Small Talk For Strangers
Pentimento Lyrics

The lyrics of Small Talk for Strangers are open to interpretation, but it seems to be a reflection on the alienation and distance that can exist between people, even those who are supposed to know each other intimately. The first line, "It's a long way from lonely to home" suggests that the journey from feeling alone to being in a comfortable, familiar place isn't always a straightforward one. The "miles and miles of silence" could refer to physical distance or emotional disconnect between two people, or both. Despite the fact that they are together, there is still a sense of loneliness - "Just as together as we were alone."

The chorus, "We made small talk just like strangers do" emphasizes this feeling of distance and disconnection. It seems that the two people, perhaps a couple or old friends, are unable or unwilling to communicate in a meaningful way - perhaps they've "run out of things to say" as the saying goes. The lines "The longer I stay, the less of me there is" might suggest that the singer is feeling isolated and disconnected from themselves as well as from the other person. The final line, "There's always going to be something that feels like it's missing" leaves a sense of unease and dissatisfaction, suggesting that these two people may never fully connect with each other.