He returned in April 2010 with a critically acclaimed debut solo album recorded with Midlake. 'Queen of Denmark' was Mojo magazine's Album of the Year for 2010; it was also named as one of the best ten albums of 2010 by the Guardian's music critics and writers.
'Pale Green Ghosts', his second solo effort, was released on 11th March 2013 and it features Sinéad O'Connor as guest vocalist.
Two Of Us
John Grant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spending someone's
Hard earned pay
You and me Sunday driving
Not arriving
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
Two of us sending postcards
Writing letters
On my wall
You and me burning matches
Lifting latches
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home
You and I have memories
Longer than the road that stretches out ahead
Two of us wearing raincoats
Standing solo
In the sun
You and me chasing paper
Getting nowhere
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home
You and I have memories
Longer than the road that stretches out ahead
Two of us wearing raincoats
Standing solo
In the sun
You and me chasing paper
Getting nowhere
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home
We're going home
Better believe it
In John Grant's song Two of Us, the lyrics paint a picture of two people who are seemingly lost and directionless, yet content with each other's company. The first verse talks about how they are spending someone else's hard-earned pay while riding aimlessly, perhaps having escaped from their regular lives temporarily. The chorus speaks of them heading back home, but the emphasis is more on the journey they have shared rather than the destination itself. The second verse is about how they communicate with each other when apart, through postcards and letters, and about their little adventures on the way back home. The third verse echoes similar themes, with the added layer of getting nowhere while chasing paper, hinting that their escapades may not necessarily have an end goal.
The song is a poignant reminder of how the journey can be just as valuable, if not more so, as the destination. It speaks to the human desire for connection and intimacy, even if it means getting lost and being directionless together. The repetition of the line "We're on our way home" emphasizes that the destination is not the end-all-be-all, but a mere marker on the journey. The line "You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead" is particularly evocative, as it speaks to the power of shared experiences and relationships to sustain us through life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Two of us riding nowhere
The two of us are aimlessly traveling without a particular destination
Spending someone's hard earned pay
We are using someone else's hard earned money to support our travels
You and me Sunday driving
We are leisurely driving around without a purpose or destination
Not arriving on our way back home
We are enjoying the journey back home without worrying about arriving at a particular time or place
We're on our way home
We are headed back to our familiar place
We're going home
We are finally returning to our place of comfort
Two of us sending postcards
The two of us are keeping in touch by sending postcards to each other
Writing letters on my wall
We are keeping old-fashioned correspondence alive by writing letters to each other and pinning them up on a wall
You and me burning matches
We are sharing moments of intimacy together, perhaps lighting candles or a match to set the right tone
Lifting latches on our way back home
We are returning to a familiar and comfortable place, perhaps our own home, and going through the routine of opening the door
You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead
Our memories and shared experiences are much more significant to us than any future journey or destination
Two of us wearing raincoats
We are braving the rain together while wearing raincoats
Standing solo in the sun
Even though we are together, we can still enjoy moments of solitude, perhaps feeling the warmth of the sun alone
You and me chasing paper
We are caught up in the pursuit of material possessions or perhaps there is an element of frivolity to our current situation
Getting nowhere on our way back home
Even though we may be accomplishing very little, we are still on a journey back home that we are enjoying
We're going home
Our journey is coming to an end and we are anticipating the comfort and familiarity that comes with being home
Better believe it
We are expressing our confidence about returning home and the comfort that awaits us
Writer(s): Paul Mccartney, John Lennon
Contributed by Eliana A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LuciaBBG
This is one of the best Beatles cover I've ever heard, I'm surprised there are no comments and such few viewings
@davidnyholm8796
That voice! 😮 The most interesting and talented artist there is!
@youareveryundude
sublime, words fail to describe the beauty of this version...he has even outperformed the original...every day should be started and finished with this gorgeous tune...
@fratricideisfun
Stunning rendition of the song. One of the greatest voices of our time.
@seoul86
the best cover to this song ever. totally blown away.
@buddhistarmy
excellent work
@thedivinemrm5832
+Steven Hall ;)
@thedivinemrm5832
Gosh, is there NOTHING this man can't do?
@aineobrien-farrell6696
How did I miss on hearing this years ago? Â Great.
@Matthewbest
Better than the Beatles' version!