I'm Not Really Here
Erland and the Carnival Lyrics


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Far away and so long ago
I slipped into your dreams
Before the end of the show

Your refrain sounded so sweet and clear
But I'm not really here
It's just the afterglow
Nobody knows of the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows of my sorrow
Got the Sunday to Monday, Monday to Friday blues
In the pouring rain

Emptiness is such a sad affair
But I don't really care
It's all just a memory to me now

You and I, is forever
[Incomprehensible]
In every rainfall of fondness

Nobody knows of the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows of my sorrow
Got the Sunday to Monday, Monday to Friday blues
In the pouring rain

Oh Lord, nobody knows of the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows of my sorrow




Got the Sunday to Monday, Monday to Friday blues
In the pouring rain

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Erland and the Carnival's song "I'm Not Really Here" capture the feeling of being disconnected from reality, lost in one's own thoughts and memories. The opening lines "Far away and so long ago, I slipped into your dreams, before the end of the show" suggest a sense of nostalgia and longing for a past that is long gone. The reference to slipping into someone's dreams also implies a desire to escape from the present and delve into the unconscious mind, perhaps to relive happier times.


The refrain "But I'm not really here, it's just the afterglow" emphasizes the disconnect between the singer and their surroundings. They are physically present, but emotionally absent, lost in a reverie of memories and emotions. The lyrics also touch on themes of loneliness and sadness, with lines such as "nobody knows of the trouble I've seen" and "emptiness is such a sad affair". However, there is also a hint of resignation and acceptance, with the line "But I don't really care, it's all just a memory to me now" suggesting that the singer has come to terms with their past and is now able to move on.


Overall, "I'm Not Really Here" is a poignant and introspective song that captures the complex emotions of nostalgia, loneliness, and resignation.


Line by Line Meaning

Far away and so long ago
Referring to distant memories


I slipped into your dreams
Figuratively entered into someone's subconscious thoughts


Before the end of the show
Before the conclusion of an event or experience


Your refrain sounded so sweet and clear
Your repeated phrase or melody was experienced as pleasant and unambiguous


But I'm not really here
I am not present or physically situated in this moment


It's just the afterglow
A residual impression or feeling following an experience


Nobody knows of the trouble I've seen
No one understands the stress or problems I have encountered


Nobody knows of my sorrow
There is no one who is truly aware of my feelings of grief


Got the Sunday to Monday, Monday to Friday blues
Feeling down and melancholy as a result of everyday routine and monotony


In the pouring rain
During a heavy rainfall


Emptiness is such a sad affair
Having a sense of lacking or missing something is a sorrowful situation


But I don't really care
However, I am apathetic towards this feeling


It's all just a memory to me now
Reflecting on past events as something that has been lost to time


You and I, is forever
Asserting that the relationship or experience mentioned will last forever


[Incomprehensible]
Unintelligible lyrics


In every rainfall of fondness
Imbuing positive feeling onto rainy weather metaphorically


Oh Lord, nobody knows of the trouble I've seen
An expression of despair or desperation for understanding




Contributed by Jordyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

That~1 Family

Absolutely brilliant!

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