Stay Outside
From Indian Lakes Lyrics
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But we hurried to get in from the cold
Can we rest our eyes
If you tell us you've been looking for another able body
Not you or anyone that looks like you
But if you can find anyone that looks like me, oh
We hate the outside and our chests were hurting
Can we take our time
If you tell us you've been looking for somebody you can trust
But not you, or anyone that looks like you
But if you can find anyone that looks like me
I was allowed to push you around
To take you outside
To make you believe you're nothing
Outside everyone looks the same without you
I would do anything to feel it again
Wait for the sound at your door
Stay outside
We've been hiding in our houses together screaming
Stay outside, please stay outside
You can see it in our bloodshot eyes
That we've been looking for someone
Anyone, no, but not you
Or anyone that looks like you
Oh, but if you can find anyone that looks like me
I was allowed to push you around
To take you outside
To make you believe you're nothing
Outside everyone looks the same without you
I would do anything to feel it again
Wait for the sound at your door
Stay outside
I saw your death, oh
But you won't leave
I'll never be like them
Stay outside...
The lyrics of From Indian Lakes's song "Stay Outside" carry a deep and thought-provoking message. The song is about feeling like an outsider and not fitting in with the societal norms. The opening lines of the song, "We came from outside and our boots were dirty, but we hurried to get in from the cold," paint a picture of two individuals who have been excluded from society for so long that they have grown accustomed to the hardships of the world outside.
The second verse of the song talks about the fear that comes with being different. The line "We hate the outside and our chests were hurting, but we worried you'd see into our souls" expresses the anxiety of being vulnerable to those who do not understand you. The song then goes on to talk about the desire to find someone who understands and accepts you for who you are, as shown in the lines "If you tell us you've been looking for somebody you can trust, but not you, or anyone that looks like you, but if you can find anyone that looks like me."
The bridge of the song is the climax, with the lyrics "I was allowed to push you around, to take you outside, to make you believe you're nothing." These lines evoke a feeling of hurt and abuse, with the singer admitting to being the perpetrator. The song then ends with the repetition of "Stay outside" as a plea to the listener and a reminder of the feeling of being an outsider.
Line by Line Meaning
We came from outside and our boots were dirty
We arrived here from a place unknown with our boots full of dirt
But we hurried to get in from the cold
Despite being cold outside, we are anxious to be inside
Can we rest our eyes
Can we stop hiding now?
If you tell us you've been looking for another able body
If you need someone who is capable of doing something
Not you or anyone that looks like you
But not you, or someone who reminds me of you
But if you can find anyone that looks like me, oh
But if you need someone like me, I'm ready
We hate the outside and our chests were hurting
We hate being outside and feel physically pained
But we worried you'd see into our souls
But we don't want you to see our inner struggles
Can we take our time
Can we slow down?
If you tell us you've been looking for somebody you can trust
If you need someone trustworthy
But not you, or anyone that looks like you
But not you, or someone who resembles you
But if you can find anyone that looks like me
But if you need someone like me, I'm willing
I was allowed to push you around
I had the power to control you
To take you outside
To take you away from your comfort zone
To make you believe you're nothing
To strip you of your self-worth
Outside everyone looks the same without you
Without you, the outside is just a faceless void
I would do anything to feel it again
I'm willing to do anything to regain that power
Wait for the sound at your door
I'll be here waiting for you
Stay outside
Don't come in
We've been hiding in our houses together screaming
We've been isolating ourselves and yelling out in agony
Stay outside, please stay outside
Don't come in here, please
You can see it in our bloodshot eyes
Our eyes show the strain we're going through
That we've been looking for someone
We need someone to help us
Anyone, no, but not you
But not you specifically
Or anyone that looks like you
Or someone who bears a resemblance to you
Oh, but if you can find anyone that looks like me
But if you need someone that has qualities similar to mine
I saw your death, oh
I had a premonition that you'll die
But you won't leave
But you're not going anywhere
I'll never be like them
I don't want to become like them
Stay outside
Stay away from me
Contributed by Savannah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.