Red Reflections
The Selecter Lyrics


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Stretched out on the sofa
Making witty conversation
Instant coffee in the cups
Then the milk went sour
Now honesty was all I wanted
Enough warmth to mix it right
Didn't want my loving on the rocks
But couldn't melt the ice

Then the door shut
And the mirror falls
My jagged image
Rests against the wall

And I see
Red reflections in the mirror of the night

The mirror shows all your secrets
Puts all your fears on view
It always plays its jokes
Only when you're looking at you

And if loneliness was a colour
It would be white
But all I see is red reflections
In the mirror of the night

The mirror shows all your secrets
Puts all your fears on view
The darkness lights your eyes
In the quiet I hear a thousand sighs

Then the door slams shut
And the mirror falls
My jagged image
Rests against the wall





And I see
Red reflections in the mirror of the night

Overall Meaning

The Selecter's song "Red Reflections" is a powerful and emotional depiction of feelings of loneliness, isolation, and emotional turmoil. The lyrics describe the singer sitting on their couch with their partner, trying to make conversation and failing due to a lack of honesty and warmth. The milk being sour serves as a metaphor for the relationship going bad. The singer reflects on the mirror, which shows the truth about themselves and their situation. The singer can see all their secrets and fears in the mirror, but it also shows "red reflections." This could refer to the pain they are feeling, or even the anger that they are trying to suppress.


The second stanza speaks more to the perception of the mirror as a symbol for reflection and vulnerability. The mirror is personified as something that always plays tricks on people, but only when they're looking at themselves. Loneliness is depicted as the color white, but for the singer, they can only see "red reflections" in the mirror of the night. The red reflections in the mirror could represent a lot of different things, from the anger and frustration that they're feeling to the pain and heartbreak of their situation.


In the end, the singer's jagged image is seen by themselves once the door slams, which could once again serve as a metaphor for a deteriorating relationship. The song hints at emotional intensity that is often evoked by personal turmoil that can be relatable to anyone.


Line by Line Meaning

Stretched out on the sofa
Lying comfortably on the sofa


Making witty conversation
Engaging in clever and amusing dialogue


Instant coffee in the cups
Drinking coffee made quickly


Then the milk went sour
But then the milk went bad


Now honesty was all I wanted
Seeking sincerity


Enough warmth to mix it right
Desiring the right amount of warmth to mix the coffee


Didn't want my loving on the rocks
Preferring a stable and consistent relationship


But couldn't melt the ice
But unable to break through the emotional distance


Then the door shut
And then the door closed


And the mirror falls
And the mirror shatters


My jagged image
My fragmented reflection


Rests against the wall
Lies still on the ground


And I see
And I observe


Red reflections in the mirror of the night
Red hues of light reflecting in the broken mirror at night


The mirror shows all your secrets
The mirror reveals all your private truths


Puts all your fears on view
Exposes all your anxieties


It always plays its jokes
It often tricks you


Only when you're looking at you
Only when you're observing your own reflection


And if loneliness was a colour
If isolation had a hue


It would be white
It would be colorless


But all I see is red reflections
But all I see is the red light reflected in the broken mirror


In the mirror of the night
In the mirror in the darkness


The darkness lights your eyes
The shadowy atmosphere illuminates your gaze


In the quiet I hear a thousand sighs
Amid the silence, I perceive innumerable exhales


Then the door slams shut
Then the door suddenly shuts


And the mirror falls
And the mirror shatters


My jagged image
My fragmented reflection


Rests against the wall
Lies still on the ground


And I see
And I observe


Red reflections in the mirror of the night
Red hues of light reflecting in the broken mirror at night




Contributed by Alaina E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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