It's believed that this song was written in response to the death of Steven's father in 2011.
Steven Wilson - vocals, piano, keys, guitar, bass
Nic France - drums
London Session Orchestra - strings
Synergy Vocals - choir
strings+choir arranged+orchestrated by Dave Stewart
Postcard
Steven Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But is there really any point at all?
Waking up this morning felt the same
Better sleep while life is so mundane
It could have been yesterday that I locked the door
I blocked the windows up so I can’t be sure
Now I haven’t even got the will to eat
I’d like to light a cigarette but I cannot
The lighter’s dead and the gas has been cut off
I’m the one you always seem to read about
The fire inside my eyes has long gone out
There’s nothing left for me to say or do
Cos all that matters disappeared when I lost you
The song "Postcard" by Steven Wilson is a melancholic song that deals with feelings of emptiness, loneliness, and despair. The opening line "I think it’s time that I got off the kitchen floor" suggests that the singer has hit rock bottom and is possibly in the midst of a breakdown. The singer questions the existence of hope as he contemplates whether there is any point at all in getting up. The line "Waking up this morning felt the same, better sleep while life is so mundane" implies that life is monotonous and it's almost a relief to sleep through it.
The second verse offers more clues to the singer's state of mind, and it's evident that he is deeply affected by a recent romantic breakup. He has barricaded himself inside his house and has lost interest in eating or performing other daily activities. The line "I’m the one you always seem to read about, the fire inside my eyes has long gone out" suggests that the singer has been written about in the press and he's lost his sense of self in the process. The final line "There’s nothing left for me to say or do, cos all that matters disappeared when I lost you" ties the song together, suggesting that the singer's inability to cope post-breakup has left him directionless and emotionally broken.
Overall the song is an examination of grief and despair, with the singer grappling with these emotions and struggling to find any sense of meaning or purpose. The song's somber tone and poignant lyrics make for a powerful and evocative piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
I think it’s time that I got off the kitchen floor
I need to pick myself up and stop feeling sorry for myself.
But is there really any point at all?
Is it worth the effort to try and get better?
Waking up this morning felt the same
Every day feels the same and there's no hope for change.
Better sleep while life is so mundane
It's better to sleep and not have to deal with the endless monotony of life.
It could have been yesterday that I locked the door
It's been so long since I've interacted with the world that I can't remember when I last locked the door.
I blocked the windows up so I can’t be sure
I've isolated myself so completely that I can't tell what time of day it is.
Now I haven’t even got the will to eat
I'm so depressed that I can't even summon the motivation to take care of my basic needs.
I’m lame and self-obsessed, that I will concede
I know that I'm not making any effort to improve my situation and that it's entirely my own fault.
I’d like to light a cigarette but I cannot
I can't even find the will to do something that should be simple and satisfying.
The lighter’s dead and the gas has been cut off
My environment is so inhospitable that I can't even light a cigarette if I wanted to.
I’m the one you always seem to read about
I'm famous for my talent or success, but nobody cares about my personal struggles.
The fire inside my eyes has long gone out
I used to have passion and motivation, but now I'm so burned out that I can't even muster enthusiasm for my own life.
There’s nothing left for me to say or do
I feel like I've exhausted all my options and there's no way to improve my situation.
Cos all that matters disappeared when I lost you
Everything that gave my life meaning or purpose is now gone, and I'm left with nothing but emptiness and despair.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: STEVEN JOHN WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind