The Witching Hour
Philip Selway Lyrics


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Take me, take me
Out into the night
Show me, show me
Wonders and delights

Faces round a fire
Lights across the sky
The witching hour
They're calling me now
I know who you are

Hold me, hold me
I am like a child
Waiting, waiting
Motionless and wired

For the night to pass
Whispers in the dark
The witching hour
They're calling me now
I know who you are
Who you are

And those I love
Will carry me home
Will carry me home

And those I love
Will carry me home
Will carry me home

And those I love
Will carry me home
Will carry me home

And those I love




Will carry me home
Will carry me home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Philip Selway's "The Witching Hour" speak of a deep longing to experience the mysteries of the night. The first stanza portrays the singer as someone who wants to be taken outside to experience the allure and wonder of the night. The second stanza reveals a vulnerability and a child-like quality, conveyed through the words "Hold me, hold me, I am like a child, waiting, waiting." The singer is motionless and wired, waiting for the night to pass, for the witching hour to arrive.


The phrase "the witching hour" refers to a time of night, which has traditionally been associated with magic and supernatural occurrences. The fact that the singer feels called to this hour suggests that he is open to the possibility of experiencing something beyond the everyday. The detached and mystical quality of the lyrics conveys a sense of mystery and intrigue, as if there is something just out of reach that the singer is longing to connect with.


Overall, "The Witching Hour" is a song about the desire to transcend the mundane and connect with something more profound. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and vulnerability, but also a willingness to leave behind the safety and security of the daytime world and explore what lies beyond.


Line by Line Meaning

Take me, take me
Asks someone or something to take the singer out of their current situation.


Out into the night
The singer wants to be taken out under the cover of darkness.


Show me, show me
The singer wants to be shown something they have never seen before, something wonderful.


Wonders and delights
The artist wants to be shown astonishing and beautiful things.


Faces round a fire
People sitting around a fire are a haunting memory for the artist.


Lights across the sky
The singer has seen lights or objects in the sky, that they cannot explain.


The witching hour
The singer's craving for the unexplained and the unknown only comes to their mind during the witching hour.


They're calling me now
The memories of the unexplained are calling the artist now.


I know who you are
The artist knows why they have these cravings and desires.


Hold me, hold me
The artist feels the need for someone to hold them, like a child.


I am like a child
The singer feels helpless and vulnerable, like a child.


Waiting, waiting
Patiently waiting for something that is yet to arrive.


Motionless and wired
Despite being still and calm on the surface, the singer is excited inside.


For the night to pass
The singer wants the night to pass quickly to see what's next.


Whispers in the dark
The singer hears voices whispering to them in the darkness, voice(s) speaking to them, voice(s) that are unknown.


And those I love
The artist knows who they love and who loves them back.


Will carry me home
The artist trusts those who they loves with the responsibility of taking them home.


Will carry me home
This repeated line emphasizes the trust and loyalty the singer has in their loved ones.


Will carry me home
Finally, the singer believes that their loved ones are their safe haven, their home.




Contributed by Camden L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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