When I'm With You
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

From here to there in minus time, a spirit casts a line to fish alternatives and Caesar lives. It's 1939. It's Fall. We eat pizzas by the pool...we watch the Christians sing then fall in quadro. 50 legal channels, this one sponsored by St.Paul. Are you playing me? (Where next ?) Year sub-zero here in Baghdad,s uper-heroes stalk the street. The bitter moon looks down and laughs while I lie smoking in the bath with you. Now spray these lips with superglue, I'm lying through my teeth - it's ocean blue in Casablanca, but it's burned out black beneath. Playing me... (where next?) It's All Souls Night. I'm frightened because I'm standing here alone. I watched the last bus fly to Brighton. Now life's empty but it's home. And I skip lightly through the garbage, call you on your mobile phone. The message says you've re-located. "Leave a message...here's the tone." Playing me? (Where next?)




Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Legendary Pink Dots' song When I'm With You is a surrealistic journey through different eras and places with a hint of skepticism and confusion. The first line of the song, "From here to there in minus time", suggests that the singer is experiencing a sort of time-travel or transcendence. The line "a spirit casts a line to fish alternatives and Caesar lives" seems to imply that the singer is searching for alternative realities and questioning the validity of the dominant historical narratives. The song jumps to 1939 and mentions eating pizza by a pool while watching "the Christians sing then fall in quadro", which could be interpreted as a comment on the fallibility of religion. The line "50 legal channels, this one sponsored by St.Paul" could be a reference to the power of media and how it is often sponsored by powerful institutions.


The song then moves to Baghdad where the singer refers to sub-zero weather and superheroes stalking the street, which could be interpreted as a commentary on the chaos and violence of war. As the singer lies smoking in the bath with someone, they talk about the color of the sea in Casablanca, which is "ocean blue", but underneath it is "burned out black". This could be seen as a metaphor for the duality of life, where things may seem beautiful on the surface, but may be dark and decaying underneath. The song ends with the singer feeling alone and afraid on All Souls Night, trying to call someone on their mobile phone but getting a voicemail message saying that they have relocated. The song leaves the listener with a sense of disorientation and uncertainty about what is real and what is not.


Line by Line Meaning

From here to there in minus time, a spirit casts a line to fish alternatives and Caesar lives.
The singer feels as though they are traveling through time and space, searching for any options or alternate realities. Despite this, they acknowledge the power of certain historical figures, such as Caesar.


It's 1939. It's Fall. We eat pizzas by the pool...we watch the Christians sing then fall in quadro.
The singer sets the scene for a specific time and place, where they are enjoying a simple pleasure such as pizza by a pool. They observe the behavior of others, noticing how easily some people can be swayed or fall for something.


50 legal channels, this one sponsored by St.Paul. Are you playing me? (Where next ?)
The singer notes the abundance of options available to them, but also questions if they are being manipulated or led in some way. They wonder where their journey will lead next.


Year sub-zero here in Baghdad,s uper-heroes stalk the street. The bitter moon looks down and laughs while I lie smoking in the bath with you.
The artist paints a bleak picture of their surroundings, where they feel cold and unsafe. They find comfort in sharing a moment with a loved one, despite the world's harshness. They also note the absurdity of the situation, with the moon seeming to mock them.


Now spray these lips with superglue, I'm lying through my teeth - it's ocean blue in Casablanca, but it's burned out black beneath. Playing me... (where next?)
The artist expresses a desire to deceive or hide their true emotions, potentially to protect themselves or others. They also acknowledge the contrast between beauty on the surface and darkness underneath. They continue to question where their journey will take them.


It's All Souls Night. I'm frightened because I'm standing here alone. I watched the last bus fly to Brighton. Now life's empty but it's home.
The singer sets the scene for a lonely, spooky night where they are scared to face the unknown. They feel like they have missed an opportunity or chance at something better. Despite this, they find a sense of comfort or belonging in their familiar surroundings.


And I skip lightly through the garbage, call you on your mobile phone. The message says you've re-located. "Leave a message...here's the tone." Playing me? (Where next?)
The singer seems to be navigating through unpleasant or undesirable parts of their life, but they reach out to someone they care about for support. They are disappointed to hear that this person has moved on without them. They continue to wonder where their journey will take them next.




Contributed by Landon O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions