After completing several East Coast tours, they released a split EP in 2006 with local Cairns band Sleeping in Trains. Their debut album The Recordings of the Middle East was released on 24th April 2008, shortly before the band announced their first split. They reconvened eight months later, and in the autumn of 2009 released their album in the United States as an abridged EP, also called The Recordings of the Middle East.
Their song "Blood" is featured in the films Accidents Happen, It's Kind of a Funny Story. and Crazy, Stupid, Love, as well as in an episode of the Australian television comedy-drama series Offspring and an advertisement for European bank BNP Paribas.
At the start of their appearance at 2011's Splendour in the Grass music festival, the band announced that their set that night would be their last show ever, thanking fans in attendance for making their finale special for the band.
Lonely
The Middle East Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And restless hands
Longing hearts
And lonely beds
But we purchase stuff
And work too hard
Use our heads
And fill our beds
What've we done
What've we done
And we're left with wretched hearts
And mangled minds
Concrete feet
And beggars lies
But we live our lives
On broken earth
We need repair our eyes ?
To kiss the dirt
What've we done
What've we done
But what do you do when you're out of touch, what do you do?
And how do you live with a conscience so caught up, how do you live?
Oh what do you do when you're out of touch, what do you do?
And how do you live with a conscience so caught up, how do you live?
Oh what do you do when you're out of touch, what do you do?
And how do you live with a conscience so caught up?
So caught up
So caught up
So caught up
So caught up
So caught up
So caught up
So caught up
The song "Lonely" by The Middle East is a poignant reflection on the meaninglessness of modern life. The lyrics suggest that despite our material wealth and the many distractions that fill our days, we are ultimately left feeling empty and alone. The first stanza highlights the contrast between our physical bodies and our spiritual selves. We have material minds but longing hearts, restless hands but lonely beds. We work too hard and fill our lives with stuff, but what have we really achieved?
The second stanza continues this theme, exploring the consequences of our emptiness. We are left with "wretched hearts and mangled minds", burdened by "concrete feet and beggars lies". Yet even amidst this suffering, we continue to live our lives on "broken earth". The final line is a call to action, an exhortation to repair our eyes and connect with the beauty of the natural world.
The chorus reflects on the difficulty of this task. When we are disconnected from our true selves, how can we find our way back? How can we reconcile our conscience with the demands of modern life? The repetition of the phrase "So caught up" emphasizes the sense of being trapped in a cycle of meaninglessness.
Overall, "Lonely" is a powerful reminder of the importance of staying connected to our inner selves and the natural world. It encourages us to question the way we live our lives and to seek out meaning and purpose beyond material possessions.
Line by Line Meaning
We have material minds
Our thoughts and actions revolve around the acquisition of material possessions.
And restless hands
We are constantly working and striving to acquire more.
Longing hearts
We have a deep desire for something more fulfilling in life.
And lonely beds
Despite our material comforts, we still feel a deep sense of loneliness and emptiness.
But we purchase stuff
We try to fill the void in our lives with material goods.
And work too hard
We tirelessly work to acquire more, even at the cost of our well-being.
Use our heads
We think logically and practically in order to achieve success.
And fill our beds
We seek comfort in material possessions and sexual encounters.
And we're left with wretched hearts
Our pursuit of material success has left us feeling unhappy and unfulfilled.
And mangled minds
Our thoughts and emotions are in disarray, due to our relentless pursuit of success.
Concrete feet
We feel trapped and burdened by our material possessions and responsibilities.
And beggars lies
We resort to lying and deceiving to maintain our image of success.
But we live our lives
Despite our struggles, we continue to push forward and try to find meaning in our lives.
On broken earth
We are living in a world that is broken, both physically and spiritually.
We need repair our eyes
We need to change our perspective and see the world in a different light.
To kiss the dirt
To embrace the earth and find beauty and meaning in the natural world.
But what do you do when you're out of touch, what do you do?
When we feel disconnected from the world, we struggle to find our place and purpose.
And how do you live with a conscience so caught up, how do you live?
When our focus is solely on material success, we may struggle with feelings of guilt and shame.
So caught up
We are too fixated on material success and have lost sight of what truly matters in life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
luis lopez
We have material minds
And restless hands
Longing hearts
And lonely beds
But we purchase stuff
And work too hard
Use our heads
And fill our beds
What’ve we done
What’ve we done
And we’re left with wretched hearts
And mangled minds
Concrete feet
And beggars lies
But we live our lives
On broken earth
We need repair our eyes [?]
To kiss the dirt
What’ve we done
What’ve we done
But what do you do when you’re out of touch, what do you do?
And how do you live with a conscience so caught up, how do you live?
Oh what do you do when you’re out of touch, what do you do?
And how do you live with a conscience so caught up, how do you live?
Oh what do you do when you’re out of touch, what do you do?
And how do you live with a conscience so caught up?
So caught up
So caught up
So caught up
dustmouse
This song perfectly captures the feeling I had one time when I was a kid and I had to strangle my brother with a SNES controller wire. You see, Star Fox was supposed to be my game that I was good at and Mario Kart was his game he was good at. And this time he made it further in Star Fox than I ever had.
Urijah Ballesteros
holy shit 😳 is he still alive?!
Chad Andriowski
One of my favourite songs! So dynamic - starts out as a whisper and ends with an intense scream. They have encapsulated the process of an deeply felt emotion rising to the surface. This song is very dear to my heart. Wish this band were still together. Hope the members are still making music somewhere in Australia.
djazr
This is so cool listening to this on new years!!!!!! This is a very cerebral song but because I am high it is literally affecting my physical being and I find it quite beautiful. I am so glad I discovered this song
just a random lad
@Panda Fitness that would be even worse, it's called serotonin-hole
Panda Fitness
@LammaNerd
Hmm what if his brain cannot produce enough serotonin, so drugs is what he needs to be normal and experience euphoria ;)
ChanelPleaseStopmakingmusic
@LammaNerd Implying life isn't fun without drugs
ChanelPleaseStopmakingmusic
I love this comment sir
djazr
Nope, I was still quite high to be honest
Galitan
I think that's one of the best things about this song (and a lot of their other music). When you listen to it, you know that all the other listeners are feeling the exact same way you do. It's like it's easier to understand other people based on what they listen to. Everyone here listening to this song now is connected in a peaceful and nostalgic state of mind.