and look. Can't stop playing it :) In a selfish way I hope this doesn't chart or get too popular.. I secretly like the fact that not everyone knows about it - like the majority of the tripe out there. Proper art... really struck a note with me.
Mark Cain
Bloody amazing song, as most are. Saw them supporting Coral at Salford and Doves at Bradford but now have tix for Manc to see them top of the bill. F*cking superb, cannot wait....