Extending the ideas of Japan's 'Tin Drum' and the quieter moments of the first two No-Man albums, ‘Flame’ blended Tim's lustrous voice with Richard's uniquely textured approach to synthesizer arrangements. It also featured guest performances by Danny Thompson, Michael Bearpark, Richard’s former Japan/Rain Tree crow bandmates (Steve Jansen, Mick Karn) and members of Porcupine Tree (Steven Wilson, Chris Maitland and Gavin Harrison). This is Tim and Richard’s sole collaboration to date.
Feel
Richard Barbieri & Tim Bowness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With this heat on my skin
It's hard to remember
With this fire in my head.
I don't know what it means
I don't know what it means
I only know what I feel.
I don't know what it means
I don't know what it means
It's hard to see clearly
With bright white from my sound.
Light is shining, in my eyes
Morning burns through, deepest night.
I don't know what it means
I don't know what it means
I only know what I feel.
You face me and I face you
I touch you and you touch me.
And I know how it is
I don't know what it means.
I try to surrender
I only know what I feel.
Surrender...
The lyrics of "Feel" by Richard Barbieri & Tim Bowness explore the idea of feeling something intensely without necessarily understanding what it means. The opening lines describe the physical sensations that can overwhelm a person: the heat on the skin and the fire in the head. The singer acknowledges that they don't know what these feelings represent or what they signify. The repetition of the line "I don't know what it means" confirms the singer's confusion and their desire for answers.
The second half of the song moves away from the physical experience and into the realm of emotion. The brightness of the light and the burning of the morning symbolize the intensity of the feelings and the way they can intrude upon one's consciousness. The singer is aware of the other person's presence and the mutual intimacy they share. However, despite this deep connection, the singer still admits that they don't fully understand the implications of their emotions. The final lines of the song emphasize this idea of letting go and surrendering to the intensity of what one feels.
Overall, "Feel" is a dreamy and meditative exploration of the complexity of emotion and the physical sensations that accompany it. The repetition of certain lines and the use of metaphorical language create a hypnotic effect that draws the listener into the singer's world.
Line by Line Meaning
It's hard to imagine
The situation is beyond comprehension
With this heat on my skin
Being physically present adds to the complexity
It's hard to remember
The memory is fading away
With this fire in my head.
The intensity of the current emotion makes it hard to reflect
I don't know what it means
The underlying message is uncertain
I only know what I feel.
The emotions are unambiguous
It's hard to see clearly
The situation is blurred and confusing
With bright white from my sound.
The artist's voice is overwhelming the clarity of the picture
Light is shining, in my eyes
The truth is being revealed but it is hard to see it
Morning burns through, deepest night.
The morning represents a new beginning, and it can be blinding after going through a difficult night
You face me and I face you
The interaction between two people is direct
I touch you and you touch me.
The physical connection makes the emotions more intense and real
And I know how it is
The singer has experienced similar emotions before
I try to surrender
The singer is trying to let go of control
I only know what I feel.
The emotions are intense and overpowering
Surrender...
Finalizing the internal conflict and letting go of control
Contributed by Isaiah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Edouard Macarez
Love this album
petr krejzek
Excellent!!! Everything will start on 1 minute... I don't know what it means.... This beautiful rhythm...... Total melancholic.. beautiful. masterpiece.. forever