Night Vision Binoculars
Passenger Lyrics


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I see you nearly every day
I see you, but you don't see me
I wish I had something clever to say
And I wish I had something better, I could be

And we touched hands by the coffee machine the other day
And I know you've forgotten already, but I'm gonna take that moment to the grave
To the grave

'Cause I just wanna walk you home
I just wanna walk you home

Oh yeah

And I see you nearly every night
I see you when you're down in your house
With my night vision binoculars
And I creep quiet as a mouse

Well I get jealous when I see you stroking his hair
But it's ok I tell myself 'cause I know it's only an affair
I know, yeah

'Cause I just wanna walk you home
I just wanna walk you home
Well I just need some time alone
I just need some time alone

I'm the boy who watches the phone
I'm the boy who eats lunch on his own
I'm the boy with the monotone
I'm the boy, still lives at home

I'm the boy with the ironed shirt
I'm the boy who watches you work
I know where you keep your skirts
I know where your secrets lurk

I'm the boy that's calling your house
I'm the boy that's freaking ya out
With my thermos flask of tea
Up there in your neighbour's tree

I'm the boy that's crossing borders
I'm the boy with social disorders
I'm the boy with restraining orders
And I'm the boy, yeah

'Cause I just wanna walk you home
I just wanna walk you home
Well I know that it's not right to creep
But I just wanna watch you sleep alone





I say, I just wanna walk you home
I just wanna walk you home

Overall Meaning

The song "Night Vision Binoculars" by Passenger is a story of unrequited love and obsession. The singer of the song sees the person he loves every day, but she doesn't even notice him. He wishes he had something clever to say to impress her and regrets not being someone better. The only time of the day he gets close to her is when they touch hands by the coffee machine, and he cherishes that moment like a precious memory.


However, the singer's love for this woman is not without its darker side. He admits to watching her every night with his night vision binoculars, creeping around her house like a mouse. He acknowledges his jealousy when she strokes another man's hair but tells himself that it's only an affair. He has an unhealthy fixation on her, knowing where she keeps her secrets and lurking in her neighbor's tree with a thermos flask of tea.


Line by Line Meaning

I see you nearly every day
The singer observes the person they are interested in on a daily basis.


I see you, but you don't see me
The singer has not been noticed by the person they are interested in.


I wish I had something clever to say
The singer wants to impress the person they are interested in with their words.


And I wish I had something better, I could be
The artist wishes they were someone more interesting or appealing to the person they admire.


And we touched hands by the coffee machine the other day
The artist had a brief moment of physical contact with the person they like.


And I know you've forgotten already, but I'm gonna take that moment to the grave
The singer values the moment they had with the person they like and will remember it forever.


'Cause I just wanna walk you home
The singer desires to accompany the person they like home.


Oh yeah
An enthusiastic interjection, indicating strong emotion.


And I see you nearly every night
The artist continues to observe the person they like, even at night.


I see you when you're down in your house
The artist peeks into the person's house to watch them.


With my night vision binoculars
The singer uses specialized equipment to facilitate their spying.


And I creep quiet as a mouse
The artist is careful not to be detected while spying on the person they like.


Well I get jealous when I see you stroking his hair
The singer experiences jealousy when they witness the person they like interacting intimately with someone else.


But it's ok I tell myself 'cause I know it's only an affair
The singer tries to rationalize the other person's actions by assuming it is not a serious relationship.


'Cause I just wanna walk you home
The singer reiterates their desire to accompany the person they like home.


Well I just need some time alone
The artist acknowledges that their behavior is unhealthy and may require some solitude to reflect.


I'm the boy who watches the phone
The artist is portrayed as a stalker or obsessive figure.


I'm the boy who eats lunch on his own
The singer is viewed as a lonely, isolated person.


I'm the boy with the monotone
The singer's voice or demeanor is portrayed as boring or uninteresting.


I'm the boy, still lives at home
The artist is depicted as someone who is not independent and may lack maturity.


I'm the boy with the ironed shirt
The artist wants to present themselves as well-groomed and put together for the person they like.


I'm the boy who watches you work
The artist continues to observe the person they like in a professional setting.


I know where you keep your skirts
The singer has secretly learned intimate details about the person they like, which is disturbing.


I know where your secrets lurk
The artist feels they possess knowledge about the person they like that is not widely known.


I'm the boy that's crossing borders
The singer is going beyond what is socially acceptable or legal in their behavior towards the person they like.


I'm the boy with social disorders
The singer is portrayed as having mental health issues that prevent them from interacting normally with others.


I'm the boy with restraining orders
The singer has a legal order in place that prohibits them from getting too close to the person they like.


And I'm the boy, yeah
The artist maintains their identity as a stalker or obsessive figure.


Well I know that it's not right to creep
The artist acknowledges that their behavior is inappropriate.


But I just wanna watch you sleep alone
Despite knowing that watching someone sleep is creepy, the singer desires to watch the person they like in their most vulnerable state.




Contributed by Charlie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@DensilGrant

I'm not sure if its weird that i like this song a lot,but this song just had me smiling the whole day...it seems like a cross between stalking and some form of "LOVE'........but i love it :)))))))))))))))))))))))))
And to all my friends on the other side of the globe..hope you having a wonderful day!!! :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) BIG SMILES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

***** 
Wykethia Berry 
Lena Kindo-Kamara 
Shannon Flynn 
andrea Harison 
Anna I. 
Shannon Flynn 
Michelle Gallagher 
GALLEY SLAVES 
Jaycee Williamson 
Jacob Dix 
Jason Maxwell 
***** 
Windy Ralph
 



All comments from YouTube:

@griffgoldstein428

Honestly one of Passenger's best songs. No idea why it never gets any airtime.

@maddestlad3868

Griff Goldstein probably because it's about stalking... Even though the radio plays songs about sex and gangs

@olgaaguirre5235

Griff Goldstein cadetes de linares

@robertvannostrand8673

Griff Goldstein probably because people misinterpret this as from the songwriter's point of view when he wrote it about someone else. perception sucks

@VortoMundus

@Maddest Lad That's the joke...

@kerchydaproductions6384

@Maddest Lad I think a big reason why it's not as popular as passenger is not as popular as a lot of the people on the radio and a lot of those other songs can be a little too deep for some people.

The reason why I say that is because they do play stalker songs on the radio but only if you're really really popular for example, Every Breath You Take by the band The Police. Also another thing the song is called night vision binoculars and it's kind of upfront about the stocking and sting was a little more subtle about his story of stocking

@gabbisis

The thing worth noticing about this amazing song is how incredibly creepy it is. Although it is, it brings this adorable feeling that is almost impossible to describe. This album is the best- From the amazing lyrics to added soundtracks, this is absolutely perfect.

@stephenpitman9612

I can't stop listening to this. I have to ccome back to it at least once a month, usually more often. So wonderful.

@NixAnadoo

It's been over ten years. I still come back frequently.

@haleyschwarz1254

This song is quite unique. It carries an uplifting tune but presents a rather depressing story. Its sad to see this character become so passionate and obsessed with another yet she is just out of his reach, held back by his social anxieties.

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