Stranger in Paradise
Mathis Johnny Lyrics
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Tree whisper differently now
And why is the nightingale singing
At noon on the mulberry bough
For some most mysterious reason
This isn't garden I know
No, it's paradise now
That was only a garden a moment ago
Take my hand I'm a stranger in paradise
All lost in a wonderland a stranger in paradise
If I stand starry eyed that's the danger in paradise
For mortals who stand beside an angel like you
I saw your face and I ascended
Out of the commonplace into the rare
Somewhere in space I hang suspended
Until I know there's a chance that you care
Won't you answer this fervent prayer
Of a stranger in paradise
Don't send me in dark despair from all that I hunger for
But open your angel's arms to this stranger in paradise
And tell him that he need be a stranger no more
The lyrics of Mathis Johnny's song Stranger In Paradise speak of the sensation one feels when they find themselves in a beautiful and unknown place. The opening verse talks about the changes in the surroundings and the singer's confusion as to why everything feels different. The reference to the mulberry tree and the nightingale singing at an unconventional time serves to present the scene as something out of the ordinary.
As the song progresses, the lyrics illustrate the singer's realization that he has arrived in paradise. He speaks of being a stranger in this new world, lost in the wonderland. The line "If I stand starry-eyed that's the danger in paradise" highlights the singer's recognition of how easy it is to lose oneself in the paradise-like surroundings. He acknowledges the risk of being so mesmerized that he might forget reality, his place in it, and ultimately himself.
The chorus is a plea to the angel he has encountered, to allow him to stay in paradise and bask in its beauty. The line "I saw your face, and I ascended out of the commonplace into the rare" is a telling description of the singer's reaction to the angel. He feels comfortable and at-home in this new paradise because he sees hope in the angel's eyes. The final line suggests that the singer wants to stay there forever, and that the angel's acceptance would be the ultimate confirmation of his place in the new world.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh why do the leaves of the mulberry Tree whisper differently now
The singer is noticing a change in the way the leaves sound when they rustle, and wonders why.
And why is the nightingale singing At noon on the mulberry bough
The singer is marveling at the fact that a nightingale is singing in broad daylight, in a place where there is a mulberry tree.
For some most mysterious reason This isn't garden I know No, it's paradise now That was only a garden a moment ago
The singer feels like something has changed about their surroundings and that the place they're in now is much closer to paradise than it was before.
Take my hand I'm a stranger in paradise All lost in a wonderland a stranger in paradise If I stand starry eyed that's the danger in paradise For mortals who stand beside an angel like you
The artist is overwhelmed by the beauty surrounding them and acknowledges the potential danger of becoming lost in it all, especially when next to someone they consider to be an angel.
I saw your face and I ascended Out of the commonplace into the rare Somewhere in space I hang suspended Until I know there's a chance that you care
The artist feels like they've been lifted out of their ordinary life by the sight of the person they're speaking to, and is suspended in a moment of deep feeling, waiting to see if the other person feels the same way.
Won't you answer this fervent prayer Of a stranger in paradise Don't send me in dark despair from all that I hunger for But open your angel's arms to this stranger in paradise And tell him that he need be a stranger no more
The singer is now asking the other person to open themselves up and allow the singer to be closer to them; if they do, the singer can finally stop feeling like a stranger in their own paradise.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Forrest, Robert Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind