Roger Miller
Lake Lyrics


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hemmingway
is like a movie
i get too caught up in it
that i almost lose my sense of purpose

cos by the third book
i feel like crying
and by the fourth one
i feel like dying

i feel like dying

i got this painting
and all of its colours
is somebody waiting?
taking you somewhere far away

if i were a bird
then i would be that one
just like a lucid dream
goes on and on and on and on and on

want to push the boulder down a hill
while the old man was the one to see this
walking in someone else's dream

roger miller
was a song writer
writing songs to represent this world

if i were a song
then i would be his song
just like his songs have a life of their own

if i were a song
then i would be his song
just like a lucid
goes on and on and on and on and on

want to push the boulder down a hill




while the other man was the one to see this
walking in someone else's dream

Overall Meaning

Lake's song "Roger Miller" appears to be a musing on the power of art to transport us from our mundane lives, as well as an exploration of the line between losing oneself in that art and being able to retain a sense of purpose. The opening lines reference Hemmingway and describe the experience of getting "caught up" in reading his work to the point of losing a sense of self. The singer then describes the emotional impact of reading multiple books by Hemmingway, suggesting that the experience is so powerful it can bring one to tears or even the brink of despair.


The subsequent verses introduce a painting and a desire to escape oneself - to become a bird, or to "push the boulder down a hill" so as to exist within someone else's dream. These verses suggest a yearning for a transcendent experience, one that allows the self to be subsumed into something larger or more meaningful. Finally, the title and refrain of the song reference singer-songwriter Roger Miller, framing him as a kind of guide or inspiration for this journey. If the singer were a song, they suggest, they would be Miller's - and like Miller's songs, they would "go on and on and on".


Line by Line Meaning

hemmingway
Hemingway's writing style is like a movie that captivates me so much that I forget my real purpose in life.


is like a movie
The writing style of Hemingway is similar to a movie that Lukas is too engrossed in.


i get too caught up in it
Lukas gets too absorbed in Hemingway's writing that he forgets about the world around him.


that i almost lose my sense of purpose
So influenced by Hemingway's books that Lukas forgets what his real goals and aspirations in life are.


cos by the third book
By the third Hemingway book that Lukas reads.


i feel like crying
Lukas starts feeling emotional to the point where he feels like crying.


and by the fourth one
By the fourth book that Lukas is reading.


i feel like dying
Lukas feels so overwhelmed by Hemingway's writing that he feels like dying.


i got this painting
Lukas has a painting.


and all of its colours
The painting Lukas has is colourful and vibrant.


is somebody waiting?
Lukas is wondering if someone is waiting for him.


taking you somewhere far away
This person might be taking Lukas somewhere far away.


if i were a bird
In a hypothetical situation where Lukas is a bird.


then i would be that one
He would be a specific bird that he has in mind.


just like a lucid dream
This bird that Lukas would be is like a dream that he can control.


goes on and on and on and on and on
This dream continues endlessly.


want to push the boulder down a hill
Lukas wants to move a boulder from a higher point to a lower point.


while the old man was the one to see this
An old man witnesses Lukas pushing the boulder.


walking in someone else's dream
Lukas feels like he is living in someone else's dream.


roger miller
Roger Miller is a songwriter that Lukas is talking about.


was a song writer
Roger Miller wrote songs for a living.


writing songs to represent this world
His songs represented various aspects of this world.


if i were a song
In another hypothetical situation where Lukas is a song.


then i would be his song
Lukas would be one of Roger Miller's songs.


just like his songs have a life of their own
Roger Miller's songs have their own persona and evoke emotions in the listeners.


just like a lucid
Similar to a dream that Lukas can control.


goes on and on and on and on and on
This dream continues endlessly.


want to push the boulder down a hill
Lukas wants to move a boulder from a higher point to a lower point.


while the other man was the one to see this
Another man watches Lukas pushing the boulder.


walking in someone else's dream
Lukas still feels like he is living in someone else's dream.




Contributed by Sophie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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