Not Exactly
The Rainbirds Lyrics

I am sad alright
The singer is feeling sadness.

But what a waste of time
The singer feels that investing their time in someone was not worth it.

I held you much too close
The singer was emotionally attached to someone.

And now there's something missing
The singer feels an emptiness within them.

But I can't see the empty space
The singer is unable to identify the source of their emptiness.

Something else has taken place
There has been a change in the singer's life that is contributing to their sadness.

But what a waste of tears
The singer feels that they have wasted their tears on someone who was not worth it.

And now there's someone missing
The person the singer was emotionally attached to is now gone.

She is gone without a trace
The person has left without leaving any indication of where they went.

Just the expression on her face: What a waste
The person likely left with a feeling of regret or disappointment.

There's a flame and a fire and a body burning up
This could be a metaphor for a passionate relationship or the singer's intense emotions.

And a bird on a shape made of steel ohoh
This line is ambiguous but could be interpreted as a metaphor for freedom or being trapped.

He keeps on singing
The bird keeps singing despite any barriers it may face.

It's not exactly what you think
The singer wants to challenge the listeners' assumptions or expectations.

Not exactly what you see
The singer is suggesting that there is more to the situation than meets the eye.

Not exactly what you've learned
The singer is pushing back against conventional wisdom or societal norms.

And what you will be learning
The singer believes that there is more that people can learn from their experiences.

But what a waste of breath
The singer feels that they are speaking to no one and their words are going unheard.

I'm only talking to relieve
The singer is speaking as a form of catharsis or to process their emotions.

Although there's no one listening
The singer feels like they are alone and unheard.

He is gone without a trace
A person the singer was attached to has left without any clear indication of their whereabouts.

Just the expression on his face: Who's to blame?
The person who left likely did so because of some issue or conflict, and the singer is questioning who is at fault.

There's a flame and a fire and a body burning up
This line could again represent intense passion or emotion.

And a bird on a shape made of steel, ohoh
This line reinforces the theme of freedom or being trapped, as well as the idea that one can still find joy despite constraints.

He keeps on singing
The bird is persisting despite any challenges it may face.