Great Indoors
John Mayer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Its proof that you're not listening to
The call your life's been issuing you
The rhythm of a line of idle days
Scared of the world outside you should go explore
Pull all the shades and wander the great indoors
The great indoors
Lamplight makes the shadows play
And posters take the walls away
The TV is your window pane
The view wont let you down
So put your faith in a late night show
I bet you didn't even know
Depends on how far out you go
The channel numbers change
Scared of the world outside you should go explore
Pull all the shades and wander the great indoors
Though lately I cant blame you
I have seen the world
And sometimes wish your room had room for two
So go unlock the door
And find what you are here for
Leave the great indoors
Please leave the great indoors
Check your pulse
Its proof that you're not listening to
The call your life's been issuing you
The rhythm of a line of idle days
In John Mayer's song "Great Indoors," the artist reflects on feelings of restlessness and boredom with daily life. The first verse encourages the listener to "check your pulse," a reminder that life is passing by quickly and action must be taken to heed the call it's "issuing you." Mayer describes the "rhythm of a line of idle days," suggesting that life has become monotonous and lacks meaningful activity.
The chorus suggests a solution: "scared of the world outside you should go explore, pull all the shades and wander the great indoors." Mayer suggests that there is adventure to be found even within one's own living space, and that it's worth seeking out. The second verse describes the pleasures of indoor living, such as the way lamp light casts shadows and makes posters on the walls come alive. The TV is described as a "window pane," which can provide an escape from the world outside. Mayer acknowledges that there is limitless content available on late night shows, but acknowledges that the experience can only be enhanced by exploring outside one's comfort zone.
The final chorus encourages the listener to "unlock the door" and "leave the great indoors" in search of fulfilling experiences in the outside world. Mayer acknowledges that he himself has seen the world, but suggests that perhaps the listener has not and should take advantage of the opportunities they have. Overall, "Great Indoors" encourages listeners to shake off the monotony of daily life and seek out adventure, whether within the walls of their own home or beyond.
Line by Line Meaning
Check your pulse
Take a moment to reflect on your own existence.
Its proof that you're not listening to
The call your life's been issuing you
Your heartbeat, which represents your life, shows that you are not paying attention to your own desires and aspirations.
The rhythm of a line of idle days
The monotony of daily life has created a pattern, making you unresponsive to change or adventure.
Scared of the world outside you should go explore
Pull all the shades and wander the great indoors
The great indoors
Feeling apprehensive about the unpredictability of the world outside, you should instead seek solace in exploring and enjoying your indoor space.
Lamplight makes the shadows play
And posters take the walls away
With the help of lighting and decorations, the indoor world can become a place of imagination and wonder.
The TV is your window pane
The view wont let you down
Television provides an escape and never fails to captivate us.
So put your faith in a late night show
I bet you didn't even know
Depends on how far out you go
The channel numbers change
Take a chance on something new and unknown, you might be surprised.
Though lately I cant blame you
I have seen the world
And sometimes wish your room had room for two
Although I understand your preference for the indoors, having travelled and experienced the outside world, I sometimes wish you would share that with me.
So go unlock the door
And find what you are here for
Leave the great indoors
Please leave the great indoors
It's time to break free from the monotony, to take a step outside and discover what life has to offer outside the walls of your room.
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: JOHN CLAYTON MAYER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind