Beyond Emily
Gillan & Glover Lyrics


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Rainy night and the mist hanging around
Time is listening like a shroud
Into the house comes an eerie light
Settles down easy around the room
Sending signals out of the gloom
Now’s the time to be thinking thinking
Beyond Emily
Faded photograph kept in a broken frame
Hangs there waiting just the same
Waiting for a love that’s never coming back
A distant drum beating in your heart
But has this story gone a little too far
Now’s the time to be thinking thinking
Beyond Emily

Cut the thread, take another road
Don’t look at the trail behind you
Is that you there in the photograph
Just fading fading away

Snap your fingers bang on a different drum
Get those shadows out on the run
Yesterday’s papers don’t have a lot to say
Just stack them over there by the door
Who’s going to need them anymore




Now you’re finally thinking thinking
Beyond Emily

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Beyond Emily" by Gillan & Glover describe a scene on a rainy night, where time feels heavy and the mist adds a sense of mystery. The imagery creates an eerie atmosphere, emphasizing the anticipation for something significant to happen. A light enters the house and fills the room, almost as if it carries a message or signals from the unknown. The lyrics encourage the listener to start thinking beyond the confines of their current situation, symbolized by the name "Emily" which refers to a person or a state of mind that needs to be surpassed.


The song introduces a faded photograph, kept in a broken frame, as a visual representation of lost love. The photograph hangs there, waiting for a love that will never return. The distant sound of a drum beating in the singer's heart suggests that there is still hope or longing, but the lyrics question whether this story has gone too far. It prompts the listener to reflect and move on from memories that hold them back. The repetition of "now's the time to be thinking thinking" urges the listener to surpass the limitations of their past.


The lyrics then invite the listener to cut the thread that keeps them tied to their past and to take another path in life. It emphasizes not dwelling on the trail left behind but rather embracing a new direction. The mention of the photograph fading away suggests that clinging onto the past only leads to it dissipating. By snapping their fingers and banging on a different drum, the listener is encouraged to break free from the shadows that haunt them. The mention of yesterday's papers lacking substance signifies that dwelling on the past or living in the past holds little value. The lyrics push for a transformative and forward-thinking mindset.


The song concludes by suggesting that the listener has finally started to think beyond Emily. This implies a shift in perspective, where they are no longer limited by a particular person or situation. By leaving the past behind, represented by the papers stacked at the door, the lyrics affirm that the listener is now focused on a future that doesn't require reliance on what has been. The repetition of "finally thinking thinking" reinforces this newfound mindset of moving beyond the past and embracing a more fulfilling and progressive existence.


Line by Line Meaning

Rainy night and the mist hanging around
On a gloomy night, a dense fog lingers, serving as a metaphor for an eerie atmosphere.


Time is listening like a shroud
The passage of time, like a funeral shroud, quietly observes and absorbs the surroundings.


Into the house comes an eerie light
A mysterious light enters the house, adding to the haunting ambiance.


Settles down easy around the room
The light gradually and calmly fills the room, creating a sense of tranquility.


Sending signals out of the gloom
The light emits signals, symbolizing hope or guidance from the darkness.


Now’s the time to be thinking thinking
This is the moment for deep contemplation and introspection.


Beyond Emily
To move past the influence or memory of someone named Emily and explore new horizons.


Faded photograph kept in a broken frame
A worn-out picture preserved in a fractured frame, representing a memory that has lost its vitality.


Hangs there waiting just the same
The photo lingers, anticipating a return or revival that will never occur.


Waiting for a love that’s never coming back
Longing for a love that will never be rekindled or reciprocated.


A distant drum beating in your heart
A faint rhythm resonating in one's heart, symbolic of emotional echoes from the past.


But has this story gone a little too far
Is the narrative of this experience reaching an excessive, potentially damaging point?


Now’s the time to be thinking thinking
In this crucial moment, one must engage in deep contemplation.


Beyond Emily
To transcend the influence of Emily and explore new possibilities.


Cut the thread, take another road
Break free from the attachment and choose a different path forward.


Don’t look at the trail behind you
Avoid dwelling on the past or reminiscing about what has been left behind.


Is that you there in the photograph
Do you still see yourself reflected in the faded picture?


Just fading fading away
Gradually disappearing, losing significance or influence over time.


Snap your fingers bang on a different drum
Break the monotony, embrace change, and embrace a new rhythm in life.


Get those shadows out on the run
Overcome and chase away the negative or haunting experiences that linger in the dark corners.


Yesterday’s papers don’t have a lot to say
The news or events of the past hold little relevance or significance in the present.


Just stack them over there by the door
Place those outdated papers aside, out of sight, as they no longer serve a purpose.


Who’s going to need them anymore
No one has a use for those irrelevant past stories or events.


Now you’re finally thinking thinking
At last, one is truly engaging in profound contemplation.


Beyond Emily
Going beyond the influence or memory of Emily and embracing new perspectives.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RANDALL BRAMBLETT, ROGER GLOVER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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