Under the Milkyway
Church Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty
Sound of their breath fades with the light
I think about the loveless fascination
Under the Milky Way tonight

Lower the curtain down on Memphis
Lower the curtain down all right
I got no time for private consultation
Under the Milky Way tonight

[Chorus]
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find

And it's something quite peculiar
Something shimmering and white
Leads you here despite your destination
Under the Milky Way tonight

[Chorus]





Under the Milky way tonight
Under the Milky Way tonight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Church's "Under the Milky Way" speak of a sense of isolation and an impulse to find meaning in the vastness of the universe. The opening line, "Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty," suggests a void, an emptiness that can only be filled by something transcendent. The phrase "loveless fascination" might refer to a longing for something that transcends the mundane and predictable patterns of everyday life. The mention of the Milky Way, a vast and mysterious cosmic entity, adds to the sense of awe and mystery that pervades the lyrics.


As the song progresses, the singer speaks of lowering the curtain down on Memphis and having no time for private consultation. This could be interpreted as a desire to withdraw from the world and its distractions in pursuit of something more profound. The chorus repeats the phrase "Wish I knew what you were looking for," suggesting a universal quest for meaning and purpose. The last two lines, "Leads you here despite your destination / Under the Milky Way tonight," suggests that the answer to this quest is not a destination but a journey. No matter where one is going, the Milky Way is there to guide and inspire.


In summary, "Under the Milky Way" is a song about the human search for meaning and significance in a universe that can seem both vast and lonely. It speaks to a sense of longing for something deeper and more substantial than the trappings of everyday life.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty
During lonely times, when there is nobody around


Sound of their breath fades with the light
Others' presence and breathing becomes distant


I think about the loveless fascination
Contemplating the paradoxical attraction to love despite lack of it


Under the Milky Way tonight
Under the expansive and otherworldly sky tonight


Lower the curtain down on Memphis
End the show in Memphis, TN


Lower the curtain down all right
Bring the performance to a close satisfactorily


I got no time for private consultation
Don't have time for private conversations and personal advice


Under the Milky Way tonight
Under the vast Milky Way sky's presence tonight


Wish I knew what you were looking for
Regretting lack of understanding of someone else's desires and motives


Might have known what you would find
Could've guessed their discovery


And it's something quite peculiar
The discovery is unusual and enchanting


Something shimmering and white
Suggestive of stars or cosmic energy


Leads you here despite your destination
Guiding you towards this place unexpectedly


Under the Milky Way tonight
Again referencing the cosmic sky under which everything is taking place




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JANSSON, KARIN GUNILLA / KILBEY, STEVEN JOHN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@bleep77

There are certain 80’s songs that give me an overwhelmingly painful and bittersweet sense of nostalgia. This is definitely one of them.

@guibox3

Yup. For me it is the music AND videos together that do it for me. "She's So Young' by Pursuit of Happiness, 'Mad About You' by Belinda Carlisle, 'Our Lips Are Sealed' by The Gogos. "One More Color" by Jane Siberry. These songs make my heart ache with nostalgia. Ugh...If I could time travel back to the 80s, I would do it in a heart beat.

@Scipio7189

Unfortunately I know exactly what you mean.

@lorraineeasydoesit8448

"The Ghost in You" by the Psychedelic Furs affects me greatly to this day still. I am 62. If that doesn't say something about the 80's music, I don't know what could.

@garycarpenter6057

Nostalgia and for me too tears, loss, longing.

@ApacheJulie

Definitely, this, No One is to Blame, Mellt With You...

282 More Replies...

@tracispain2993

My son passed away in January 2022. This song was saved in his videos. Now it’s saved in MY videos, and I listen almost every day. I’m so glad he saved it. I knew he had great taste in music. ❤️💔❤️‍🩹

@davidhawley3337

My condolences.

@giorgiomartinico3774

May he rest in peace!

@tracispain2993

@@giorgiomartinico3774 thanks so much. ❤️

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