The Terror
The Flaming Lips Lyrics


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However long they love you
We are all standing alone
The terror's in our heads
They don't control the controls

I turn to face the sun
We are still standing alone
At last we'll stand by the terror
It helps us take the controls

We'll save the last sunshine
The way I long to go
We'll save the love, you'll still love
We're searching through the dark

We'll save the last sunshine
The way I long to go
We'll save the love, you'll still love
We're searching through the dark

We've all tried to come through




We've always tried to come through
We all stretched to come to this

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Flaming Lips's song The Terror explore themes of loneliness, fear, control, and hope. The repetition of the phrase "we are all standing alone" emphasizes a sense of isolation and separation from others, while the mention of "the terror" in our heads suggests a constant battle within ourselves. Despite this, the singer turns to face the sun, symbolizing a search for hope and light in the darkness.


The lines "we'll save the last sunshine" and "we're searching through the dark" express a desire to hold onto something good and meaningful in a world filled with uncertainty and fear. The idea of "taking control" suggests a need to assert agency and power over one's own thoughts and emotions, rather than letting them control us.


Overall, the song is a meditation on the human experience of navigating the often-dark terrain of the mind and seeking out sources of comfort and hope in an unpredictable world.


Line by Line Meaning

However long they love you
No matter how long you are loved, you will still feel alone and fearful.


We are all standing alone
Despite being surrounded by others, we are all ultimately alone with our own thoughts and emotions.


The terror's in our heads
Our fears and anxieties are not external forces, but internal ones that come from our own minds.


They don't control the controls
Although our fears may seem overwhelming, we still have control over our thoughts and actions.


I turn to face the sun
In the face of fear, we must look towards positivity and hope for a better future.


We are still standing alone
Despite our attempts to combat fear and loneliness, we are still ultimately alone in our struggles.


At last we'll stand by the terror
Instead of fighting against fear, we must learn to coexist with it and accept its presence in our lives.


It helps us take the controls
By accepting fear, we gain greater control over our own emotions and actions.


We'll save the last sunshine
In the midst of darkness, we will hold onto the last bit of hope and positivity.


The way I long to go
We all yearn for a better future, free from fear and anxiety.


We'll save the love, you'll still love
Even in the face of fear, we will hold onto love and all that it represents.


We're searching through the dark
Even when we feel lost and alone, we keep searching for a better way forward.


We've all tried to come through
Despite the difficulties we face, we have all tried to overcome our fears and challenges.


We've always tried to come through
Throughout our lives, we have continuously attempted to overcome our struggles and fears.


We all stretched to come to this
Everything we have experienced has led us to this moment, and we have all had to stretch ourselves to get here.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEVEN DROZD, WAYNE COYNE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Kitschensyngk

The terror is living in a world without love.
A world where love is something to suspect, to control, to fear.
A world where the sun shines on good and evil alike.
A world of lust, greed, violence, and betrayal, regardless of which life must go on.
It is a terror that resides within all of us.

Given what’s been happening these past few years, this album turned out to be eerily prophetic.

Weirdly, of all the Flaming Lips albums I have, this one is my favorite.



All comments from YouTube:

Stephen Soderlind

I listened to this album on a recent journey from earth to Mars. It really made for a pleasant voyage.

Behrooz Shahdaftar

Ladies and Gentlemen, We're Floating in Space.

James Buckmaster

Wonderful. Gives me "Beyond the black rainbow" vibes.

Behrooz Shahdaftar

I'm beginning to become truly fascinated by Flaming Lips.

jerrycrow66

This album fixed me to the Flaming Lips! So unconventional and so much of what
The rest of their stuff was about! :-)

asdf qwert

I needed to listen to this album three times to really appreciate it, but then it became for me a masterpiece.

Kitschensyngk

The terror is living in a world without love.
A world where love is something to suspect, to control, to fear.
A world where the sun shines on good and evil alike.
A world of lust, greed, violence, and betrayal, regardless of which life must go on.
It is a terror that resides within all of us.

Given what’s been happening these past few years, this album turned out to be eerily prophetic.

Weirdly, of all the Flaming Lips albums I have, this one is my favorite.

Space Alien Jesus

This album is perfection..

S H

Oh cool! Can't wait to get home and listen ❤️

Michael Cory

Wild album, I love the cover art

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