Stranger Still
K-Group/Peter Hammill Lyrics

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Stranger still in another town,
How normal to sit out the dance,
Eating the good meal by myself,
Toasting the empty glass;
And they're already setting out
The next place,
Already forgetting about the last.
No, nothing could be less strange

In entropy
No change, no change, no change.
No danger in a normal life,
Better steady down the adrenalin pump.
Excess refraction in the mirror
Only leads to the quantum jump
Oh, but it leaves me in limbo;
How strange, what a stranger I become.
No, no, nothing could be less strange
In entropy
No change, no change, no change.
No, I know how to behave
In the restaurant now,
I don't tear at the meat with my hands;
If I've become a man of the world somehow
That's not necessarily to say
I'm a worldly man.
Keep on shuffling the menu
And the order never comes on time.
No, there's only diffraction patterns,
No reading between the lines;
Only the rate of emission,
And reason allows no rime.
Nothing could be less strange
In entropy
No change, no change, no change.
No, nothing could be less strange...

Entropy...
... A stranger, a worldly man.

Overall Meaning

The song "Stranger Still" by Peter Hammill explores the feeling of disconnection and alienation that comes from being removed from one's usual surroundings and comfort zones. The singer finds himself in a new town, alone and attending a restaurant, disconnected from the people around him. He observes how easy it is for the people around him to forget about the previous events, and how he's just another stranger.

The lyrics reflect a sense of resignation that comes with accepting the fact that entropy is the only constant in life. The singer realizes that nothing changes, and everything remains the same regardless of his actions or intentions. He feels like he's stuck in a limbo, unable to make a significant change in his life. The song implies that the only way to avoid becoming a "stranger" is to submit to a life of predictability and stability, which ultimately leads to a sterile and empty existence.

Overall, "Stranger Still" highlights the universal human experience of feeling out of place and disconnected, and the constant struggle to find purpose and meaning in life. It serves as a reminder that, while entropy rules the universe, we must still strive to make a difference and make our mark, even if it's small.

Line by Line Meaning

Stranger still in another town,
It's strange to be in a new place where everything is unfamiliar.

How normal to sit out the dance,
It's common to feel left out and not participate in social events.

Eating the good meal by myself,
I enjoy the food, but I'm dining alone.

Toasting the empty glass;
I raise my glass to signify a toast, but there's no one there to clink their glass against mine.

And they're already setting out The next place, Already forgetting about the last.
People are already moving on to the next event or location, without consideration for the previous one.

No, nothing could be less strange In entropy No change, no change, no change.
The tendency towards disorder or chaos in the universe is not surprising, and things often stay the same or become worse.

No danger in a normal life, Better steady down the adrenalin pump.
Regular or mundane routines are safer than taking risks that activate the body's 'fight or flight' response.

Excess refraction in the mirror Only leads to the quantum jump Oh, but it leaves me in limbo;
Looking too deeply into oneself can lead to a major, unforeseeable change that leaves one feeling lost or stuck in between states.

How strange, what a stranger I become.
It's weird to feel disconnected from oneself and one's surroundings.

No, I know how to behave In the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands;
I've gained familiarity with decorum and manners, and don't behave in embarrassing ways anymore.

If I've become a man of the world somehow That's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man.
Having travelled or experienced many cultures doesn't always mean that one has complete worldly knowledge or sophistication.

Keep on shuffling the menu And the order never comes on time.
Indecision or worry can lead to a lack of progress or missed opportunities.

No, there's only diffraction patterns, No reading between the lines; Only the rate of emission, And reason allows no rime.
There's only scientific certainty, no room for interpretation or mystery; things happen due to predictable causation and not fate nor chance.

Nothing could be less strange In entropy No change, no change, no change.
The tendency towards disorder or chaos in the universe is not surprising, and things often stay the same or become worse.

No, nothing could be less strange... Entropy...
The tendency towards disorder and chaos in the universe is increasingly more evident.

... A stranger, a worldly man.
I don't fully know myself or my place in the world, but I have travelled and gained knowledge of many cultures.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PETER HAMMILL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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