The Mess We're In
PJ Harvey feat. Thom Yorke Lyrics
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The helicopters
I'm in New York
No need for words now
We sit in silence
You look me
In the eye directly
I think it's Wednesday
The evening
The mess we're in
And oh (the city sunset over me)
Oh (the city sunset over me)
Night and day
I dream of
Making love
To you now baby
Love making on screen
Impossible dream
And I have seen
The sunrise over the river
The freeway
Reminding of
This mess we're in
And oh (the city sunset over me)
Oh (the city sunset over me)
And oh (the city sunset over me)
Oh (the city sunset over me)
What were you wanting? (What was that you wanted?)
I just wanna say (I just wanna say)
(Don't ever change) Don't ever change now baby
(And thank you) And thank you
(I don't think we will meet again) I don't think we will meet again
(And you must leave now) and you must leave now (before the sun rises over the skyscrapers)
Before the sun rise (and the city landscape comes into view)
Over the skyscrapers (sweat on my skin, oh)
The city
This mess we're in
And oh (the city sunset over me)
Ohh (the city sunset over me)
Ohh (the city sunset over me)
Ohh (the city sunset over me)
The lyrics to PJ Harvey's "This Mess We're In" featuring Thom Yorke are hauntingly beautiful and seem to be about a fleeting love affair. The song opens with the sound of helicopters, and PJ Harvey singing, "Can you hear them?" which sets a dreary mood. Then Thom Yorke sings, "I'm in New York, no need for words now, we sit in silence." This line suggests that the two have found comfort in each other's company but don't need to fill the air with needless conversation.
Throughout the song, the couple talks about the "mess" they're in, possibly referring to the complicated nature of their relationship or the tumultuous times that they find themselves living in. They describe the city scenery at sunset or sunrise, suggesting that they are observing the beginning or end of their relationship. The line, "I dream of making love to you now baby, love making on screen, impossible dream" hints at a physical attraction, but seems to be unattainable.
The song ends with Thom Yorke telling PJ Harvey that she must leave before the sunrise over the skyscrapers. He acknowledges that they will not meet again and thanks her before she departs. The song leaves a sad and bittersweet feeling, capturing the essence of a fleeting love affair that is destined to end.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you hear them?
Do you hear the sound of the helicopters?
I'm in New York
I am currently in New York City.
No need for words now
We sit in silence
We don't have to speak to one another, we can just sit in silence.
You look me
In the eye directly
You are staring at me right in the eye.
You met me
I think it's Wednesday
The evening
We met on Wednesday in the evening.
The mess we're in
And oh (the city sunset over me)
Oh (the city sunset over me)
The chaotic situation we're in and the beautiful sunset over the city.
Night and day
I dream of
Making love
To you now baby
Love making on screen
I constantly fantasize about making love to you, even to the point of imagining it in a film.
Impossible dream
And I have seen
The sunrise over the river
The freeway
Reminding of
My dream seems impossible, and I have watched the sunrise over the river and freeway, reminding me of how far away my dream may be.
What were you wanting? (What was that you wanted?)
I just wanna say (I just wanna say)
(Don't ever change) Don't ever change now baby
(And thank you) And thank you
(I don't think we will meet again) I don't think we will meet again
What was it you wanted from me? I just want to say that you shouldn't change, and thank you. I don't believe we will see each other again.
(And you must leave now) and you must leave now (before the sun rises over the skyscrapers)
Before the sun rise (and the city landscape comes into view)
Over the skyscrapers (sweat on my skin, oh)
The city
You should go now, before the sun rises over the skyscrapers and the city comes into view. The heat is making me sweat.
This mess we're in
And oh (the city sunset over me)
Ohh (the city sunset over me)
Ohh (the city sunset over me)
Ohh (the city sunset over me)
The chaotic situation we're in and the beautiful sunset over the city
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.,
Written by: Polly Harvey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@raspberry481
Can you hear them?
The helicopters?
I'm in New York
No need for words now
We sit in silence
You look me
In the eye directly
You met me
I think it's Wednesday
The evening
The mess we're in and
The city sun sets over me
Night and day
I dream of
Making-love
To you now baby
Love-making
On-screen
Impossible dream
And I have seen
The sunrise
Over the river
The freeway
Reminding
Of this mess we're in and
The city sun sets over me
What were you wanting?
I just want to say
Don't ever change now baby
And thank you
I don't think we will meet again
And you must leave now
Before the sunrise
Above skyscrapers
The sin and
This mess we're in and
The city sun sets over me
@Daervar
I really don't know why people always neglect PJ's words at the end of this song while writing it's lyrics.
I mean, that's the proverbial cherry on top :)
Edited your last part and inserted PJ on parenthesis. Last verses are trickier, the verse starting doesn't always end before the next one is sang too, but you'll get the meaning.
What were you wanting?
(what was it you wanted?)
I just want to say
(I just wanna say)
(don't ever change)
Don't ever change now baby
(and thank you)
And thank you
(I don't think we will meet again)
I don't think we will meet again
(and you must leave now)
(before the sun rises over the skyscrapers)
And you must leave now
Before the sunrise
(and the city landscape comes into being)
Above skyscrapers
(the sweat on my skin... oh...)
The sin and
This mess we're in and oh...
(The city sun set over me)
@cevat6425
-Couple of years ago. A summer.
-I'm a student in a capital of a shit country. Im in summer school.
-There is only one thing on my mind : get weed
-My asshole dealer calls me and says i need to go to a neighboorhood that 3 kms away from me.
-Walking there every day near sunset because i smoke all of it no matter how much i buy.
-Walking through green streets, climbing long stairways etc.
-Listening to this song at least once along the way every day.
-Now i graduated and left the city.
-Realizing how great i was feeling during that walks.
-Hate the fact that days are never coming back and i will never be able to stop desperately dream of going back to that days every time i listen to this song.
@purplemoonlightthroughtheb3074
Can you hear them?
The helicopters?
I'm in New York
No need for words now
We sit in silence
You look me
In the eye directly
You met me
I think it's Wednesday
The evening
The mess we're in and
(Oh) The city sun sets over me
(Oh) The city sun sets over me
Night and day
I dream of making love
To you now, baby
Love-making
On-screen
Impossible dream
And I have seen
The sunrise
Over the river
The freeway
Reminding
Of this mess we're in and
(Oh) The city sun sets over me
(Oh) The city sun sets over me
The city sunset over me
The city sun sets over me
What were you wanting? (What was it you wanted?)
I just want to say (I just want to say)
Don't ever change now, baby (don't ever change)
And thank you (and thank you)
I don't think we will meet again (I don't think we will meet again)
You must leave now before the sun rises above the skyscrapers
(And you must leave now)
And the city landscape (before the sunrise)
Comes into view (above skyscrapers)
Sweat on my skin, and oh (the sin and)
This mess we're in
The city sun sets over me
(Oh) The city sunset over me
(Oh) The city sun sets over me
(Oh) The city sun sets over me
@ravenkoshi724
I’m literally addicted to Thom Yorkes voice
@dacioloursal9555
i like your profile picture
@ravenkoshi724
@@dacioloursal9555 Thank you :)
@MrKalomir
And PJ’s body and soul
@evelynguzman5825
who isn't? ...
@amoreenakinzie1838
you and me both
@9000ck
You know, this track really shows what a beautiful voice Thom Yorke has.
@er406
No Doubt
@justythrasher
All of his songs do. Even live
@speedyboi69420
True. I prefer if he sung properly like here instead of the mumble bullshit on his shitty band Radiohead.