Fear
Eno / Cale Lyrics


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Standing waiting for a man to show
Wide eyed one eye fixed on the door
This waiting's killing me, it's wearing me down
Day in day out, my feet are burning holes in the ground

Darkness warmer than a bedroom floor
Want someone to hold me close forever more
I'm a sleeping dog, but you can't tell
When I'm on the prowl you'ld better run like hell
You know it makes sense, don't even think about it
Life and death are just things you do when you're bored
Say fear's a man's best friend
You add it up it brings you down

Home is living like a man on the run
Trails leading nowhere, where to my son?
We're already dead, just not yet in the ground
Take my helping hand I'll show you around
You know it makes sense, don't even think about it
Life and death are just things you do when you're bored




Say fear's a man's best friend
You add it up it brings you down

Overall Meaning

The song "Fear" by Brian Eno and John Cale tells the story of a person who is waiting anxiously for someone to arrive. The person is tired of the waiting and their feet are sore from pacing back and forth. In the first verse, the person longs for someone to hold them close because they feel like a "sleeping dog" that could pounce at any moment. They suggest that fear is what drives them, and that it prevents them from getting too comfortable.


The second verse delves deeper into the character's psyche. They describe their home as a place where they feel like they are always on the run, with no clear destination in sight. They ask where their trail leads, implying that they are lost and searching for answers. The character then suggests that they are already dead but not yet buried, and that they will show the listener around if they take their helping hand.


The chorus ties the verses together, suggesting that adding up fears will only bring a person down. Life and death are both just things to do when one is bored. Fear is personified as a man's best friend, urging the listener to acknowledge its power over their emotions.


Line by Line Meaning

Standing waiting for a man to show
I am waiting for a man, standing with one eye fixed on the door.


Wide eyed one eye fixed on the door
My eyes are wide and I'm staring at the door, waiting for someone to arrive.


This waiting's killing me, it's wearing me down
The act of waiting is causing me pain and it's weakening me.


Day in day out, my feet are burning holes in the ground
I've been waiting for so long that my feet hurt and I have worn holes in the ground from pacing.


Darkness warmer than a bedroom floor
The darkness around me is comforting and feels like a warm bedroom floor.


Want someone to hold me close forever more
I desire someone to hold me close forever.


I'm a sleeping dog, but you can't tell
I may appear to be at rest, but I'm alert and ready.


When I'm on the prowl you'd better run like hell
If I'm on the move, you better flee quickly.


You know it makes sense, don't even think about it
It's reasonable and logical, no need for further contemplation.


Life and death are just things you do when you're bored
Life and death are mundane, things we do when there's nothing else to do.


Say fear's a man's best friend
Fear is the most reliable companion for men, throughout life.


You add it up it brings you down
When you tally up all the fears and concerns of life, it can be overwhelming and bring you down.


Home is living like a man on the run
Being at home feels like living as a fugitive, always on the move.


Trails leading nowhere, where to my son?
Journeys leading nowhere, where do we go from here?


We're already dead, just not yet in the ground
We're all dead but still alive, yet to be buried underground.


Take my helping hand I'll show you around
Take my hand and I'll guide you on this journey.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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