In September 2011 Wilson declared on his Facebook-page that Index is one of the 20 songs he's most proud of.
Steven Wilson - vocals, keys, guitar, autoharp, programming
Pat Mastelotto - acoustic+electronic drums
London Session Orchestra (arranged by Steven Wilson, orchestrated by Dave Stewart) - strings
index
Steven Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never throw anything away that's mine
And I'd collect you too if I was given half a chance
And trap you under the glass and add my autograph
I catalogue, I preserve, and I index
And file you into my collectible Rolodex
I keep the rubbish what other people give away
Hoard
Collect
File
Index
Catalogue
Preserve
Amass
Index
I'm a collector and I've always been misunderstood
I like the things that people always seem to overlook
I gather up and catalog it in a book I wrote
There's so much now that I forget if I don't make a note
If I collected you and put you in a little cage
I could take you out and study you every day
It isn't easy being me, it's kind of lonely work
My obligation to collecting is my only thirst
The lyrics of Steven Wilson's song Index describe the mindset of a collector who is passionate about obtaining, preserving and organizing objects that may seem insignificant to others. The collector in the song openly admits to being misunderstood by society, but is not deterred from indulging in his obsession. He sees everything as a potential addition to his collection and would even add a person, and then trap them under glass, adding his autograph.
The collector takes pride in cataloging, preserving and indexing each item in his collection. He keeps the things that other people throw away and collects everything in a metal tray. The collector knows that his passion is consuming, and he explains that he has forgotten things that he hasn't noted down. The collector insinuates that he could even collect a person- adding to the metaphor that everything in life can be collected and kept. Though, this comes with negative consequences as the collector is accustomed to the difficulty and loneliness that often comes with being so passionate about collecting, to the extent of it being his “only thirst.”
The song has a dark undertone of obsession, where the collector is so consumed by his hobby that he cannot find fulfillment anywhere else. Despite Wilson's ambiguous lyrics, the song has gone on to be one of the highlights of his solo career, attracting critical acclaim and admiration from fans.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a collector, I collect anything I find
I am an acquirer, anything I lay my hands on, I add to my accumulation.
I never throw anything away that's mine
I hold on to anything that I own, I never discard any of my possessions.
And I'd collect you too if I was given half a chance
If the opportunity arises, I will include you in my collection.
And trap you under the glass and add my autograph
I will encase you in a cage and mark your capture with my signature.
I catalogue, I preserve, and I index
I keep records, sustain, and arrange my collection.
And file you into my collectible Rolodex
I will log you in my roster of potential possessions.
I keep the rubbish what other people give away
I retain what others discard as junk.
And keep all of the pieces in a metal tray
I store all of my fragments carefully, so that none of my items will go to waste.
I'm a collector and I've always been misunderstood
I am a collector, but others have misconstrued my personality due to my habits.
I like the things that people always seem to overlook
I have a fondness for the items that people tend to disregard.
I gather up and catalog it in a book I wrote
I collect and register everything in my collection using a volume that I wrote.
There's so much now that I forget if I don't make a note
The abundance of my holdings can cause me to forget their details, and so I must document them.
If I collected you and put you in a little cage
If I choose to add you to my list of possessions, you will be confined to a small enclosure.
I could take you out and study you every day
If you are among my collection, I will examine you on a daily basis.
It isn't easy being me, it's kind of lonely work
My lifestyle is not simple or social, and it has the potential to be lonely.
My obligation to collecting is my only thirst
My commitment to acquiring and keeping my belongings is my lone craving.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: STEVEN JOHN WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bat Rastard
I'm a collector, I collect anything I find
I never throw anything away that's mine
And I'd collect you too if I was given half a chance
And trap you under the glass and add my autograph
I catalogue, I preserve, and I index
And file you into my collectible Rolodex
I keep the rubbish what other people give away
And keep all of the pieces in a metal tray
Hoard
Collect
File
Index
Catalogue
Preserve
Amass
Index
I'm a collector and I've always been misunderstood
I like the things that people always seem to overlook
I gather up and catalog it in a book I wrote
There's so much now that I forget if I don't make a note
If I collected you and put you in a little cage
I could take you out and study you every day
It isn't easy being me, it's kind of lonely work
My obligation to collecting is my only thirst.
Jennifer Starnes - Pet portraits + Wildlife Art
Everyone has to have the experience of seeing this live
Rogerbassoon
+Jennfire
I did two days ago. Awesome..
Philip Hill
+Jennfire Last night. Amazing!
Dave Jones
+Rogerbassoon I saw it at Brighton Dome on the 25th, was incredible.
Merlijn Toby
Just saw it live two days ago. Awesome experience
Maura Navarrete Matus
+Jennfire it's just fucking amazing... speachless. I can't even describe it well.
Asloii_
This is the greatest song ever made by him
Along with all his others
GAMY
This song is a Masterpiece, is ¡extraordinary!.
Isaak Keidser Flygare
After seeing the live performance of this in Stockholm, my appreciation for this song has gone up massively
dzikiben4
+Isaak Keidser Flygare nah, live version of this song was just "meh".