Outsider
Dark Waves Lyrics

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I walk the length of a cigarette
Back to the place with the guardians
He's got that shit right behind his lip
I know he's always holding

I make my way to the fray kids bar
Waved to my friends, don't know who they are
And I spend my money like I work too hard

Got nothing left to live or die for

So I take a walk where the only god is an outsider
Where the city stops for a couple of blocks and no one knows me
I don't wanna live this way
Hanging my sheets in the windows
Hanging my sheets in the windows, no

I make a living 'cause it keeps me high
Out on the corner with the candlelight
And money's bad when you work a lot
The feeling that I live and die for

So I take a walk where the only god is an outsider
Where the city stops for a couple of blocks and no one knows me
I don't wanna live this way
Hanging my sheets in the windows
Hanging my sheets in the windows
Hanging my sheets in the windows

I wanna hold you, wanna hold you down, yeah
Try to control you but I don't know how

So I take a walk where the only god is an outsider
Where the city stops for a couple blocks and no one knows my name
I don't wanna live this way
Hanging my sheets in the windows, no
Hanging my sheets in the windows, no
Hanging my sheets in the windows
Hanging my sheets in the windows

I wanna hold you, wanna hold you down
Try to control you but I don't know how

Hanging my sheets in the windows
I wanna hold you, wanna hold you down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dark Waves's "Outsider" paint a vivid picture of a person who feels out of place and disconnected from their surroundings. The first verse opens with the singer walking back to a familiar place where there are "guardians" and someone who always has something concealed behind his lip. The second verse describes the singer going to a bar and spending money freely despite feeling like they have nothing left to live or die for. It's clear that the singer is searching for something to make them feel alive.

The chorus is where the true meaning of the song becomes apparent. The singer takes a walk where "the only god is an outsider" and where "no one knows me." This is where they feel most at peace and feel like they can truly escape from the pressures of everyday life. The act of "hanging my sheets in the windows" suggests a desire for privacy and a need to create a sanctuary away from the outside world.

The bridge of the song brings in a more personal element, with the singer expressing a desire to hold someone down and control them, but not knowing how. This could be interpreted in a number of ways, but it suggests a sense of powerlessness and a desire for connection.

Overall, "Outsider" is a song about searching for connection and purpose in a world that often feels overwhelming and isolating. It's about finding solace in the unknown and seeking refuge where no one can find you.

Line by Line Meaning

I walk the length of a cigarette
I stroll slowly to a place like a smoker finishing their last cigarette

Back to the place with the guardians
I return to a location where people are looking out for me

He's got that shit right behind his lip
He has some drugs hidden in his mouth

I know he's always holding
I am aware that he always has drugs on him

I make my way to the fray kids bar
I head over to a bar where there are a lot of young, wild people

Waved to my friends, don't know who they are
I greet people who are familiar to me but whose names I don't know or don't remember

And I spend my money like I work too hard
I blow my money easily as if I worked very hard to earn it

Got nothing left to live or die for
I have nothing significant enough in my life that I am willing to die for

So I take a walk where the only god is an outsider
I take a quick stroll somewhere unfamiliar where I won't encounter anyone I know

Where the city stops for a couple of blocks and no one knows me
I go to an area outside of the city where I can experience some privacy and anonymity

Hanging my sheets in the windows
I am trying to protect my privacy by covering my windows with sheets

I make a living 'cause it keeps me high
I work only to sustain my addiction and stay high

Out on the corner with the candlelight
I work in a rough and unconventional area, using candlelight as my only source of illumination

And money's bad when you work a lot
Money becomes worthless when you work too hard to earn it

The feeling that I live and die for
I am addicted to a feeling that serves as the purpose of my life even though it can lead to my death

I wanna hold you, wanna hold you down, yeah
I want to keep someone in my life under my control

Try to control you but I don't know how
I want to control someone but don't have the means to do so

Where the city stops for a couple blocks and no one knows my name
I want to be somewhere where I am anonymous because no one recognizing me brings me some kind of relief

Hanging my sheets in the windows, no
I keep my windows hidden from view to keep my privacy

I wanna hold you, wanna hold you down
I want to have some sort of control over somebody else's life and actions

Contributed by Sarah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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