"Crystal Ball" was composed by Tim Rice-Oxley in 2006 under permission of Elijah Volkova, co-writer of the song. It was recorded at the Helioscentric Studios, East Sussex and at the Magic Shop, New York. Guitar effects are created by a synthesizer Yamaha CP60M.
The music video for "Crystal Ball" was released by NME on 4 August 2006 It features the American actor Giovanni Ribisi. The director was Giuseppe Capotondi. It is about an estate agent losing his identity.
A woman is helping her husband (Ribisi) and young son get ready to leave the house. She tells her husband to pick up the dry cleaning for her. He then gets into his Toyota Camry and drives off with his son.
We next see the man get to his office and warmly interact with a secretary. There are photographs on his desk of him with his family. We then see him showing off a house to a couple, implying that he is a real estate agent. We then see him work some more in his office.
Later, the real estate agent returns to his house, where he finds that a red Ford Taurus is parked outside it. His keys don't seem to work so he knocks on the door and rings the bell. His wife partially opens the door and looks at him with surprise when he tries to enter. She then calls to someone off-screen.
A man appears behind the upset woman and the real estate agent speaks to the woman with a look of disbelief on his face. The woman then shuts the door on him. We next see the real estate agent look in the window of the house and smile at his son, but this only frightens the boy. We next see the real estate agent angrily trying to explain the situation to a police office as the man and his wife talk to another officer. The real estate agent is ushered away and we see him driving away in his car still being tailed by the police.
After making some phone calls and wandering around in frustration, we see the man wake up in his car in the parking lot of his office. When he gets out of the car, he takes a look around him with a look of surprise on his face, perhaps thinking it was all a dream. He walks into the office and waves at his secretary who stands up in surprise. He then finds the man he saw in his house now sitting at his desk. He rushes to keep the man from phoning security and then begins to argue with him angrily. He then stops when he sees that the photographs on his desk now show the other man with his family instead of himself.
When the man is finally thrown out of the building, he sees someone run toward his car in the distance. He runs to the car and jumps on the hood, shouting at the person inside, claiming that the car belongs to him. In the end, the person ignores him and drives the car away, leaving the man standing in the parking lot confused and defeated. The story is intercut with footage of the band playing together in a room.
The video was also recycled for the US release video for the single Nothing in My Way, albeit with the band footage removed and subtitles added. At around the time of this single release it was announced that Tom Chaplin had gone into rehab for 'drug and alcohol addiction'. It is noticeable that the original video does not feature any close up shots of Chaplin, but several of Tim Rice-Oxley and Richard Hughes, though it is unknown whether this is deliberate.
Crystal Ball
Keane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where I'm supposed to be?
I lost my heart, I buried it too deep
Under the iron sea
Oh, crystal ball, crystal ball
Save us all, tell me life is beautiful
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Lines ever more unclear
I'm not sure I'm even here
The more I look the more I think that I'm
Starting to disappear
Oh, crystal ball, crystal ball
Save us all, tell me life is beautiful
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Oh, crystal ball, hear my song
I'm fading out, everything I know is wrong
So put me where I belong
I don't where I am
And I don't really care
I look myself in the eye
There's no one there
I fall upon the earth
I call upon the air
But all I get is the same old vacant stare
Oh, crystal ball, crystal ball
Save us all, tell me life is beautiful
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Oh, crystal ball, hear my song
I'm fading out, everything I know is wrong
So put me where I belong
Keane's song "Crystal Ball" is a deeply introspective and melancholic exploration of identity and purpose. The song begins with the singer questioning his own existence and wondering who he is supposed to be. He has lost his heart and buried it too deep, suggesting a sense of emotional disconnect and a feeling of being lost. The imagery of the "iron sea" suggests a dark and heavy burden weighing down on him, further emphasizing his sense of confusion and desperation.
The chorus invokes the image of a "crystal ball", a mystical object traditionally associated with fortune-telling and divination. The singer pleads with the crystal ball to save him and tell him that life is beautiful, suggesting that he has lost hope and needs a sign to help him find his way. The repetition of the lyrics "mirror, mirror on the wall" invokes the image of the evil queen from Snow White, further emphasizing the singer's feelings of being lost and disconnected.
The second verse continues the theme of uncertainty and disappearing identity. The more the singer looks, the less he feels like he is even there. The repetition of the crystal ball chorus serves to emphasize the desperation of the situation, with the singer begging for help to find his way.
Overall, "Crystal Ball" is a poignant and emotionally raw exploration of the human experience, capturing the feelings of confusion, uncertainty, and hopelessness that many of us feel at some point in our lives. It is a deeply relatable and powerful song that has resonated with audiences around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Who is the man I see
I am questioning my identity and purpose in this world.
Where I'm supposed to be?
I am lost and unsure of my place in life.
I lost my heart, I buried it too deep
I have suffered emotional pain and have tried to hide it away.
Under the iron sea
My emotions are buried deep within me, obscured by a heavy burden.
Oh, crystal ball, crystal ball
I am reaching out for a miracle, hoping for a sign of hope.
Save us all, tell me life is beautiful
I want to be reassured that there is beauty in this world and hope for a better tomorrow.
Mirror, mirror on the wall
I am looking for answers and trying to find myself in the reflection of life.
Lines ever more unclear
I am struggling to understand where I am and where I'm supposed to go.
I'm not sure I'm even here
I am questioning my existence and whether or not it matters.
The more I look the more I think that I'm
As I search for answers, I am growing more uncertain about everything.
Starting to disappear
I feel like I am fading away and becoming lost in the world around me.
Oh, crystal ball, hear my song
I am pleading for a response to my desperate cry for help.
I'm fading out, everything I know is wrong
I am losing my sense of self and my understanding of the world.
So put me where I belong
I am searching for a place to belong and to find my true purpose.
I don't where I am
I am lost and disoriented, unable to find my way.
And I don't really care
I am overwhelmed by my sense of confusion and hopelessness.
I look myself in the eye
As I search for meaning, I confront my own personal demons and insecurities.
There's no one there
I am struggling to find a solid sense of self and identity.
I fall upon the earth
I am struggling with my own sense of humanity and purpose in the larger world.
I call upon the air
I am searching for answers in the world around me and reaching out for help.
But all I get is the same old vacant stare
Despite my efforts to find answers, I feel stuck and helpless in this world of confusion and ambiguity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHARD DAVID HUGHES, TIMOTHY JAMES RICE-OXLEY, TOM CHAPLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-gz9lk2ve6s
Who is the man I see
Where I'm supposed to be?
I lost my heart, I buried it too deep
Under the iron sea
Oh, crystal ball, crystal ball
Save us all, tell me life is beautiful
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Lines ever more unclear
Not sure I'm even here
The more I look the more I think that I'm
Starting to disappear
Oh, crystal ball, crystal ball
Save us all, tell me life is beautiful
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Oh, crystal ball, hear my song
I'm fading out, everything I know is wrong
So put me where I belong
I don't know where I am
And I don't really care
I look myself in the eye
There's no-one there
I fall upon the earth
I call upon the air
But all I get is the same old vacant stare
Oh, crystal ball, crystal ball
Save us all, tell me life is beautiful
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Oh, crystal ball, hear my song
I'm fading out, everything I know is wrong
So put me where I belong
@anakinthewarcriminal
I lost my mother when I was young. Keane was one of her favorite bands and this song reminds me of her. Very sentimentally attached to this whole album
@dudulima291
I'm so sorry for you They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and all your family.” Then they prophesied the word of the Lord over him and all his family.
@Kenneth_the_Philosopher
Bro, that was soooo deep! I wonder if there is any research on the relationship between pop music and morning process. Its like during the greveing process people then attach NEW meaning to pop songs. Crazy ain't it!
@ricardocardenas3054
Under the iron sea is one of favorites too I hope u have found some relief with Keane's music your mom had beautiful and unique musical taste
@islammyreligionmonotheismm1346
Sorry brother for your early loss to your mom ,i am sure you will meet her again in the light this life its just test ,every one is tested by somthing ,wether is it lack of position or health or wealth or member family or ability but we are blessed also many other thing that even we can sense or not .
Be strong brother through searching for god and his wisdom through the prophets so you understand the wisdom behind life and that we have much bigger thing in the hearafter with your mom
@paulordrg
This music video could easily be an amazing movie! It's so overwhelming, sad and creative! I remember when I was a pre teenager and watched this video everyday on MTV here in Brazil, back in 2006 and it always moved me, gives me the chills and the song is amazing!
@whirlipede2084
Bons tempos de Disk MTV :(
@fouzanium
There's an action movie called Unknown starring Liam Neeson, it's about someone replacing someone else's identity
@thaisaguesbarbosa7268
Siiiim!!!! Sdds tvz e MTV
@biofromhell
Época boa do caramba.