Escape Artist
The Future Islands Lyrics
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We're wasting time, that's for the birds
I feel cheated somehow
I feel stifled down here
No one here understands me
I feel cheated somehow
It's not my fault
The sun comes down in the rain
You look cracked, with your mirror-broken face
I feel down, seeing you so low
(but it's getting late)
Baby i've got to go
I feel cheated somehow
I feel stifled down here
No one here understands me
I feel cheated somehow
It's not my fault
You get home, you're bleeding for a light
But now it's closed, the only door in sight
The lyrics to The Future Islands' song "Escape Artist" speak to the feeling of being trapped and misunderstood in a situation or place. The opening lines, "You look hurt, but it's not my fault / We're wasting time, that's for the birds" suggest a desire to escape a situation that is stagnant and unproductive. The song's narrator feels like they've been cheated and stifled, and no one around them truly understands the depth of their frustration.
As the song progresses, a sense of urgency builds. The line "Baby I've got to go" underscores the need to move on from this situation and seek something better. The final lines, "You get home, you're bleeding for a light / But now it's closed, the only door in sight" are perhaps the most poignant. They suggest that the opportunity for escape has passed - the one chance to find the light has been missed.
Overall, "Escape Artist" is a raw and emotional song that speaks to the universal human desire for freedom and understanding. It captures a feeling of being stuck and unable to move forward, and it acknowledges the pain that comes with watching opportunities slip away.
Line by Line Meaning
You look hurt, but it's not my fault
Although you seem upset, I am not responsible for your pain
We're wasting time, that's for the birds
Our current situation is unproductive and meaningless
I feel cheated somehow
I feel a sense of betrayal or injustice
I feel stifled down here
I feel trapped and confined
No one here understands me
I feel alone and unrelatable in this environment
It's not my fault
I am not to blame for the way things are
You look sad, waiting for the train
I see that you are unhappy as you wait for transportation
The sun comes down in the rain
Even in bad weather, there can be moments of brightness
You look cracked, with your mirror-broken face
Your face appears damaged or shattered
I feel down, seeing you so low
Your sadness brings me down emotionally
(but it's getting late)
Time is running out
Baby I've got to go
I must leave now
You get home, you're bleeding for a light
When you arrive home, you are desperate for some sort of guidance or hope
But now it's closed, the only door in sight
However, the only opportunity or solution in front of you has already passed
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: John Gerrit Welmers, Samuel Thompson Herring, William Hugh Cashion
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind