Also known as the Cambridge Five, the original Red Dons were a group of respected Cambridge professors who were also spies. Little is known about these individuals, but it is suggested that during World War II they were responsible for passing information to the Soviets and disinformation to the Nazis. Despite having close ties to the Queen and the British government they eventually defected to the Soviet Union adding more intrigue and mystery to their story.
Terminal
Red Dons Lyrics
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Besides years what keeps us together
We play our parts but whom do we care for
We don’t touch we don’t even talk
And we never ever get anything that we want
Let me apologize
Nothing at all but the feeling of
Love has changed its so much different now
Different now
How long can this go on
Everyday I’m holding your telephone calls
In a mid-west town
I lay awake in the bed of a different girl
Thinking of you
Feeling no mistake
Had been made
Outside of hurting you
I hurt you
How long we’re terminal
Yesterday, I wrote you a letter
Explaining how we shouldn’t be together
But somehow it never got mailed
I run away
From the pain
Not like a man
But I know no better way
How long
When we’re terminal
The lyrics of Red Dons's song "Terminal" deal with the theme of love and relationships. The chorus questions how long a relationship can last when it seems unfamiliar and distant. The singer wonders what keeps them together besides the years they’ve been together. They seem to play their respective roles but question who they really care for, as they don’t talk or touch each other. They appear to no longer feel the love that was present before but are unable to separate from one another. The singer apologizes for not being able to commit to the relationship or find a way to make it work.
The first verse talks about the change in their relationship. The singer notes that nothing in their daily lives has changed, but the love that they once had has transformed into something different. The second verse talks about the guilt and shame that the singer is feeling for hurting their partner, while being physically intimate with someone else. The final verse reveals that the singer has written a letter to end the relationship but for an unknown reason, it was never sent. The song ends with a repetition of the question posed in the chorus, "how long when we're terminal."
Line by Line Meaning
How long can we hold on
Apart from longevity, what is the foundation of our bond?
We play our parts but whom do we care for
We perform as expected, but for whom do we have genuine concern?
We don’t touch we don’t even talk
We are distant, and our relationship lacks communication and physicality.
And we never ever get anything that we want
Our relationship is unfulfilling, and our desires are never met.
Let me apologize
I seek to express remorse for my actions.
That day to day not a lot has changed
Although time has passed, our relationship remains stagnant.
Nothing at all but the feeling of
The only difference lies in the expression of
Love has changed its so much different now
The love between us has changed and become vastly dissimilar to before.
How long can this go on
For how much longer can our relationship survive?
Everyday I’m holding your telephone calls
I cannot bear to answer your phone calls on a daily basis.
In a mid-west town
I find myself in a town in the central United States.
I lay awake in the bed of a different girl
I find myself sleepless in the bed of someone other than you.
Thinking of you
My thoughts persistently turn to you.
Feeling no mistake
I am certain that I regret my actions.
Had been made
A misstep or error was committed.
Outside of hurting you
Other than causing you pain,
I hurt you
I have caused you harm.
Yesterday, I wrote you a letter
On a previous day, I composed a message to you.
Explaining how we shouldn’t be together
Detailing my belief that our love should not continue.
But somehow it never got mailed
However, that message was not delivered to you.
I run away
I flee from my problems.
From the pain
I attempt to escape the emotional discomfort.
Not like a man
My behavior does not align with traditional masculine norms.
But I know no better way
But I am unaware of a more suitable approach.
How long
For how much longer
When we’re terminal
Can our relationship endure despite being doomed to fail?
Contributed by Miles Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.