The Great Escape
Radiator Hospital Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was watching the news from the movie theater bar and daydreaming of you.
No I've never been good at paying attention, but I'm learning to.
With my eyes glued, I'm watching the tube, but I'm not listening.
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and find yourself wishing that he'd walk in the room, sweep you off your feet, kiss you on the cheek and tell you he loves you?
Don't we all wish that it were that easy… So I walked home from the movies, sat on the couch, and turned on the TV.
I've heard so many stories, all of them ended with you and me.
So I try to be cool, but darlin' this feeling's hard to explain.
I've heard so many stories, all of them ended with your name.
so you lay in your bed, watch Dawn Of The Dead, and dream of the end of days when he'd walk in the room and say "Come with me, I know the way." So Happy Birthday baby, you're so much older than you thought you would be.




Happy Birthday baby, you're so much older than we thought you would be.

Overall Meaning

The song "The Great Escape" by Radiator Hospital combines elements of love, daydreaming, and watching the news to create a desperate longing for a loved one. The first stanza sets up the scene of the singer watching the news from a movie theater bar while daydreaming of their loved one. The singer admits to not being good at paying attention, but is trying to learn. The lyrics suggest that the news in the background is not important to the singer, as their eyes are glued to the television, but they are not listening.


The second stanza reveals the singer's internal monologue as they wish for their lover to sweep them off their feet and tell them he loves them. The singer then walks home, sits on the couch, and turns on the TV. They have heard many stories that all ended with the singer and their lover together, but the feeling is hard to explain. The third stanza suggests that the singer's lover is not present and they are left alone to watch "Dawn of the Dead" and dream of the end of days. The final stanza uses the repetition of "Happy Birthday baby" to emphasize that time is passing and the singer and their lover are growing older, but perhaps not together like they had hoped.


Overall, "The Great Escape" by Radiator Hospital captures the desperation of loneliness and the longing for a loved one. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of daydreaming and wishing for someone who may not be there. The repetition and imagery make the feelings of the singer deeply palpable.


Line by Line Meaning

I was watching the news from the movie theater bar and daydreaming of you.
I was at the bar in the cinema watching the news but my mind was wandering, thinking about you.


No I've never been good at paying attention, but I'm learning to.
I'm usually not attentive but I'm trying to improve my focus.


With my eyes glued, I'm watching the tube, but I'm not listening.
Even though I'm watching TV closely, I'm not really paying attention to what's being said or shown.


Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and find yourself wishing that he'd walk in the room, sweep you off your feet, kiss you on the cheek and tell you he loves you?
Have you ever felt the desire to have someone special come into your room, lift you off your feet, give you a peck on the cheek and profess their love for you?


Don't we all wish that it were that easy… So I walked home from the movies, sat on the couch, and turned on the TV.
We all secretly wish it was that easy. So, after leaving the cinema, I went home, sat on my couch, and turned on the television.


I've heard so many stories, all of them ended with you and me.
I've listened to countless tales, all having an ending with you and me together.


So I try to be cool, but darlin' this feeling's hard to explain.
I attempt to seem calm, but sweetheart, it's challenging to describe this emotion.


I've heard so many stories, all of them ended with your name.
I've come across numerous anecdotes, all concluding with your name mentioned in them.


so you lay in your bed, watch Dawn Of The Dead, and dream of the end of days when he'd walk in the room and say 'Come with me, I know the way.'
You lie in your bed, watch a zombie movie, and envision a time when he would arrive and tell you to follow him as he knows the path.


So Happy Birthday baby, you're so much older than you thought you would be.
Therefore, Happy Birthday darling, you're older than you expected to be.


Happy Birthday baby, you're so much older than we thought you would be.
Happy Birthday beloved, you're older than what we anticipated for you to be.




Contributed by Makayla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions