Carnival
Gorillaz feat. Anthony Hamilton Lyrics
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We play to win, just to find the dark
Go home again and we both fall out
I wanna spend this time with you
Doing nothing
Keep you satisfied, while they rob us blind
I hear the music in the background
Oh, I haven't see the glory
Coming, coming coming
And we play (we play)
We play, we play like a
Just like a carnival
Game (Just like a carnival)
Laugh (Just like a carnival)
Joke (Just like a)
Spinning me round and around and around
Just like a carnival
We play to win, just to find the dark
Go again, and we both fall out
I wanna spend this time with you
Doing nothing
We (Just like a carnival)
We laughed (Just like a carnival)
Sleep with the dead (Just like a carnival)
Playing with your mind (Just like a)
Spinning me round and around and around
Just like a carnival, yeah
Played, yeah
The lyrics of Gorillaz's song "Carnival" speak to the ephemeral nature of human experience and the inevitability of loss against the backdrop of a carnival - a place associated with fleeting frivolity, bright lights, and temporary joy. The song seems to suggest that life is like a carnival game in which we play to win, but ultimately the outcome is out of our control. The singer of the song wants to spend time doing nothing and keeping the person they're addressing satisfied, despite the world robbing them blind. The line "We play to win, just to find the dark" seems to express a desire to outrun the sadness that seems to underlie our existence, but ultimately we can't escape it.
The second half of the song repeats the imagery of the carnival, emphasizing the idea that life is like a ride that we can't control. The phrase "just like a carnival" is repeated several times, emphasizing this idea. The line "Sleep with the dead" is particularly striking, suggesting that the carnival is a place where there is a thin line between life and death. The song seems to suggest that we should enjoy the ride as much as we can, even if we know it won't last forever.
Line by Line Meaning
We play to win, just to find the dark
We struggle to succeed, only to be met with disappointment and pain.
Go home again and we both fall out
When we return home, we argue and have conflicts.
I wanna spend this time with you, doing nothing
I just want to enjoy some leisure time with you, without any obligations or pressures.
Keep you satisfied, while they rob us blind
I am trying to make you happy, but we are being taken advantage of by others.
I hear the music in the background, singing, singing
There is a constant background noise of music, creating a festive atmosphere.
Oh, I haven't seen the glory, coming, coming, coming
I have not yet witnessed any significant accomplishments or successes in my life.
And we play (we play), we play, we play like a
We engage in a variety of games and activities, like we are at a carnival.
Just like a carnival, game (just like a carnival), laugh (just like a carnival), joke (just like a), spinning me round and around and around, just like a carnival
Our experiences are like those at a carnival, including games, laughter, and entertainment, that leave us feeling dizzy and disoriented.
We (just like a carnival), we laughed (just like a carnival), sleep with the dead (just like a carnival), playing with your mind (just like a), spinning me round and round and around, just like a carnival, yeah
We continue to participate in carnival-like activities, including laughing, perhaps even dealing with death and trickery.
Played, yeah
We have engaged in these carnival-inspired experiences.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAMON ALBARN, ANTHONY HAMILTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind