Alien
Japan Lyrics


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Everything's neat and compact
There's not much to shout about
But winter is breaking inside of me
Now life is so incomplete
But you're one of the boys again
But is that all you want to be?

Now that you feel the weather
Was it all in vain?
Now that we're together
We seem so alien

Slowly descend from heaven
Anyway we turn we win
But how can you always be so sure?
Nightporters sleep on weekdays
Living a lifetime too
Walking away without a cure

The noise on the stairs disturbs me
Somebody walks my way
But can you rely on everything I feel?
Driving through endless buildings




The desert is so serene
But Mondays were never really my ideal

Overall Meaning

The song "Alien" by Japan is a reflection on the dissatisfaction with life and the struggle to find oneself. The opening lines "Everything's neat and compact, there's not much to shout about, but winter is breaking inside of me" sounds like the singer is describing a mundane routine or a comfortable but unfulfilling life. However, "winter is breaking inside of me" suggests an inner turmoil, a need for change and growth.


The second section of the song seems to be addressed to someone who has recently reconnected with the singer. Perhaps a friend who has been absent or a former lover. The singer questions whether this person simply wants to be "one of the boys" again or if they seek something more profound. The lines "now that we're together, we seem so alien" imply that the singer feels disconnected from this person despite their proximity.


Line by Line Meaning

Everything's neat and compact
Everything in my life is well-organized and orderly


There's not much to shout about
My life is uneventful and I have nothing extraordinary to share


But winter is breaking inside of me
Despite the outward appearances, I am struggling internally


Now life is so incomplete
I am not satisfied with my current state of existence


But you're one of the boys again
I am reconnecting with friends and enjoying male camaraderie


But is that all you want to be?
But I am questioning whether this is all I truly desire


Now that you feel the weather
Now that I am more in touch with my emotions


Was it all in vain?
Was my previous way of living purposeless?


Now that we're together
Now that we are spending time together


We seem so alien
We seem like outsiders compared to the rest of the world


Slowly descend from heaven
Slowly coming back down to earth


Anyway we turn we win
Feeling positive about the future and the opportunities it holds


But how can you always be so sure?
But I am questioning if my optimism is misplaced


Nightporters sleep on weekdays
People who work at night are sleeping during the day


Living a lifetime too
But I feel like I am merely existing, not truly living


Walking away without a cure
Moving on from one thing to another without truly finding a solution to my problems


The noise on the stairs disturbs me
I am easily disturbed by external noises and distractions


Somebody walks my way
Someone is approaching me


But can you rely on everything I feel?
But I am not always sure about my emotions and if they are valid


Driving through endless buildings
Driving through a cityscape dominated by tall buildings


The desert is so serene
The peaceful and calm environment of the desert


But Mondays were never really my ideal
But I am not fond of the start of the workweek




Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: DAVID SYLVIAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Stephen Tremm


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