The Kelly Family is a European-American music group consisting of a multi-g… Read Full Bio ↴The Kelly Family is a European-American music group consisting of a multi-generational family, usually nine siblings who were joined occasionally on stage in their earlier years by their parents. They play a repertoire of rock, pop, and folk music, and sing in English, Spanish, German, and Basque. The group had chart and concert success around the world, predominantly in continental Europe - mainly in Germany, the Benelux countries, Scandinavia, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, and Portugal - and some in Ireland. They have sold over 20 million albums since the early 1980s and were ranked as the 6th most popular music act in Germany in the 1990s. Despite their American origins, the group is virtually unknown in the United States.

For many years, the group presented a ragamuffin image and a vagabonding lifestyle, travelling around Europe in a double-decker bus and houseboat. Their image was enhanced by their eclectic and often homemade clothing, and the very long hair worn by both male and female members of the band. The Kelly Family began to break up in 2000 and afterwards they performed mostly as individuals or sub-sets of the whole group and took on a more mainstream look.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kelly_Family

Discography
The Kelly Family Tours Europe (1977)
The Kelly Family (1979)
Lieder der Welt (1979)
Ein Vogel kann im Käfig nicht fliegen (1980)
Wonderful World (1981)
Une famille c'est une chanson (1984)
Keep on Singing... (1989)
New World (1990)
Honest Workers (1991)
Wow (1993)
Over the Hump (1994)
Almost Heaven (1996)
Growin' Up (1997)
From Their Hearts (1998)
La Patata (2002)
Homerun (2004)
We Got Love (2017)
25 Years Later (2019)

Strange World
The Kelly Family Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Flowers and lights are taking my feet of the ground
And I'm flying speeds completely unknown to man
No one can help me once I'm off to dreaming time
I've entered that world and I'm on my own
And I feel it all right

CHORUS:
It's a strange, strange world

That I live in
It's a strange, strange world
At night

Mama Mary, what you got cooking for me this time
I swear I saw the devil running across the room last night
Doctors an dioxine ain't gonna medicate me, no
Darling in your arms I'll be fine with a cup of tea

CHORUS

Well I, I'm a parnanoia schizophrenic being
What about the monkey talking nonsense on TV

CHORUS

Overall Meaning

The Kelly Family's song "Strange World" describes an otherworldly experience where the singer feels like they are walking on air amongst the flowers and lights. They are flying at a speed that human beings cannot imagine, and once they enter that world, they feel completely alone. The chorus emphasizes that the world they live in is a strange one, especially at night. The second verse speaks of a conversation with Mama Mary, where the singer mentions seeing the devil run across the room the night before. They feel that no medicine can cure them, but all they need is a cup of tea in their lover's arms to feel better. In the final line, the singer wonders about the monkey who speaks nonsense on TV.

The lyrics of "Strange World" may be interpreted as a metaphor for escapism. The singer may be trying to escape from reality, where they feel they do not belong. They seek solace in an unworldly place created by their imagination. The use of flowers, lights, and flying may represent the freedom that the singer longs for in real life. The appearance of the devil may be interpreted as a metaphor for the singer's inner demons, which they cannot escape no matter how hard they try. However, the presence of Mama Mary and their lover gives them a sense of security and ease.

Line by Line Meaning

Flowers and lights are taking my feet off the ground
The atmosphere around me is so enchanting that it has elevated me off the ground

And I'm flying speeds completely unknown to man
I'm experiencing a sensation of flying through this atmosphere, which cannot be explained by any man

No one can help me once I'm off to dreaming time
I'm on my own once I'm in this dreamy state, and no one can help me snap out of it

I've entered that world and I'm on my own
Now that I'm in this dream world, I'm isolated from the real world and solely dependent on myself

And I feel it all right
Despite being alone in this dream world, I feel all right and comfortable

It's a strange, strange world
The dream world I find myself in is weird and unusual

That I live in
I'm practically living in this dream world while in it

At night
This strange world is especially apparent at night

Mama Mary, what you got cooking for me this time
I wonder what strange things this dream world will bring me next, almost like a meal from Mama Mary's kitchen

I swear I saw the devil running across the room last night
I had a scary moment in this dream world where I thought I saw the devil

Doctors and dioxine ain't gonna medicate me, no
Even if I were to seek medical help in the real world for these dream world experiences, it won't be easy to cure

Darling in your arms I'll be fine with a cup of tea
The comfort of a loved one and a simple cup of tea are enough to soothe me of these unsettling experiences

I, I'm a paranoia schizophrenic being
I realize I have issues with my mental health, which may be manifesting in these dream world experiences

What about the monkey talking nonsense on TV
Even the things I see and hear on TV seem absurd and unreal to me, adding to my confusion and paranoia

Contributed by Anthony F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS