Big Man Buddha
Fischer-Z Lyrics


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I was surprised when you arrived
And addressed me as your son.
You and me had a red pot tea.
It was instantaneous.
I know we're all expandable but I like to feel secure.
The way you see eternity.
Well I feel like dying.
When you explained possessions equal pain.
When you explained how we all go back again.

Once the dream has gone I called you on the telephone.
Once the dream has gone I opened up my eyes.
Oh, I'll never measure up to you.
Oh, I'll never be a Lama, too.
Big man ... big man

When you cast the spirits out you must know that native tongue.
I've never known an exorcist 'till you came this morning.
When I observed your way of life I feel I'm getting warm.
The way you talk, the way you think ... so understated.
When you explained possessions equal pain.
When you explained how we all go back again.

Once the dream has gone I called you on the telephone.
Once the dream has gone I opened up my eyes.
Oh, I'll never measure up to you.




Oh, I'll never be a Lama, too.
Big Man ... big man

Overall Meaning

The Fischer-Z song Big Man Buddha is about a conversation between the singer and a spiritual mentor, whom he addresses as "big man". The singer is surprised when the big man calls him "son" and they share a pot of red tea, which leads to an instantaneous connection. The big man talks about how possessions equal pain and explains the cycles of rebirth. The singer is both inspired and overwhelmed by the big man's teachings, feeling both warmed by his understated way of living and intimidated by his vast knowledge of spirituality. The chorus expresses the singer's feeling of inadequacy in comparison to the big man and his belief that he could never achieve the same level of spiritual growth.


The song highlights the deep desire in human nature to achieve spiritual growth and enlightenment. Through the conversation, Fischer-Z challenges listeners to evaluate their own relationship with spirituality, material possessions, and the cyclical nature of life. The chorus, "Oh, I'll never measure up to you. Oh, I'll never be a Lama, too", reflects the human struggle to find their place in the world and make sense of their existence.


Line by Line Meaning

I was surprised when you arrived
I was astonished when you came here


And addressed me as your son.
And called me your son right away.


You and me had a red pot tea.
We both shared and had a pot of red tea.


It was instantaneous.
It happened suddenly.


I know we're all expandable but I like to feel secure.
I know everyone is replaceable, but I still prefer to feel safe.


The way you see eternity.
The way you understand eternity.


Well I feel like dying.
I feel really awful.


When you explained possessions equal pain.
When you made it clear that material things bring suffering.


When you explained how we all go back again.
When you explained how we all return to the universe.


Once the dream has gone I called you on the telephone.
When my dream ended, I called you on the phone.


Once the dream has gone I opened up my eyes.
Once the dream was over, I woke up.


Oh, I'll never measure up to you.
I could never be as good as you.


Oh, I'll never be a Lama, too.
Oh, I could never be a Lama like you.


Big man … big man
You're a big, influential figure.


When you cast the spirits out you must know that native tongue.
When you perform exorcisms, you must speak the language of the spirits.


I've never known an exorcist 'till you came this morning.
I had never met an exorcist before you appeared this morning.


When I observed your way of life I feel I'm getting warm.
When I watched how you live your life, I felt I was getting closer to understanding.


The way you talk, the way you think ... so understated.
The way you speak and think is subtle.




Contributed by Parker Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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