Good Times
Sheik Lyrics
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Drifter, how about an explanation
Where you go, when you receive
And why you never let her feed
On all that truth you hold so dear
But never let another near
[Chorus]
My, don't we love
No one around
No, to the quiet gazes
No, to the muttered phrases
No, to the utter waste of
Time and good fortune
Taster of the poetry
Of Pater, Prousi, and Socrates
What are you to do but sleep
And when are you to stop and weep
For all your inability
To mate with your own memory
[Chorus]
No, to the mindless gazes
No, to the splintered phrases
No, to the utter waste of
Time and good fortune
Singer, will the singing say it?
Singer, would such saying change it?
A whole long life spent tuning strings
And will it now mean anything
But empty chords that only bring
An endless, voiceless sorrowing
[Chorus]
No, to the frightened gazes
No, to the stuttered phrases
No, to the utter waste of
Time and good fortune
Time and good fortune
The song "Good Times" by Sheik is a melancholic reflection on the fleeting nature of happiness, human connections and the search for meaning. The song begins with the singer addressing a "drifter", asking him about the nature of his conversations and the reason why he never allows others to access the truth he holds so dear, implying that the drifter is afraid to truly connect with others. The chorus repeats the phrase "No one around", emphasizing the sense of isolation and loneliness that pervades throughout the song.
The second verse continues the theme of disconnect with reality, describing the drifter as a "taster of poetry" who is unable to connect with his own memories or emotions. The chorus repeats once more, forcefully rejecting meaningless social interactions and time wasted on unfulfilling endeavors. The final verse shifts the focus to the singer himself, pondering the value of his own art and whether it can truly affect change or if it is merely an "empty chord" that resonates with no one.
Overall, "Good Times" is a poignant commentary on the human condition, reminding us that despite our attempts to create meaning and forge connections, we often find ourselves lost and alone in a world that feels meaningless and unforgiving.
Line by Line Meaning
Drifter, what about her conversation?
What about the words she spoke, drifter? Have you considered them?
Drifter, how about an explanation
Can you explain your actions, drifter?
Where you go, when you receive
Where do you go when you receive something?
And why you never let her feed
Why don't you allow her to nourish herself with the truth you know?
On all that truth you hold so dear
On the truth that you value so much
But never let another near
But you never allow another to come close
No one around
There is no one here
My, don't we love
Don't we just love this
No, to the quiet gazes
I refuse to accept silent gazes
No, to the muttered phrases
I refuse to accept murmured phrases
No, to the utter waste of
I refuse to accept the complete waste
Time and good fortune
of time and opportunity
Taster of the poetry
A person who savors poetry
Of Pater, Prousi, and Socrates
Poetry from famous authors such as Walter Pater, Marcel Proust and Socrates
What are you to do but sleep
What else can you do but sleep?
And when are you to stop and weep
When will you stop and cry?
For all your inability
Because of your incapability
To mate with your own memory
To reconcile with your own past
No, to the mindless gazes
I refuse to accept empty gazes
No, to the splintered phrases
I refuse to accept fragmented phrases
Singer, will the singing say it?
Singer, will you convey the message through your singing?
Singer, would such saying change it?
Does the act of conveying the message actually bring any change?
A whole long life spent tuning strings
A long life devoted to tuning musical instruments
And will it now mean anything
And now, will it really signify anything?
But empty chords that only bring
Nothing but hollow sounds that only evoke
An endless, voiceless sorrowing
A timeless, silent grief
No, to the frightened gazes
I refuse to accept fearful gazes
No, to the stuttered phrases
I refuse to accept stuttering phrases
Time and good fortune
Time and opportunity
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DUNCAN SHEIK, STEVEN SATER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind