Telescope
The Amsterdams Lyrics


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I might be a fool but I know you're troubled
I might be alone, alone you're gone
Away from us, you tell me that
Away from us, we both need it

A stair to the stars, hope we all can make it
Bring me the milk and I will show you
The way for us, you tell me that
You came from Mars, where love was never ever found

A hole in our heart, is it all we're left with
Our splendorous start, so poorly ended




A hole in our heart, with nothing to fill now
Returning to space, what a small step this was

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of The Amsterdams’s song, “Telescope,” express the singer’s uncertainty about their role in someone else’s life. While the singer is aware of the other person’s struggles, they still feel alone and disconnected from them. The sense of isolation is compounded by the fact that the other person has distanced themselves physically (“away from us”) and emotionally (“we both need it”). Nevertheless, the singer holds out hope for a better future, symbolized by the “stair to the stars.” The image of ascending toward the heavens represents the possibility of transcendence and transformation, a journey that the singer hopes they can undertake together.


Continuing with the cosmic imagery, the lyrics mention “Mars,” the planet of war and mythology that has long fascinated humans. The phrase “you came from Mars” implies that the other person is otherworldly or unattainable, someone whose love “was never ever found.” This sense of longing and unfulfilled desire is heightened by the refrain: “A hole in our heart, is it all we're left with?” The repetition of this phrase suggests a sense of hopelessness and existential despair. Yet, even as the singer faces the bleak prospect of an empty heart, they remain philosophical and hopeful, viewing their experience as “a small step” on a larger journey.


Line by Line Meaning

I might be a fool but I know you're troubled
Even though it may seem foolish to believe, I can tell that you're struggling.


I might be alone, alone you're gone
When I'm by myself, it feels like you're no longer there.


Away from us, you tell me that
You've expressed to me that you need to be away from everyone else.


Away from us, we both need it
It's clear that we both require some distance from everyone else.


A stair to the stars, hope we all can make it
We're hoping that we can all rise to great heights someday.


Bring me the milk and I will show you
When you provide me with the necessary resources, I can demonstrate the way forward.


The way for us, you tell me that
You've claimed to have discovered the path forward for us.


You came from Mars, where love was never ever found
You've experienced a place where love was nonexistent - as if you're from another planet.


A hole in our heart, is it all we're left with
We're afraid that we're only left with an emptiness in our hearts.


Our splendorous start, so poorly ended
Our beginning was beautiful, but things fell apart in a disappointing way.


A hole in our heart, with nothing to fill now
Now that we're left with emptiness, there isn't anything to replace what we've lost.


Returning to space, what a small step this was
As we're moving on and overcoming our challenges, it feels as if our previous problems were insignificant in the grand scheme of things.




Contributed by Lincoln P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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