Close the Door
Idlewild Lyrics


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Cause I'm the only one who knows everyone barbecue lungs
None of you know what I'm thinking
Who on earth would believe a word you say?
You're disturbed in a strange fascinated way
You're disturbed, I think you're disturbed

I've told you once
To switch all the lights off
You never believe that
You never believe that

And you stay near the window
Falling out through the floor
Close the door (1, 2, 3, 4)
Falling out through the floor
Falling out through the floor

It's time for the maths test
I come over to see you, at your chair you face up
I reply and politely stare back, back
I'm so backward I almost forgot
Why I'm sinking

Falling out through the floor
Close the door (1, 2, 3, 4)
Falling out through the floor
Falling out through the floor

It's time for the maths test
It's time for the maths test
Half the times I lack sound the way I really think of you otherwise...
Falling out through the floor
Close the door
It's time for the maths test
It's time for the maths test




It's time for the maths test
It's time for the maths test

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Idlewild's song Close the Door are intriguing and cryptic, requiring a deep analysis to understand their meaning. The song seems to revolve around a single protagonist who views himself as the only one who truly understands the people around him. The phrase "barbecue lungs" could refer to the singer's knowledge of everyone's secrets, which are akin to BBQ smoke on the lungs, irrevocably intertwined with their being.


The singer seems to struggle with being in a group of people who do not connect with him, highlighting his loneliness even in a crowded room. He is aware that he is distinct from the others and that nobody else can hear his thoughts, causing him to feel misunderstood and upset. Despite his inner turmoil, he remains reserved and calculated, unwilling to reveal anything to the people around him.


Furthermore, the refrain "It's time for the maths test" may represent the singer's struggle to find a place in the world that he feels comfortable in. The idea of the math test suggests he is searching for a way to form a place for himself in a structured and tangible way, though he fails to express himself cohesively.


Overall, Close the Door offers subtle insights into what it feels like to be detached from those around you, despite a desire for connection. The protaganist's desire to attain a degree of contentment, through understanding those around him and being able to express himself better, makes the track an incredibly moving character study.


Line by Line Meaning

Cause I'm the only one who knows everyone barbecue lungs
I am the only one who truly knows everyone's innermost thoughts and desires.


None of you know what I'm thinking
You have no idea what's really going on in my head.


Who on earth would believe a word you say?
You are not a credible source of information or truth.


You're disturbed in a strange fascinated way
Your behavior is abnormal, yet intriguing to me.


You're disturbed, I think you're disturbed
I believe that you are mentally unwell.


I've told you once to switch all the lights off
I have previously instructed you to turn off all the lights.


You never believe that
You refuse to comply with my instructions.


And you stay near the window, Falling out through the floor
You remain by the window, seemingly lost in thought and disconnected from reality.


Close the door (1, 2, 3, 4), Falling out through the floor
I urge you to close the door to keep yourself safe, as you seem to be losing touch with the world around you.


It's time for the maths test
It is time to focus on something practical, rather than dwell on these abstract thoughts.


I come over to see you, at your chair you face up
I approach you as you sit in your chair, looking straight ahead.


I reply and politely stare back, back, I'm so backward I almost forgot
I respond to your gaze, but my own social awkwardness almost causes me to forget myself.


Why I'm sinking, Falling out through the floor
I am struggling to keep my emotions and my grasp on reality in check.


Half the times I lack sound the way I really think of you otherwise...
I often struggle to put into words how I truly feel about you.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB FAIRFOULL, COLIN NEWTON, ROD PRYCE-JONES, RODDY WOOMBLE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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