Outside
Cuban Cigar Crisis Lyrics

In "Outside," Cuban Cigar Crisis speaks about feeling trapped and isolated, unable to escape the confines of a tall building. They are frustrated with the rhetoric they are hearing, which seems to be keeping them stuck inside. They hint at the possibility of dying in such an environment, which gives a sense of urgency to their need to be free. Running from room to room, they are yet surrounded by familiar faces, but that does not lessen their feeling of isolation. They are craving the open air, wanting to escape the elevator they are stuck in and the leftovers they are forced to eat. They feel blocked by locked doors, but their desire to break free is ever present.

The lyrics of "Outside" can be interpreted as a commentary on feeling stifled by society or government, with the "rhetoric" referring to the propaganda or false promises made by those in power. Cuban Cigar Crisis may be expressing a desire to reject these limiting beliefs and to find their own way of living free. On a personal level, the song could also be about wanting to break free from a relationship, job or other situation that feels oppressive or confining.