Round Here
Counting Crows Lyrics

Step out the front door like a ghost
Leaving the house feeling invisible and unnoticed

Into a fog where no one notices
Entering an environment where one is easily overlooked

The contrast of white on white
The pale, monochromatic scenery adds to the mundane feeling

And in between the moon and you
The artist finds themselves in a state of uncertainty and confusion

The angels get a better view
The divine beings seemingly have a front row seat to the artist's struggles

Of the crumbling difference between wrong and right
The line between morality is blurred and difficult to distinguish

Well, I walk in the air between the rain
The singer feels as if they are walking through a stormy situation unscathed

Through myself and back again
The artist reflects on their innermost thoughts and feelings

Where? I don't know
The artist is unsure of where they are headed

Maria says she's dying
The character named Maria is experiencing great emotional or physical distress

Through the door, I hear her crying
The singer is aware of Maria's distress and can hear her sadness

Why? I don't know
The artist is unsure of the reason behind Maria's pain

'Round here, we always stand up straight
There is a pressure to keep up appearances and conform to societal norms in the singer's environment

'Round here, something radiates
There is an aura of something unexplainable or otherworldly in the singer's environment

Maria came from Nashville with a suitcase in her hand
A character named Maria has uprooted her life and moved to the singer's setting

She said she'd like to meet a boy who looks like Elvis
Maria has a specific idea in her head of what she is looking for

And she walks along the edge of where the ocean meets the land
Maria appears unafraid of the potential chaos and instability of being on the edge

Just like she's walking on a wire in the circus
Maria seems to be putting on a show and taking risks

She parks her car outside of my house and takes her clothes off
Maria is impulsive and bold, taking risks without much thought

Says she's close to understanding Jesus
Maria may be on a spiritual journey or is having a personal epiphany

And she knows she's more than just a little misunderstood
Maria is aware that others do not comprehend her true intentions and motivations

She has trouble acting normal when she's nervous
Maria's anxiety causes her to act in uncharacteristic ways

'Round here, we're carving out our names
The singer and their counterparts are trying to make a name for themselves in their environment

'Round here, we all look the same
The artist and others blend together in their conformist environment

'Round here, we talk just like lions
The singer's environment is filled with boisterous and confident talk

But we sacrifice like lambs
Despite the posturing, the singer and their counterparts often end up being the ones who suffer in their environment

'Round here, she's slipping through my hands
The singer is finding it difficult to connect with Maria and keep her close

Sleeping children better run like the wind
People need to flee their troubles and seek refuge

Out of the lightning dream
Getting away from a chaotic and dangerous situation

Mama's little baby better get herself in
A call to action for someone to save themselves and leave a dangerous situation

Out of the lightning
Getting away from the chaos and danger

She says, "It's only in my head"
Maria recognizes that her problems may all be mental

She says, "Shh, I know it's only in my head"
Maria tries to calm herself, reminding herself that her issues are all internal

But the girl on the car in the parking lot
A new character is introduced

Says, "Man, you should try to take a shot
The girl is urging the singer to take a leap of faith

Can't you see my walls are crumbling?"
The girl reveals that she too is struggling and feels vulnerable

Then she looks up at the building
The girl takes in her surroundings

Says she's thinking of jumping
The girl is having suicidal thoughts

She says she's tired of life
The girl is fed up with living

She must be tired of something
A reflection that everyone has something they are tired of or struggling with

'Round here, she's always on my mind
The artist is preoccupied with the new girl they have met

'Round here, hey man, I got lots of time
The singer has plenty of time to ruminate on their problems and observations

'Round here, we're never sent to bed early
There is a general lack of structure or parental guidance in the singer's environment

And nobody makes us wait
Waiting is not a common practice or expectation in the artist's environment

'Round here we stay up very, very, very, very late
There is an anything-goes attitude and a general disregard for conventional expectations of time and responsibility

I can't see nothing, nothing
The artist feels lost and without direction

Around here
In their current environment

You catch me if I'm falling
The artist needs someone to catch them when they falter

Will you catch me? 'Cause I'm falling down on you
The singer is putting their trust and vulnerability in someone else's hands

I said I'm under the gun
The singer is feeling tremendous pressure and urgency

'Round here
In their current situation

Oh man I said I'm under the gun
Further emphasizing the urgency and stress the artist feels

And I can't see nothin', nothin'
The artist is blinded by their situation and cannot see a way out

'Round here
In their current environment