Following 11.5 million hits on youtube and almost 80k likes on Facebook, Gartland independently released her first single in 2011 which reached top 10 iTunes placement in over 17 countries. Since then, 2 EPs have followed.
Human
Orla Gartland Lyrics
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I would break all the rules
I would sail away into the dark
Not a ghost of a chance
That I'd be coming back
Would I envy the sea
Keeping secrets beneath
There's a plan in the deep
Take the ground from our feet
I don't need DNA
For a radioactive display
Am I lost in the day?
A skeleton can't bruise
No blood for me to lose
Where is the life I knew
Wish that I could be human x2
I'm the face in the clock
Nothing comes as a shock
Inner workings are hidden away
Keep on serving my time
'Til the hour arrives
I don't need DNA
For a radioactive display
Am I lost in the day?
You always remind me
A skeleton can't bruise
No blood for me to lose
Where is the life I knew
Wish that I could be human
Starting to feel like a robot
Living without an identity
I wonder if ill have permission
I wonder if I am allowed to be
A skeleton can't bruise
No blood for me to lose
Where is the life I knew
A skeleton can't bruise
No blood for me to lose
Where is the life I knew
Wish that I could be human x4
Orla Gartland's song "Human" is a thought-provoking track about longing for the nature of humanity while being disconnected from it. The song features metaphoric lyrics, comparing the singer's own monotonous and robotic existence with the alluring, wild, and free life of the moon and sea. The opening lines, "Oh if I was the moon, I would break all the rules, I would sail away into the dark, Not a ghost of a chance, That I'd be coming back," implies that the moon is immune to mortal worries, it is not bound by any rules or regulations, it moves impulsively and freely in the dark. In contrast, the artist is experiencing the world as a mechanized and emotionless individual.
The song's verses talk about how the sea keeps secrets, and the moon and the sea act like a mystery, arousing the singer's curiosity. The pre-chorus contains lines like "I don't need DNA for a radioactive display," which suggests that today's world is built on science and technology while questioning the authenticity of people's real emotions. The chorus of the song features the repeated line "Wish that I could be human" as the artist yearns for a sense of emotional worth in a world dominated by logical thinking.
Overall, the song takes on a dystopian feel, reflecting the anxieties of people in modern times feeling more like machines than human beings.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh if I was the moon
If I had the freedom of the moon
I would break all the rules
I would live without restrictions
I would sail away into the dark
I would explore the unknown
Not a ghost of a chance
No possibility of returning
That I'd be coming back
To my old ways and former life
Would I envy the sea
Would I be jealous of the ocean
Keeping secrets beneath
Hiding mysteries and unknowns
No one likes to be caught unaware
No one wants to be surprised or unprepared
There's a plan in the deep
There's meaning and reason in the unknown
Take the ground from our feet
Challenge and push us out of our comfort zones
I don't need DNA
I don't need to conform or follow predetermined paths
For a radioactive display
To stand out and be unique
Am I lost in the day?
Do I lack direction and purpose in life?
A skeleton can't bruise
I don't feel or experience the normal pains of life
No blood for me to lose
I don't have a typical human experience
Where is the life I knew
Where is the life I always thought I would have
Wish that I could be human
I long to experience life as a human
I'm the face in the clock
I feel trapped and limited by time
Nothing comes as a shock
I am used to the monotony of life
Inner workings are hidden away
My true thoughts and feelings are concealed
Keep on serving my time
Continuing to live without direction or purpose
Til the hour arrives
Until my time is up
You always remind me
You keep me grounded and present in reality
Starting to feel like a robot
Feeling like I am living a programmed, unemotional life
Living without an identity
Feeling like I am lacking a sense of self
I wonder if ill have permission
I am uncertain if I will be allowed to live my true self
I wonder if I am allowed to be
I question whether I have the freedom to live authentically
Wish that I could be human
I long to experience life with all its intricacies and emotions
Writer(s): Daniel Goudie, Orla Gartland
Contributed by Sarah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.