The Phone Book
Editors Lyrics


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I'm on watch here
So close your eyes and get some rest
I'm here to watch your heart
It's been faulty from the start
I'm the ribs in your chest

I'm not an angel
I never mean to make you cry
Jumping through my hoops
With dissention in the troops
And a smile and a sigh

What's that over your shoulder?
Fear of getting older
Stay with me

Sing me a love song
From your heart or from the phonebook
It don't matter to me
I'm an apple, you're the tree
I won't fall when you're shook

What's that over your shoulder?
Fear of getting older
Stay with me

It ends with a kiss
It ends with a tear
It ends with the lights out
Bathed in our fears

Tell me nonsense
I don't want sincere
I saw the lightning
Cut through the last winter sky of the year





Stay with me
Keep with me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Editors' song "The Phone Book" begin with the singer proclaiming that they are on watch and watch over their lover's heart. It is an admission that their lover's heart has been faulty from the start, and yet the singer is still there, looking after it. They describe themselves as the ribs in their lover's chest, symbolizing their integral part in their lover's life.


As the song progresses, the singer admits that they are not perfect and have made their lover cry, but they always manage to put on a smile and a sigh to deceive them. They then ask their lover about their fear of getting older and that they should stay with them.


In the chorus, the singer states that they don't care whether their lover sings them a love song from their heart or the phone book, indicating that it is their lover's presence that matters most. The final verse suggests that the relationship ends with a kiss and a tear, in a bittersweet moment of love and fear, but the singer just wants to hear some nonsense and not sincere words. The song ends with the singer urging their lover to stay with them.


Overall, the song shows the complexity of a relationship with its ups and downs, but the overriding emotion is the singer's desperate plea for their lover to stay with them.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm on watch here
I am keeping a lookout to ensure your safety


So close your eyes and get some rest
You can sleep soundly knowing that I'm here to protect you


I'm here to watch your heart
I'm specifically keeping guard over your vulnerable heart


It's been faulty from the start
Your heart has always been a source of pain and worry for you


I'm the ribs in your chest
I am an integral part of your being, like the bones protecting your vital organs


I'm not an angel
I'm flawed and imperfect


I never mean to make you cry
I don't intend to hurt you, even though I may do so unintentionally


Jumping through my hoops
I make things difficult for you, and perhaps take advantage of your love and loyalty


With dissention in the troops
Others may not understand or approve of our relationship


And a smile and a sigh
I put on a façade of contentment, while feeling inwardly conflicted


What's that over your shoulder?
What are you worried about or afraid of?


Fear of getting older
Perhaps your fear of aging or your mortality


Stay with me
Please don't leave me, despite your fears


Sing me a love song
Express your affection for me through music, whether it's heartfelt or trivial


From your heart or from the phonebook
It doesn't matter if the lyrics are sincere or borrowed from a mundane source


It don't matter to me
I just want to feel loved and connected with you, regardless of the medium


I'm an apple, you're the tree
I am the fruit of your labor, your protector, and your source of nourishment


I won't fall when you're shook
I will remain steadfast and supportive, even when you feel unstable or uncertain


It ends with a kiss
Our relationship may be ultimately fleeting, but we will express our love physically


It ends with a tear
Our love, and perhaps our lives, will one day come to a sorrowful end


It ends with the lights out
Death will ultimately extinguish our light and passion


Bathed in our fears
Our love and affection may be overwhelmed and consumed by our anxieties and insecurities


Tell me nonsense
Distract me from the reality of our fragile and temporary relationship with playful banter or foolish words


I don't want sincere
I don't want the truth of our impermanence and emotional limitations to ruin the fantasy of our love


I saw the lightning
I witnessed a powerful and fleeting natural phenomenon that reminds me of the transience of life


Cut through the last winter sky of the year
The cold, dark and lonely winter sky poetically symbolizes the finality of our love and our mortality


Stay with me
Remain with me, despite the inevitable end and the torment of our fears


Keep with me
Maintain our bond and keep me close, even when we face challenges and uncertainties




Contributed by Tyler K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@orkas999

L Y R I C S:

I'm on watch here
So close your eyes and get some rest
I'm here to watch your heart
It's been faulty from the start
I'm the ribs in your chest

I'm not an angel
I never mean to make you cry
Jumping through my hoops
With dissention in the troops
And a smile and a sigh

What's that over your shoulder?
Fear of getting older
Stay with me

Sing me a love song
From your heart or from the phone book
It don't matter to me
I'm an apple, you're the tree
I won't fall when you're shook

What's that over your shoulder?
Fear of getting older
Stay with me

It ends with a kiss
It ends with a tear
It ends with the lights out
Bathed in our fear

Tell me nonsense
I don't want sincere
I saw the lightning
Cut through the last winter sky of the year

Stay with me
Keep with me



@antoine7788

"The Phone Book"

I'm on watch here
So close your eyes and get some rest
I'm here to watch your heart
It's been faulty from the start
I'm the ribs in your chest

I'm not an angel
I never mean to make you cry
Jumping through my hoops
With dissention in the troops
And a smile and a sigh

What's that over your shoulder?
Fear of getting older
Stay with me

Sing me a love song
From your heart or from the phone book
It don't matter to me
I'm an apple, you're the tree
I won't fall when you're shook

What's that over your shoulder?
Fear of getting older
Stay with me

It ends with a kiss
It ends with a tear
It ends with the lights out
Bathed in our fear

Tell me nonsense
I don't want sincere
I saw the lightning
Cut through the last winter sky of the year

Stay with me
Keep with me



@reneeduardorodriguezperez8529

I'm on watch here
So close your eyes and get some rest
I'm here to watch your heart
It's been faulty from the start
I'm the ribs in your chest

I'm not an angel
I never mean to make you cry
Jumping through my hoops
With dissention in the troops
And a smile and a sigh

What's that over your shoulder?
Fear of getting older
Stay with me

Sing me a love song
From your heart or from the phone book
It don't matter to me
I'm an apple, you're the tree
I won't fall when you're shook

What's that over your shoulder?
Fear of getting older
Stay with me

It ends with a kiss
It ends with a tear
It ends with the lights out
Bathed in our fear

Tell me nonsense
I don't want sincere
I saw the lightning
Cut through the last winter sky of the year

Stay with me
Keep with me



@MoraProkaza

Я на страже здесь
Поэтому закрой глаза и немного отдохни
Я здесь,чтобы смотреть за твоим сердцем
Оно было неисправным с самого начала
Я-ребра в твоей груди
Я не ангел
Я никогда не хотел заставлять тебя плакать
Прыгая через мои обручи
С разногласием в толпе
И улыбкой внутри
Что за моими плечами?
Страх становиться старше
Остается со мной
Спой мне песню про любовь
Из твоего сердца или из телефонной книги
Это не имеет значения для меня
Я яблоко,ты дерево
Я не хочу падать,когда ты качаешься
Что за твоими плечами?
Страх становиться старше
Остается со мной
Он заканчивается поцелуем
Он заканчивается слезой
Он заканчивается фонарями
Купаясь в наших страхах
Скажи мне ерунду
Я не хочу видеть
Я увидел молнию
Разрезающую последнее зимнее неба в году
Останься со мной
Храни со мной



All comments from YouTube:

@jessdylan011

this song makes me so emotional. I love it, but it breaks my heart at the same time.

@mariosnarc

me too

@davewilliams9511

more than 4 years later and as fresh as the day I first listened. Very possibly my favourite song of all time.

@SpeedWaves1

So underrated song... Masterpiece!!!

@6745167

Magic voice ...
Magic sound ...
Magic lyrics...

@christos6068

There's something so special about this song . Maybe the lyrics , maybe the beat ... I don't know . Its awesome anyways ❤️

@joannapabianczyk2427

Absolutely true

@jessejamesburnitt

I absolutely love this song! One of the best from an all around great album.

@paulstevenson200

Like all the best things in life:

Simple. Honest. Beautiful.

@DynamicoDesigns

So under-rated.....

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