Hide & Seek
Garrett Garfield Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Where are we? What the hell is going on?
The dust has only just begun to fall,
Crop circles in the carpet, sinking, feeling.
Spin me ′round again and rub my eyes.
This can't be happening.
When busy streets amass with people
Would stop to hold their heads heavy.
Hide and seek.
Trains and sewing machines.
All those years they were here first.

Oily marks appear on walls
Where pleasure moments hung before.
The takeover, the sweeping insensitivity of this still life.

Hide and seek.
Trains and sewing machines. (Oh, you won′t catch me around here)
Blood and tears (hearts),
They were here first.

Mmm, what you say?
Mm, that you only meant well? Well, of course you did.
Mmm, what you say?
Mm, that it's all for the best? Of course it is.
Mmm, what you say?
Mm, that it's just what we need? And you decided this.
What you say?
Mmm, what did She say?

Ransom notes keep falling out your mouth.
Mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut-outs.
Speak no feeling, no I don′t believe you.
You don′t care a bit. You don't care a bit.

(Hide and seek)
Ransom notes keep falling out your mouth.
Mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut-outs.
(Hide and seek)
Speak no feeling, no I don′t believe you.
You don't care a bit. You don′t care a bit.

(Hide and seek)
You don't care a bit.
You don′t care a bit.
You don't care a bit.
(Hide and seek)




You don't care a bit.
You don′t care a bit.

Overall Meaning

Garrett Garfield's "Hide & Seek" is a cryptic song that challenges the listener to decipher its meaning. The first few lines of the song describe a surreal scene where something strange is taking place. "Where are we? What the hell is going on?" The singer is confused and disoriented, as if in a dream. The dust has only just begun to fall, and crop circles have appeared in the carpet. The singer feels like he is sinking and spinning around. This can't be happening.


The next few lines describe a busy street full of people. They're holding their heads heavily and stopping to look around. Something is happening, but no one knows what it is. The chorus repeats the phrase "hide and seek" several times, along with the imagery of trains and sewing machines. These symbols could be interpreted in several ways. The sewing machine could represent the human desire to create and make things, while the train could represent the unstoppable force of progress.


The next stanza describes an ominous presence lurking in the shadow of pleasure. It speaks of oily marks appearing on walls where pleasure moments used to hang. The singer suggests that the takeover has happened, and there is a sweeping insensitivity to the still life.


The final stanza involves a conversation between two people. One person speaks in ransom notes, while the other uses newspaper cutouts. Neither is speaking from the heart, and neither believes the other. The chorus is repeated, with the singer insisting that the other person doesn't care.


Overall, the song's lyrics are open to interpretation. It could be about the emptiness of modern life, the loss of innocence, or the feeling of being disconnected from reality. Whatever the meaning, Garrett Garfield's "Hide & Seek" is a haunting and thought-provoking piece of music.


Line by Line Meaning

Where are we? What the hell is going on?
Uncertainty and confusion about the current situation


The dust has only just begun to fall,
Recent chaos, just the beginning of significant changes


Crop circles in the carpet, sinking, feeling.
Strange or unexplained occurrences leading to a sense of sinking or unease


Spin me ′round again and rub my eyes.
Desire to return to a simpler or happier time, disbelief or hope for change


This can't be happening.
Resistance or denial of the present situation


When busy streets amass with people
Crowded, chaotic environments


Would stop to hold their heads heavy.
Overwhelming, stressful situations affecting people physically and emotionally


Hide and seek.
Escape or avoidance of challenges or confrontation


Trains and sewing machines.
Reference to industrialization and technology seen as impersonal, cold or unfeeling


All those years they were here first.
Hostility or resentment towards the effects of progress or modernization


Oily marks appear on walls
Evident signs of decay or decay, damage to meaningful things or experiences


Where pleasure moments hung before.
Reminders of happier times lost, replaced with evidence of deterioration


The takeover, the sweeping insensitivity of this still life.
Perception of a lack of vitality or passion in daily life fueled by materialism or routine


Blood and tears (hearts),
Emotional sacrifice or pain experienced due to social or political conflict


They were here first.
Acknowledgment of historical or cultural significance, and its loss over time


