Silent To The Dark
The Electric Soft Parade Lyrics


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Small talk on the radio
It seems I am going nowhere today

Small talk gets you nowhere choose
Between a curtain or a star
And I'm silent to the dark

'Cause when I needed someone to talk to
You were the only one around
Small cost, it pays to be alone

Small talk on the radio
It seems I am going nowhere today
(Not today)
Small talk gets you nowhere
I'm silent to the dark and tepid
Only when you ask

'Cause when I needed someone to talk to
You were the only one around
Small cost, it pays to be alone

When I needed someone to talk to
You were the only one around
Small cost, it pays to be alone

And you can do anything you want
Yeah you can anything you want
You can do anything you want
It doesn't matter
It doesn't matter

'Cause when I needed someone to talk to
You were the only one around
Small cost, it pays to be alone
When I needed someone to talk to
You were the only one around
Small cost, it pays to be alone

When I needed someone
To talk to
To talk to
To talk to

'Cause when I needed someone to talk to




You were the only one around
Small cost, it pays to be alone

Overall Meaning

The Electric Soft Parade's song Silent To The Dark is about the choice between being alone and dealing with the superficiality of small talk just to have someone to talk to. The opening lines state that small talk on the radio, which is a shallow and empty conversation, seems to be leading nowhere. The singer is faced with a decision between two options - a curtain or a star. The curtain may represent a safe, comfortable life without risks, while the star represents taking chances and pursuing one's dreams. The singer chooses to be silent to the dark, which could be interpreted as choosing to remain in the darkness of being alone rather than pretending to be interested in small talk.


The chorus emphasizes the idea of being alone with the line "small cost, it pays to be alone". This suggests that the cost of being alone is small compared to the cost of engaging in small talk just for the sake of companionship. The second half of the chorus highlights the importance of having someone to talk to in times of need, but in this case, the only person available was the one who was causing the need for solitude in the first place. The final lines of the song imply that no matter what choice is made, it does not matter because individuals have the freedom to do what they want.


Overall, Silent To The Dark is a song that speaks to the inner struggle faced by many people who are forced to make choices between loneliness and shallow relationships. It touches on themes of authenticity, vulnerability, and the search for genuine human connection.


Line by Line Meaning

Small talk on the radio
The meaningless chatter that fills the airwaves serves only as a reminder of my current stagnation


It seems I am going nowhere today
I feel stuck, with no forward momentum in my life


Small talk gets you nowhere choose
Engaging in shallow conversation won't lead to any real progress or fulfillment


Between a curtain or a star
I'm faced with a choice between a mundane, ordinary life (symbolized by a curtain) or taking a risk and pursuing my dreams (symbolized by a star)


And I'm silent to the dark
I'm going through this struggle alone, with no one to confide in, and it feels like I'm lost in the dark


'Cause when I needed someone to talk to
In times of distress, it's natural to want someone to share your burdens with


You were the only one around
But in this case, there's no one else available to provide that emotional support


Small cost, it pays to be alone
The price of going it alone can be high, but sometimes it's the better option than relying on others who may let you down


I'm silent to the dark and tepid
Feeling isolated and stagnant, but still refusing to engage in small talk just for the sake of social interaction


Only when you ask
I'll open up and share, but only if you're genuinely interested in listening and helping me through my problems


And you can do anything you want
Despite my current struggles, I still believe that anything is possible and that we have the power to create our own destinies


It doesn't matter
The challenges we face and the choices we make may seem insurmountable at times, but ultimately they pale in comparison to the vastness of the universe


When I needed someone
Emphasizing the importance of having a support system in place during difficult times


To talk to
Sometimes all we need is for someone to listen and provide comfort and encouragement




Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@SuperElectricsheep

Small talk on the radio
It seems I am going nowhere today
Small talk gets you nowhere choose
Between a curtain or a star
And I'm silent to the dark
'Cause when I needed someone to talk to
You were the only one around
Small cost, it pays to be alone
Small talk on the radio
It seems I am going nowhere today
(Not today)
Small talk gets you nowhere
I'm silent to the dark and tepid
Only when you ask
'Cause when I needed someone to talk to
You were the only one around
Small cost, it pays to be alone
When I needed someone to talk to
You were the only one around
Small cost, it pays to be alone
And you can do anything you want
Yeah you can anything you want
You can do anything you want
It doesn't matter
It doesn't matter
'Cause when I needed someone to talk to
You were the only one around
Small cost, it pays to be alone
When I needed someone to talk to
You were the only one around
Small cost, it pays to be alone
When I needed someone
To talk to
To talk to
To talk to
'Cause when I needed someone to talk to
You were the only one around
Small cost, it pays to be alone



All comments from YouTube:

@epiphany55

The vocal harmony in this is so gorgeous.

@troyo1992

I had this song played at my twin sister's funeral after she passed away back in 2002. The line "when I needed someone to talk to, you were the only one around" really resonated with me. Classic track.

@craigfjord

Hi. That's equal parts heartbreaking and glorious, as I believe she is by your side always. Thanks for sharing!

@TheIkaraCult

blimey mate, nothing but love to you

@davidjames4980

Sorry for your loss x😒

@blauzhu

Still a great song after all these years :)

@blueprintblue6781

Criminally underrated

@duncefunce1513

Rated

@StanFredo

Great song. Great album, which I'm now listening too.

@thepethihan

It has been my fav song since 2002.

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