North Point
Mike Oldfield Lyrics


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Have you ever been to North Point
To spend your time and pray?
The prison walls are dark and cold and grey.
The writing on the wall at North Point
Speaks to a silent room.
They shut the bars down, leave you to the gloom.
How could we get any closer?
So high is the wire and the guards won't listen,
They won't believe me.
And then it all came back.
Somewhere far above has a new day risen?
Way beyond the searchlight,
Comes alive, comes alive.
Then on a bright day at North Point
The gate was open wide.
They chanced to look at what was inside.
There were a million stars at North Point,
And from the silent tomb,
They took it to the heart and left for the moon.
How could we get any closer?
So high is the wire and the guards won't listen,
They won't believe me.
And then it all came back.
Somewhere far above has a new day risen?
Way beyond the searchlight,
Comes alive, comes alive.
Have you ever been to North Point




To spend your time and pray?
The prison walls are dark and cold and grey.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mike Oldfield's "North Point" are somewhat enigmatic, but their underlying meaning can be inferred through the poetic portrayal of a prisoner's experience of hope and despair. The opening lines seem to evoke a sense of introspection and reflection as the singer asks if his listeners have ever been to North Point, a place where one goes to pray and spend time. This place, however, is not a peaceful retreat but rather a prison whose walls are "dark and cold and grey." The prison is a place of isolation, where one is cut off from the outside world, surrounded by "high" walls that separate them from freedom.


The writing on the wall speaks to a "silent room," one devoid of human connection and warmth. The "bars" symbolize the strict and unforgiving nature of the prison, where the guards won't listen, and one is left alone in the "gloom." However, the prisoners still long for freedom and hope, as evidenced by the lines "How could we get any closer?...And then it all came back." The singer experiences a moment of revelation where he wonders if somewhere far above there is a new day rising- a chance to break free from the searchlight and come alive.


The final verse is a culmination of this sense of hope and longing as the gates of the prison open wide, revealing a new and beautiful world waiting outside. The million stars that shine within North Point provide a glimpse of the beauty that exists beyond the walls, inspiring those imprisoned to take it to heart and leave for the moon- a metaphor for leaving their troubles behind and starting anew.


Line by Line Meaning

Have you ever been to North Point
Have you ever visited the North Point prison?


To spend your time and pray?
Have you ever gone there to spend time in prayer?


The prison walls are dark and cold and grey.
The prison's walls are dismal and oppressive, with no light or warmth.


The writing on the wall at North Point
There is graffiti on the prison walls.


Speaks to a silent room.
But it goes unheard and unacknowledged in the stillness of the empty cell.


They shut the bars down, leave you to the gloom.
The guards lock the cell door and abandon the prisoner in the darkness of the cell.


How could we get any closer?
The singer questions if there is any way to connect with those behind the prison walls.


So high is the wire and the guards won't listen,
The artist comments on the difficulty of communicating with those imprisoned behind the high fences and guarded walls.


They won't believe me.
The prisoner's claims fall on deaf ears.


And then it all came back.
Suddenly, the artist's memories of North Point flood back to him.


Somewhere far above has a new day risen?
The singer wonders if there is hope for change beyond the confines of North Point's walls.


Way beyond the searchlight,
Perhaps there is a brighter future for the prisoners out of reach of the prison's watchtowers.


Comes alive, comes alive.
Hope springs eternal in the singer's heart despite the harsh reality of life behind bars.


Then on a bright day at North Point
On a sudden, bright day at North Point,


The gate was open wide.
Perhaps by some miracle, the gate was unlocked and open.


They chanced to look at what was inside.
The guards took a chance and entered the cellblock.


There were a million stars at North Point,
Inside, the guards find unexpected beauty - the stars shining through the small window.


And from the silent tomb,
Despite the stillness of the prison, something stirred within the hearts of the guards.


They took it to the heart and left for the moon.
Moved by what they saw in North Point, the guards take it to heart and leave, their eyes fixed high.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MIKE OLDFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@JoodyB

Have you ever been to North Point
To spend your time and pray?
The prison walls are dark and cold and grey.
The writing on the wall at North Point
Speaks to a silent room.
They shut the bars down, leave you to the gloom.

 
How could we get any closer?
So high is the wire and the guards won't listen,
They won't believe me.
And then it all came back.
Somewhere far above has a new day risen?
Way beyond the searchlight,
Comes alive, comes alive.

Then on a bright day at North Point
The gate was open wide.
They chanced to look at what was inside.
There were a million stars at North Point,
And from the silent tomb,
They took it to the heart and left for the moon.


Have you ever been to North Point
To spend your time and pray?
The prison walls are dark and cold and grey.



All comments from YouTube:

@albertlluisvila1251

Mike Oldfield. A grrrreat musician, always surrounded by the best voices. Love ❤🥰

@morphida

Heard it first many years ago and it still brings shivers down my spine. Its that sweet clarity

@austriantruther4648

Amazing song!! Mike Oldfield is one of the best artists on earth!!

@robertkiraly4451

Anita is beautiful and her voice is wonderful.

@user-ul2fz6kr5x

Real nordic voice 😍

@eryn5679

Da werden Erinnerungen wach.

@rainereckert5928

Incredbile, unglaublich, how lovely ist this Song. Anita has a voice like an Angel....

@anamariamartinez4259

El sonido de mi infancia, como adoro esta canción

@DJCoachCookie68

One of my favourite ever songs x

@user-hd3gh3vq1i

Класс! Они талантливы! Теперь в современной музыке таланта не требуется к сожалению.

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