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Let Me Be Him
Hot Chip Lyrics
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Let me be
I can see
Let me Be
All this freedom we get, oh
It's not all its cracked up to be
(I can see)
(Let me be)
Only foes and rejects, oh
They are all we can see
(I can see)
(Let me be)
Oh it's over me, yet
We are made reality
(I can see)
(Let me be)
Only foes and rejects, oh
They are all we can see
(I can see)
(Let me be)
Oh, Let me be him, be him, be him
Oh, Let me be him
Oh, Let me be him
(oh oh, heyyy oh oh)
Let me be him
My soul, my love,
Is running away with me
And I won't leave it all to you
Let me be him
Work hard, play hard at work
Lend me your ideas
But not too fully formed
So we can't be ignored
Broken into pieces,
When he sang to me
(I can see)
Call my name, remember
What you mean to me
Let me be him, be him, be him
Oh, let me be him
Oh, let me be him
Let me be him
My soul, my love
Is running away with me
And I won't leave it all to you
Let me be him
My soul, my love
Is running away with me
And I won't leave it all to you
Let me be him
My soul, my love,
Is running away with me
And I won't leave it all to you
All this sense in me,
It's gonna be the death of me
Dying every evening,
Without sleep happening to me
With all this sense in me,
You are really spoiling me
Rotten without reason,
Without sense, where would I be
Starting with your treason,
You forgot to burn a tree
All this sense in me,
It's gonna be the death of me
The lyrics of Hot Chip’s song Let Me Be Him explore the idea of seeking freedom and individuality, but ultimately finding oneself trapped and surrounded by only outcasts and enemies. The repetition of the lines “I can see, let me be” suggests a yearning for clarity and self-discovery. However, the following lines imply a disappointment in the reality, as it is not as fulfilling as expected. The concept of running away with one’s own soul and love is a powerful image of seeking personal fulfillment and freedom.
The lines “All this sense in me, it's gonna be the death of me” reflect on the difficulty of balancing self-fulfillment and rationality. The singer seems to be happy to abandon their rationality and find personal fulfilment, but at the same time, it could be a potential danger. The song is also supportive of the concept of community, as exemplified by the line “Only foes and rejects, they are all we can see”. It strengthens the idea of society determining who is considered an outcast, and who belongs.
Overall, the sentiment in the song prompts the listener to consider the conflict between individualism and a sense of belonging to a community. It encourages the audience not to take anything for granted and helps viewers to appreciate the complexities involved in defining what it means to be an outcast versus being part of a community.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see
The singer has a clear understanding of their circumstances
Let me be
The singer desires to be left alone and to have control over their own life
All this freedom we get, oh
It's not all its cracked up to be
Despite having freedom, the singer believes that it is overrated and comes with its own set of challenges
Only foes and rejects, oh
They are all we can see
The artist's negative experiences have caused them to view the world in a pessimistic and cynical light
Oh it's over me, yet
We are made reality
Despite feeling overwhelmed, the artist acknowledges that they are a part of the real world and must face its challenges
Oh, Let me be him, be him, be him
Oh, Let me be him
Oh, Let me be him
(oh oh, heyyy oh oh)
Let me be him
The singer desires to take on the qualities of another person in order to escape their own problems and challenges
My soul, my love,
Is running away with me
And I won't leave it all to you
The singer is following their heart and desires, and refuses to let others control their fate
Work hard, play hard at work
Lend me your ideas
But not too fully formed
So we can't be ignored
The artist desires collaboration and input from others, but not to the point where their ideas are overshadowed or dismissed
Broken into pieces,
When he sang to me
(I can see)
The artist was emotionally moved by someone's music
Call my name, remember
What you mean to me
The artist wants to be recognized and valued by someone who has forgotten about them
All this sense in me,
It's gonna be the death of me
The singer is burdened by their own analytical and logical nature, which they view as a liability
Dying every evening,
Without sleep happening to me
The artist is struggling with insomnia and its negative effects on their health
With all this sense in me,
You are really spoiling me
The singer's mind is a gift and something to be cherished
Rotten without reason,
Without sense, where would I be
The singer recognizes the importance of reason and senses in their life
Starting with your treason,
You forgot to burn a tree
The singer is referencing an act of betrayal and acknowledging that even the smallest details can have far-reaching consequences
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: JOSEPH GODDARD, ALEXIS BENJAMIN TAYLOR, OWEN CLARKE, AL DOYLE, FELIX MARTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind