Name Taken
Massive Attack Lyrics


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Hallways I see
Always icy

Open rooms
Contra zoom

Pictures may
Faces may

Fade away
Fade away

Brothers then
Get close to them
Step outside
Gunmetal sky

Peel away
Children play
Fade away
Fade away





Fade away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Massive Attack's song "Name Taken" are open to interpretation, but there is a general sense of melancholy and nostalgia present. The mention of "Hallways I see, always icy" can be interpreted as a reference to a lonely and cold environment that the singer may be stuck in. "Open rooms, contra zoom" could be describing the feeling of being lost or overwhelmed in large and open spaces. The mention of fading pictures and faces could be a representation of memory loss or a fading of past experiences. The line "Brothers then get close to them, step outside gunmetal sky" may be a reflection of the need for human connection and a reminder to appreciate our relationships before it's too late.


The line "Peel away, children play, fade away, fade away" could be interpreted as a reference to the fleeting nature of childhood and the memories that come with it. The repetition of the line "fade away" throughout the song emphasizes the transitory and ephemeral nature of life, and how nothing is permanent. Essentially, the lyrics may be exploring the existential themes of isolation, loss, and mortality.


Line by Line Meaning

Hallways I see
I observe the narrow corridors


Always icy
They are perpetually cold


Open rooms
Unoccupied spaces


Contra zoom
A camera technique that zooms out while moving in


Pictures may
Images sometimes


Faces may
Features sometimes


Fade away
Gradually disappear


Brothers then
Comrades next


Get close to them
Form close bonds with them


Step outside
Move beyond the interior


Gunmetal sky
A dusky, ominous sky


Peel away
Strip off


Children play
Kids frolic


Fade away
Gradually vanish


Fade away
Succumb to oblivion




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Grantley Evan Marshall, Neil Davidge, Robert Del Naja

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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