Strange
Eleanore & the Lost Lyrics
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If I let my fingers lead
Would the truth slip out of me
Would reason let me be
If I wrote the same lines
Till I was half asleep
Would I wake to find the prayer
That he hides from me
Oh I could write about the sea
And the many ways in which she moves me
I could sing about the wind
And the wild voice with which she calls me in
If I walked on far-off roads
Till I couldn’t feel my feet
Would reason give me rest
In the collapse of dreams
If I walked on far-off roads
Till I could barely breathe
Would reason give me rest
In the collapse of dreams
Sweet madness take the lead
Oh I could write about the sea
And the many ways in which she moves me
I could sing about the wind
And the wild voice with which she calls me in
But all that I can feel
Is a pull towards my bed
To quiet the conversation
Forever in my head
The wind keeps me up
The sea can’t be seen
Mother turns her back
I turn the key
Reason keeps me
The lyrics of "Strange" by Eleanore & the Lost convey a sense of inner turmoil and conflict within the singer which is represented through a series of contemplative questions and vivid imagery. The song begins with the singer questioning whether allowing their thoughts and emotions to flow freely would lead to the revelation of hidden truths or if reason would prevail and suppress them. This internal struggle between vulnerability and rationality sets the tone for the rest of the song.
As the lyrics progress, the singer delves deeper into their introspection, pondering the idea of repetition as a way to uncover hidden desires or prayers that reason may be suppressing. The repetitive nature of the lines suggests a sense of exhaustion and longing for clarity amidst the chaos of conflicting emotions. The theme of hiding and seeking truth recurs throughout the song, highlighting the complexity of the singer's internal landscape.
The imagery of nature, particularly the sea and the wind, is used metaphorically to convey the singer's emotional state and their connection to the world around them. The sea represents a source of inspiration and movement, while the wind symbolizes a wild and untamed force that beckons the singer towards unknown possibilities. These elements of nature reflect the internal journey of the singer as they navigate through uncertainty and seek solace in familiar yet mysterious forces.
The final verses of the song express a yearning for peace and release from the tumultuous thoughts that plague the singer's mind. Despite the comforting presence of nature, the singer finds themselves drawn back to the familiarity of their bed, seeking respite from the relentless inner dialogue. The repeated mention of reason as a guiding force suggests a struggle to find balance between logic and emotion, highlighting the universal struggle of reconciling the complexities of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
If I start with strange words
If I begin with unfamiliar language
If I let my fingers lead
If I allow my hands to guide me
Would the truth slip out of me
Would honesty escape from within me
Would reason let me be
Would logic allow me to exist
If I wrote the same lines
If I penned repeated phrases
Till I was half asleep
Until I was partially unconscious
Would I wake to find the prayer
Would I discover the request upon waking
That reason keeps from me
That logic conceals from me
That he hides from me
That it conceals from me
Oh I could write about the sea
Oh, I have the ability to write about the ocean
And the many ways in which she moves me
And the numerous ways in which it influences me
I could sing about the wind
I have the option to sing about the breeze
And the wild voice with which she calls me in
And the untamed sound with which it invites me
If I walked on far-off roads
If I traveled on distant paths
Till I couldn’t feel my feet
Until I lost sensation in my feet
Would reason give me rest
Would logic provide me with peace
In the collapse of dreams
During the breakdown of aspirations
Sweet madness take the lead
Kind insanity guide the way
But all that I can feel
However, all that I sense
Is a pull towards my bed
Is an attraction to my sleep space
To quiet the conversation
To silence the dialogue
Forever in my head
Permanently within my mind
The wind keeps me up
The breeze prevents my rest
The sea can’t be seen
The ocean is not visible
Mother turns her back
Parent disregards
I turn the key
I unlock
Reason keeps me
Logic restricts me
Lyrics © SCHUBERT MUSIC PUBLISHING INC.
Written by: Lucy Kruger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sharon Duggan
I've always loved this song. I think it's wonderful.
Sharon Duggan
Thank you Steve, that's much appreciated, although I'm really only too pleased to be called the backing singer in Eleanore & the Lost! I already have my own career as a singer and session singer, so don't feel short changed in any way, especially by somebody as obviously talented as Eleanore. We also, in any case, work together doing other singing and she then often does backing vocals for me!
ziggyb
Hi Sharon, (ziggy (as in stardust) and b (for ballard)! I think Eleanore has some of idea of what I think of her music, I hope so anyway. You sell yourself short with "backing singer" - your harmonies are an integral part of the performance I think, ("Leap of Faith for one e.g.) Eleanore obviously can't do it all on stage) and there'd be gaps if you weren't there. You all do well to keep the polish of the records but add the power of the band, that can't be easy.
eleanoreandthelost
Sharon Duggan - It's Steve, who was at The Boileroom performance (amongst others!). Thanks Steve, what a wonderful comment, I'm so glad you've come to love the song! 😁
Sharon Duggan
Hi Ziggy - where did you see the band playing live? Eleanore will be delighted to read your comments - thank you for them! I have to admit that "Strange" still remains one of my favourites as I love performing it too (I'm the backing singer). Really pleased that you enjoyed the live performance; Eleanore sings as well, if not better, than on the recordings. Thank you again for the comments.
ziggyb
Hi Sharon, oddly, I haven't always loved it. If I was playing the album and stuck for time it was one I would probably skip. When I heard it live though it just gob smacked me and I don't think I've ever heard anything sung as beautifully by anyone ever! It's been on repeat since!!
GWR55
When this started I thought you were going to launch straight into King Crimson's "In The Wake Of Poseidon" !! Nice job.
GWR55
Ha ha, there is a similarity in the opening mellotron notes. Actually I think you may enjoy singing some KC stuff, such as "I Talk to the Wind" or "Cadence & Cascade" etc. Maybe too proggy for you though, especially as you're well on the way with your own excellent compositions. Have you heard by any chance any Dead Can Dance (Lisa Gerrard) songs ? I think you would do an amazing job on some of her wordless vocal stuff, especially with your trained and versatile voice. Keep up the good work!
eleanoreandthelost
I just had to go and look that up as I've never heard it before but I see what you mean! :D