Eight Miles High
Golden Earring Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Eight miles high
And when you touch down
You'll find that it's stranger than known
Signs in the street
That say where you're going
Are somewhere, just being there own
Nowhere is, there warmth to be found
Among those, afraid of losing their ground
Rain, grey town, known for it's sound
In places, small faces unbound
Round the squares, huddled in storms
Some laughing, some just shapeless forms




Sidewalks scenes, and black limousines
Some living, some standing alone

Overall Meaning

The song Eight Miles High by Golden Earring is a tribute to the psychedelic era of the 1960s. The lyrics describe the experience of a traveler who has reached a high point and is trying to understand the unfamiliar surroundings. The traveler discovers that the signage in the street is not helping much, and the people living there are afraid of losing their ground. The warmth of humanity is missing, and the city is known only for its sound.


The lyrics then move on to describe the different shapes and styles of the people present in the city. Some are happy and laughing, while others seem lost and shapeless. The streets are filled with black limousines, and small faces are huddled in the storm. The scene is surreal, and the entire atmosphere seems to be in a state of constant flux.


The lyrics of Eight Miles High are widely interpreted as a reflection of the changing times in the 1960s. The song represents the rebellion and the rejection of the social norms of the time, especially the Vietnam War. It is also regarded as an ode to the cultural icons of the time, including Bob Dylan and The Beatles.


Line by Line Meaning

Eight miles high
Being elevated, but not sure of the exact altitude


And when you touch down
After reaching the ground


You'll find that it's stranger than known
The place that was unknown, is now discovered and strange


Signs in the street
Instructions in public places


That say where you're going
Directions for where to go next


Are somewhere, just being there own
Instructions are not always clear, and people follow their own instincts


Nowhere is, there warmth to be found
The environment is cold and unwelcoming


Among those, afraid of losing their ground
People are scared of failing or losing what they have


Rain, grey town, known for it's sound
A city with a reputation for being dull and depressing


In places, small faces unbound
Young people without constraints can be found in some areas


Round the squares, huddled in storms
People are gathered in public areas to avoid external factors


Some laughing, some just shapeless forms
Different individuals react differently to their circumstances


Sidewalks scenes, and black limousines
Contrasting images of people's ways of life


Some living, some standing alone
People may have different lifestyles, but some are more isolated than others




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: David Crosby, Gene Clark, Roger Mcguinn

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@loveistruth5713

I'm a 70-year-old hippie just smoked a bowl and this is fantastic🎉

@MegaSchlappohr

Einfach wunderbar ..was waren wir verdammt jung

@joachimwitusch9626

Und heute 70

@MegaSchlappohr

@Joachim Witusch 62 grins

@k.-h.k.1315

We all was sometimes 8 miles high.....

@rainermoddemann3771

I've seen them live in the early 70s performing that song .... unforgettable. That more than 10-minute-long bass solo blew me away.

@t55esss

Me too

@danielwilson6665

By some miracle I still have this magnificent work of art on the original vinyl album. It has battle scars from so many wonderful nights when we were all too wasted to see straight but it will still play without skipping. I first became aware of this version of Eight Miles High around 1972 and now in 2020 it still touches my inner soul like very few others could possibly do. The range of the bass solo is amazing. This song has been dissected by myself while tripping on window pane acid, mescaline and the usual mind expanding methods back in the day and everything always goes back together quite nicely. I don’t know if laboratory grade LSD is even available currently but if tripping is something that you can wrap your head around then Eight Miles High is like an old friend worthy of a nice long visit.

@Pappyjerry1

My copy is about the same way. Pick it up in 72 also just because I liked the cover, been a fan ever since.

@suspicionofdeceit

1000 mic 4 way windowpane?

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