Against The Grain
Golden Earring Lyrics


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Once I dreamed I was falling
Like a feather from a tree
The welcoming committee cheered
Must have been a sight to see
Right there in the middle
Of a sweaty night in Rome
Someone showed a million feathers
How to be a bird on their own
Though we never got to flyin'
I was woken by the phone
I can hear it calling
Get aboard the last train
It's a one way goin' against the grain
It's a one way goin' against the grain
Once I thought I was flyin'
Had a taste of the witches seed
Got me so excited
Couldn't get back on my feet
Then without a warning
Soft whisper in my ear
If you feel like playin' honey
Let's go get out of here
But we never got to playin'
'Cause I passed out
Out of of fear
I can hear it calling
Get aboard the last train
It's a one way goin' against the grain
It's a one way goin' against the grain
It's a one way goin' against the grain




It's a one way goin' against the grain
It's a one way goin' against the grain

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "Against The Grain" by Golden Earring paints a picture of a dream where the singer falls like a feather from a tree while being cheered on by a welcoming committee. He finds himself in the middle of a sweaty night in Rome where someone shows a million feathers how to be a bird on their own. However, he never gets to fly before being awakened by the phone. Later, he recalls experiencing excitement after tasting the witches seed and was about to play before passing out of fear. Throughout the song, he hears something calling him to board the last train that is going one way against the grain.


The song captures the emotions of the singer and the surrealism of his experiences. Falling like a feather represents the feeling of being helpless in life, and the welcoming committee cheering could represent a desire to feel supported. The dream also embodies the thrill of adventure and excitement, as shown by the witches' seed and the invitation to play. However, the fear and confusion that come with such experiences and the longing for something stable and trustworthy are also represented by the desire to get on the last train.


Line by Line Meaning

Once I dreamed I was falling
The singer had a dream that they were falling from a height.


Like a feather from a tree
The fall was light and graceful, like a feather falling from a tree.


The welcoming committee cheered
There were people greeting the singer as they fell, and they were cheering them on.


Must have been a sight to see
The spectacle of the artist falling and being greeted must have been remarkable.


Right there in the middle
This all happened in the middle of the action or the dream.


Of a sweaty night in Rome
The dream may have taken place in a hot and intense environment, possibly the city of Rome.


Someone showed a million feathers
A mysterious person showed the singer a group of feathers, possibly symbolizing the freedom and lightness of birds.


How to be a bird on their own
This person taught the feathers how to fly independently, suggesting that the artist might learn to be self-sufficient like a bird.


Though we never got to flyin'
Despite this lesson, the artist never actually got to try flying.


I was woken by the phone
The dream was abruptly cut short by the ringing of the phone.


I can hear it calling
The phone is calling the singer, possibly with a message or opportunity.


Get aboard the last train
The artist is invited to catch the last train, possibly on a journey or adventure.


It's a one way goin' against the grain
This train is going in a single direction and against the norm, suggesting that the singer will need to step out of their comfort zone.


Once I thought I was flyin'
In another instance, the singer believed they were flying.


Had a taste of the witches seed
This flight might have been related to a mystical or magical experience involving witchcraft.


Got me so excited
The experience was thrilling and exhilarating.


Couldn't get back on my feet
However, the artist struggled to return to reality and regain their footing.


Then without a warning
Suddenly, and without any notice,


Soft whisper in my ear
The singer hears a gentle voice whispering something to them.


If you feel like playin' honey
This voice invites the artist to play or have fun.


Let's go get out of here
The voice encourages the artist to leave their surroundings and go somewhere else.


But we never got to playin'
Despite the invitation, the artist did not get to play or have fun.


'Cause I passed out
Instead, the singer fainted or lost consciousness.


Out of of fear
This was likely due to their fear or apprehension of the situation.


It's a one way goin' against the grain
The refrain repeats, emphasizing the idea that the train is going in an unconventional direction.


It's a one way goin' against the grain
The refrain repeats, emphasizing the idea that the train is going in an unconventional direction.


It's a one way goin' against the grain
The refrain repeats, emphasizing the idea that the train is going in an unconventional direction.


It's a one way goin' against the grain
The refrain repeats, emphasizing the idea that the train is going in an unconventional direction.


It's a one way goin' against the grain
The refrain repeats, emphasizing the idea that the train is going in an unconventional direction.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HAY, KOOYMANS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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