Brockwell Park
Red House Painters Lyrics
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And you want me to tell
In London's lonesome park
Brockwell
Out here, I am distracted
As fire bombs explode
Bonfire lamps glow
If the days weren't so precious
And no worlds where shorted wires had kept us
Things would be better than this
There's an angel by the ocean, I miss
And trips on the train
Before our lives changed
The mirror I watched
Your naked body strain
The lyrics to Red House Painters’ song Brockwell Park describe a night spent in a park during winter in London. The opening line “In the night we freeze” sets a somber tone for the song, conveying feelings of isolation and detachment. The singer is asked to reveal something, but it is unclear what exactly. The use of the word “want” suggests that the request may not be sincere, and could be a way of avoiding conversation.
As the song progresses, the singer describes the sights around him, such as fire bombs exploding and the glow of bonfire lamps. He is “distracted” by these elements, perhaps as a way of avoiding the initial request for conversation. The line “If the days weren't so precious” implies a sense of urgency, or perhaps a deadline to achieve something, but it is not clear what. The following line “And no worlds where shorted wires had kept us” suggests frustration caused by outside factors that are out of the control of the singer.
The final lines speak of a lost love, someone who the singer misses. They recall “trips on the train” and a memory of watching their lover in the mirror. The use of the phrase “naked body strain” is poignant, as if to suggest that even the physical form of the person is being missed.
Overall, the lyrics to Brockwell Park express feelings of loneliness, distraction, and longing, set against the backdrop of a cold and unwelcoming landscape.
Line by Line Meaning
In the night we freeze
The coldness of our surroundings is a reminder of our emotional distance
And you want me to tell
You're asking me to express my emotions, but it's difficult for me to do so
In London's lonesome park
Brockwell Park is a metaphor for our loneliness and feelings of isolation in the city
Out here, I am distracted
Being outside helps me avoid confronting our relationship problems
As fire bombs explode
The conflict and violence in our surroundings reflect the turmoil in our relationship
Bonfire lamps glow
The seemingly bright moments in our relationship are fleeting and temporary
To the crowded road
The busyness of the city makes it difficult for us to connect with each other
If the days weren't so precious
If time wasn't so limited, we might have been able to fix our relationship problems
And no worlds where shorted wires had kept us
If we hadn't been held back by our emotional barriers, things might have turned out differently
Things would be better than this
Our current situation is far from ideal and we both know it
There's an angel by the ocean, I miss
There was a time when we were happier and we long for those days again
And trips on the train
The simplicity and comfort of our past travels represent a time when our relationship was more stable
Before our lives changed
We've both gone through significant life changes that have contributed to our relationship problems
The mirror I watched
The reflection of your body represents the physical beauty that first attracted me to you
Your naked body strain
The strain in our relationship is reflected in the tension of your physicality
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Mark Edward Kozelek
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thijs Keulen
absolutely brilliant and beautiful. it's dawn here after a rainy summer day and this sounds exactly right for this moment.
CaterpillarsTV
Trips on the train before our lives changed... -That part of the song always hits me so hard
Lau Ste
S A M E
Shea Mitchell
same
Tim O
absolutely one of my favourite songs ever...Kozelek is truly a genius when it comes to songwriting...love this
caldillo_de_congrio
One of the best RHP tunes, no contest. Walked through Brockwell Park last August, and wondered what was going through Mark's head when he penned this incredible, almost intolerably wisftul tune.
turntablecafe
One of the most romantic songs written.. of several.. by Mark Kozelek. ❤️
Temple Of The Martyrs
one of my favourite bands, hands down
777hexed448
Thanks for posting this. One of my all time favorite songs.
Leon at Leisure
When Koz first went for the fingerpicking guitar sound and when he did it best. Majestic