Milky Way
Craig Obey vs. The Church Lyrics

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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

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

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

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

Under the Milky Way tonight

Under the Milky Way tonight
Under the Milky Way tonight

Overall Meaning

In Craig Obey vs. The Church's song Under The Milky Way, the lyrics speak to longing, escapism, and searching for meaning. The first verse sets a melancholy scene with the suggestion that the singer is alone and contemplating life in an empty place where the sounds of others fade away. They then express a fascination with an undefined and apparently loveless pursuit under the vastness of the night sky.

The second verse evokes a sense of being overwhelmed and looking for an escape, represented by the closing of the curtains on Memphis. The singer has no time for personal introspection or consultation as they seek release underneath the stars. The repetition of the lines “Wish I knew what you were looking for/Might have known what you would find” suggest a deep yearning for understanding and perhaps regret for not recognizing what they were seeking sooner.

The chorus repeats the enigma of the shimmering white light that draws the singer to the spot beneath the Milky Way. There is a sense that this journey is not a physical one, but a spiritual or metaphysical one, where destination and arrival are not necessarily clear. Overall, the song captures a universal longing for transcendence and meaning, as well as the frustration of not always finding it.

Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty
At times when this location becomes desolate

Sound of their breath fades with the light
The sounds of others' breathing fade away as darkness falls

I think about the loveless fascination
I contemplate the passion that lacks love

Under the Milky Way tonight
Beneath the starry expanse tonight

Lower the curtain down on Memphis
Bring the curtain down in Memphis

Lower the curtain down all right
Lower the curtain once and for all

I got no time for private consultation
I have no time for personal advice

Under the Milky Way tonight
Beneath the starry expanse tonight

Wish I knew what you were looking for
I desire to know what you are seeking

Might have known what you would find
I could have guessed what you would discover

And it's something quite peculiar
And it is a rather unusual thing

Something shimmering and white
Something glistening and pale

Leads you here despite your destination
Brings you here regardless of your intended endpoint