Mmm, what you say?
Skeptical or sarcastic tone, questioning the sincerity or truthfulness of someone's words


Mm, that you only meant well? Well, of course you did.
Doubtful or dismissive response to an insincere or misleading message


Mmm, what you say?
Reiteration of disbelief or suspicion


Mm, that it's all for the best? Of course it is.
Refusal to accept the apparent positive outcome or intent


Mmm, what you say?
Continued skepticism or disbelief


Mm, that it's just what we need? And you decided this.
Challenge of those with power or influence making decisions for others without considering their needs or desires


What you say?
Demand for truth, honesty or clarification


Ransom notes keep falling out your mouth.
Lies or threats being made by someone in authority, or inability to communicate clearly or truthfully


Mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut-outs.
Deception or manipulation through indirect or confusing communication


Speak no feeling, no I don′t believe you.
Recognition of an emotional disconnect or dishonesty in the communication of others


You don′t care a bit.
Accusation of apathy or disregard, rejection of the other person's perspective




Contributed by Christopher I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@53z90

Hi,
Some days ago I was searching the internet for a tutorial/preset to get this "Hide and Seek Vocoder" and couldn't find anything helpful.
By now I could get two pretty close results myself and as I'm not a dick I want to share these options with you in the hope, that you'll will have as much fun as I had with the vocoder and not waste your time searching:

1. Option: Vocal Synth 2 (paid)
Use "Polyvox" in MIDI mode (not a preset but one of the five options)
Your dont have to change much there. What I did additionally: A maj key pitch correction, Distortion, Chorus, Delay and eventually put the mix to 70% so you still have your voice in there.

2. Option: Ableton Vocoder (included in Ableton Live Standard)
This option was surprisingly good. And as I prefer to have a more raw setup and dont really want to pay for the Vocal Synth 2 plugin it was great.
Just set up Abletons integrated vocoder as shown in many tutorials online. Then I used "Fashion Keys" Synth out of the "Chop and Swing" Pack from Ableton as the vocoder carrier. I found the sound really pleasing. Ofcourse if you own a wavable synth u could get an even closer result by taking some really raw synth preset and tweaking it. In the vocoder effect itself I changed also the bands to 32, activated the "enhance carrier" button and put the Dry/Wet to 65%.

Also you probably want to put a basic vocal FX rack in fron of the vocoder in both options and maybe use a pitch corrector for the second option (great free plugin is "MAuto Pitch" by MeldaProduction)

I hope I can help some of the people who are in the same situation as I was.


PS: Chords for Hide and seek can be found easily of course. I would recommend to play an octave of the root note of the chord with your left hand and make inversions to put the chords closer together. Have fun!



All comments from YouTube:

@axolotlmafia

You passed away... Just so that you know, when you were alive, you had the most stunning male vocals I've ever heard in my life. You left my face a waterfall. Rest on, you deserve all the peace. Stunning, stunning voice.

@Jackrodder

Please tell me you are not serious. Source, did he really?

Edit: Nevermind, found the answer... This is unbelievable

@HueyMaxSucks

I just heard this beautiful version for the first time. Breaks my heart to find out he passed away! What happened to him?

@sage1682

How he die, how did you find out?

@laurenbabic

Garrett this is... I'm just speechless.

@brandonkrahn6346

Lauren Babic ayeee it's Lauren ❤️

@torino.dinero

Rip GARRETT!!

@MCDexpo

@@torino.dinero
Wait, he died?

@c.j.vansluytman7869

im with ya

@DylanGeick

Dear Garret,
You’ve been dead going on three years and I never met you. This spring I walked halfway across America in memory of my stepfather. Like you, he left us long before anyone was ready. I understand. My first 30 days I walked in silence. My best friend sent me this. “Whenever you can listen to music again”. I wept in the North Sonoran desert, abandoning the folded tent in my hands. Never before had I really heard the words of this song. The pain struck like lightning. The beauty stayed longer. Thank you.

Seeing you’d taken your life devastated me. So many I’ve loved or admired have done the same. I wish you were here to record one more record. Maybe we could’ve made something together.

When I want to die, I come here. I remind myself I might have a soul nearly as beautiful as this but, like you, just not be able to see it all the time.

Rest easy my friend. Thank you. Thank you.

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