Time Above the Earth
The Kooks Lyrics
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Thinking about life and each man's worth
How can one person be worth more
Than a thousand people knocking on his door?
Still, the motion of your hair
Well, that could take me anywhere
Guess you're happier than I
Please don't say goodbye
Then I get off the plane
A thousand thoughts reaching through my brain
Like, Am I here beneath you, at all
Will I see her again?
If I do, will I feel the same?
And am I really here, at all
The Kooks's song Time Above the Earth captures the introspective thoughts of a person who spends a considerable amount of time contemplating human existence and individual worth. The opening lines of 'I spend so much time above the earth, thinking about life and each man's worth,' express a need to comprehend the essence of life, human values, and how one person could be more important than multiple others knocking on his door. The singer ponders these thoughts while 'above the earth,' which could signify a transcendental experience, an out of body experience or a literal flight that provides sufficient space to contemplate.
The song oscillates between the singer's ruminations on life, and a person he is leaving, whose motions entice him to stay. While he is aloft, he notes that the motions of his partner's hair have the power to 'take me anywhere,' indicating a sense of freedom and joy that they bring, which is in direct contrast to his existential questionings. He worries about how he will feel if he sees her again, whether things would be the same, and whether his presence is even real. Thus, the song is a dabbling in both humanist and personal themes, working on two levels, showing us both the singer's internal struggles and his external relationships with the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I spend so much time above the earth,
The persona spends a lot of time contemplating life from a distance.
Thinking about life and each man's worth
The persona thinks about the values and worth of human beings.
How can one person be worth more
The persona wonders how an individual can be more valuable than a large group of people.
Than a thousand people knocking on his door?
The persona questions why one person would have more worth than a multitude of people trying to reach them.
Still, the motion of your hair
Despite these thoughts, the persona is enamored with the subject's hair.
Well, that could take me anywhere
The beauty of the subject's hair has the power to transport the persona's thoughts elsewhere.
Guess you're happier than I
The persona assumes that the subject is happier than they are.
Please don't say goodbye
Despite this assumption, the persona pleads with the subject to not leave.
Then I get off the plane
The persona leaves their vantage point in the sky to embark on a new journey.
A thousand thoughts reaching through my brain
Many thoughts flood the persona's mind as they arrive at their destination.
Like, Am I here beneath you, at all
The persona questions whether they are even close to being on the same level as the subject.
Will I see her again?
The persona wonders if they will have the opportunity to see the subject again.
If I do, will I feel the same?
The persona questions if they will still feel the same way about the subject.
And am I really here, at all
The persona questions their own existence in relation to the subject and their surroundings.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: TONY HOFFER, HUGH W HARRIS, LUKE PRITCHARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind