Quiet
Milly Shapiro Lyrics

Have you ever wondered, well I have,
Have you ever stopped to consider the intricacies of something, because I certainly have and do so often,

About how when I say, say, red, for example,
Regarding the potential disconnect of meaning in language, such as the color red having varying interpretations based on personal experience and perspective,

There's no way of knowing if red
It's impossible to truly grasp if red really signifies the same thing in another person's consciousness,

Means the same thing in your head
Signifying that red may be processed differently, and thus signify different things, in another person's thoughts,

As red means in my head
Indicating that personal experience and perception determine the meaning of a concept, in this case the color red,

When someone says red?
A question posed to the listener, asking if they have ever contemplated the complexity of communication and its inherent discrepancies.

And how if we are travelling
An inquiry into the effects and implications of relativistic motion, and what it means for the universe as a whole,

At almost the speed of light,
At speeds approaching that of light itself, which has transformative properties and implications for physics as a field,

And we're holding a light,
Experimentation conducted within various theoretical scenarios in order to test the rules and realities under which light operates,

That light would still travel away from us
A statement that even at high velocities it isn't possible to move at or beyond the speed of light, and some properties of light wouldn't change,

At the full speed of light?
The impact of light to maintain its speed even when an object approaches, it manifesting as mass rising and contracting as the speed of light overcomes gravity. Alternatively, a statement citing the acknowledgement of facts and asking the listener for validation.

Which seems right in a way,
Acknowledging the comprehension of scientific concepts, but disclaiming a full understanding or certainty about them,

But I'm trying to say... I'm not sure...
Attempting to articulate thoughts, but feeling uncertain or unclear about them,

But I'm wondering inside my head,
Revealing that thoughts and ideas are constantly churning and evolving within the singer's mind,

I'm not just a bit different from some of my friends...
Recognizing that one's personal experiences and perspectives may differ from those within one's inner circle,

These answers that come into my mind unbidden...
Noticing that ideas and solutions spontaneously present themselves in the artist's mind without warning or conscious effort,

These stories delivered to me fully written...
Some stories, real or imagined, that have been delivered in full to the artist, needing no elaboration or additional explanation,

And when everyone shouts - they seem to like shouting -
Noticing that others tend to raise their voices when speaking, and perhaps enjoying or being energized by loudness of speech,

The noise in my head is incredibly loud,
Becoming sensitive to audible stimuli and other sensory input, causing the singer to retreat into their own thoughts as a coping mechanism,

And I just wish they'd stop, my dad and my mum,
Desperately wanting to quiet or interrupt the external stimuli, namely the artist's parents in this instance, as they're finding it overwhelming,

And the telly and stories would stop just for once.
Craving a break or intermission from the barrage of external noise and stories conveyed through various media outlets,

I'm sorry - I'm not quite explaining it right,
Apologizing for the inadequacy of the artist's explanation or expression of their thoughts,

But this noise becomes anger, and the anger is light,
Expressing that the noise within the singer's mind eventually intensifies to a point of anger, which to them feels weightless and almost liberating,

And its burning inside me would usually fade,
The feelings of anger usually resolve on their own, but there's no guarantee that they will dissipate this time around,

But it isn't today, and the heat and the shouting,
Describing a current scenario where the intensity of emotion is persisting past its normal duration, likely in reference to the events leading up to the song itself,

And my heart is pounding, and my eyes are burning,
Physical manifestations of stress and anxiety, occurring when someone is experiencing high intensity emotions such as those being described,

And suddenly everything, everything is...
Suddenly, the intense buildup of emotion crescendos,

Quiet...
All noise and activity comes to a halt, replaced by silence in the artist's mind as their thoughts and emotions reach a tipping point,

Like silence, but not really silent...
Describing a quietness that isn't completely devoid of sound, but is instead focused on internal noise or background hum,

Just that still sort of quiet
Describing a sense of tranquility and calm that replaces the chaos that previously existed,

Like the sound of a page being turned in a book,
Comparing this stillness and peace to a moment of stillness in an everyday activity like reading, where the only sound is the turning of a page,

Or a pause in a walk in the woods.
Drawing on imagery of nature and the woods to create a serene atmosphere in the mind of the listener,

Quiet...
Repeating the description of the artist's newfound peace,

Like silence, but not really silent...
Repeating a previous line to emphasize the artist's state of mind,

Just that nice kind of quiet,
Not just silent, but pleasant and satisfying, a quiet that can offer respite from the overstimulation of life's noise,

Like the sound when you lie upside down in your bed.
Invoking a specific image of comfort, intimacy, and relaxation that has personal significance and meaning for the listener,

Just the sound of your heart in your head...
Expanding on the prior image, emphasizing the internal and peaceful nature of the singer's newfound stillness and calm,

And though the people around me,
Returning to the previously described situation and imagery of experiencing external noise and chaos despite the renewed internal calm,

Their mouths are still moving,
Acknowledging that others are still speaking, but their words have lost their impact in the face of the singer's newfound internal peace,

The words they are forming
The artist recognizes that words are still being spoken, but no longer engage with these words or experience the dissonance between internal and external noise,

Cannot reach me anymore.
Suggesting a sense of separation, a divide between self and the external world that is in place as a result of the stillness of mind just achieved,

And it is quiet...
Once again emphasizing the sense of peace and stillness that the singer has experienced,

And I am warm...
Describing a sensation of comfort, envelopment, and perhaps a sense of catharsis or release that accompanies the experience of internal peace and stillness,

Like I've sailed
Drawing on the metaphor of travelling or journeying, the artist is describing a sense of movement and progression that accompanies the internal state of being achieved,

Into the eye of the storm...
The artist likens the tranquility they feel to the phenomenon of the calm center of a storm, where there is no rushing wind or rain, but only stillness.