The Racing Rats
Editors Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

When the time comes that you're no longer there
Fall down to my knees, begin my nightmare
Words spill from my drunken mouth
I just can't keep them all in
I keep up with the racing rats
And do my best to win

Slow down, little one
You can't keep running away
You mustn't go outside yet
It's not your time to play
Standing at the edge of your town
With the skyline in your eyes
Reaching up to God
The sun says its goodbyes

If a plane were to fall from the sky
How big a hole would it leave in the surface of the earth?

Let's pretend we never met
Let's pretend we're on our own
We'll live different lives
Until our cover's blown

I push my hand up to the sky
Shade my eyes from the sun
As the dust settles around me
Suddenly nighttime has begun

If a plane were to fall from the sky
How big a hole would it leave in the surface of the earth
The surface of the earth?

Come on now
You knew you were lost
But you carried on anyway
Oh, come on now
You knew you had no time
But you let the day drift away

If a plane were to fall from the sky
How big a hole would it leave?
And if a plane were to fall from the sky
How big a hole would it make in the surface of the earth




The surface of the earth
The surface of the earth?

Overall Meaning

The Racing Rats is a song by British indie rock band Editors, released in 2007 as a single from their sophomore album, An End Has a Start. The Racing Rats is filled with lyrics that are open to multiple interpretations, but the prevailing theme throughout appears to be death and the struggles we face before and after it. The song centers on the feelings of despair and helplessness that come with knowing that someone we loved is gone, and the feeling of emptiness that comes with trying to fill that void.


The opening lyrics of the song paint a vivid picture of the desperation that one feels when they have lost someone important to them. It encapsulates the pain, anxiety, and hallucinations experienced when faced with such a loss. The line "I keep up with the racing rats, and do my best to win" speaks to the feeling of trying to keep pace with the world, as if it were a race, even when personal tragedy is gnawing away at you. However, in the end, the song appears to acknowledge that death is inevitable, and we are powerless against it.


Line by Line Meaning

When the time comes that you're no longer there
The fear of losing someone important can bring on a feeling of anxiety


Fall down to my knees, begin my nightmare
The thought of losing someone can cause immense emotional pain and despair


Words spill from my drunken mouth
Sometimes we say things without thinking, especially when we are emotionally overwhelmed


I just can't keep them all in
It is difficult to control one's emotions and thoughts when they become overwhelming


I keep up with the racing rats
Life can feel like a frantic race that never slows down


And do my best to win
We strive to succeed and triumph over the difficulties in our lives


Slow down, little one
Advice to someone who is rushing through life and needs to take a breath


You can't keep running away
It is important to confront problems instead of avoiding them


You mustn't go outside yet
Some things should only be experienced when a person is ready and prepared for them


It's not your time to play
One must be mature and responsible before engaging in certain activities


Standing at the edge of your town
Looking beyond the familiar to the possibilities of the unknown


With the skyline in your eyes
Taking in the beauty of the surrounding world


Reaching up to God
Seeking guidance and protection from a higher power


The sun says its goodbyes
The end of one chapter signals the start of a new one


If a plane were to fall from the sky
A hypothetical question that plays on the fragility of life and the unpredictability of events


How big a hole would it leave in the surface of the earth?
The impact of loss and tragedy can be earth-shattering and long-lasting


Let's pretend we never met
Erasing the memory of someone from one's mind and starting over


Let's pretend we're on our own
Breaking away from the ties that bind and seeking independence


We'll live different lives
Going in separate directions and exploring different paths


Until our cover's blown
Hiding and pretending can only last for so long before the truth is revealed


I push my hand up to the sky
Reaching out for something beyond our grasp


Shade my eyes from the sun
Protecting ourselves from the harsh realities of life


As the dust settles around me
In the aftermath of chaos and disorder, there is room for reflection and contemplation


Suddenly nighttime has begun
Shifts and changes can occur suddenly, disrupting the order and balance of life


Come on now
Encouragement to snap out of a negative mindset and take action


You knew you were lost
Awareness of one's disorientation and confusion


But you carried on anyway
Resilience and determination can help us overcome even the most trying circumstances


Oh, come on now
Urging someone to snap out of their despondency and start living again


You knew you had no time
A sense of urgency and the need to make the most of every moment


But you let the day drift away
Letting opportunities slip by without taking action or making the most of them




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher Dominic Urbanowicz, Edward Owen Lay, Russell Leetch, Thomas Michael Smith

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@diamondgirl719

i'm from italy. i'm in quarantine, this song is connected to a very special moment where i heard no cars, no mascines, no noises on the mainstreet of our village and it was so calm. just this song and me and the calm

@beachcomberbloke462

The same for me in Norfolk England,a very peaceful coastal village, no tourists total bliss!!

@diamondgirl719

@@beachcomberbloke462 very beautiful -

@herbervalencia3401

I'm from Guatemala and I don't understand how EDITORS is hear in Italy and anywhere & just have 12K likes. For me Editors are awesome.

@minimasicurezza676

​@@herbervalencia3401Now explain to me what the meaning of your sentence is. It's the views that count, not the likes

@starstationearth

One of the most underrated bands and one of my absolute favourites.

@KochisarliHD5

The Editors are legends.

@ndorphin2564

*Editors! No ‘THE’!!

@nakedinmybathroom

this band is one of the greatest bands in the world :) especially the voice of the leadsinger, oh ♥

@gerhardveurink490

Helemaal mee eens!! Ze spelen in het zuiderpark Den Haag za 27 juni. wel beetje duur...

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