The group takes its name from Shakespeare. In particular Hamlet's soliloquy To be, or not to be, where it refers to dying; "coil" is used in its archaic sense of "disturbance, trouble":
"What dreams may come, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause."
Hamlet, Act III, Scene 1, line 67.
I Am The Cosmos
This Mortal Coil Lyrics
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I am the wind
That don't bring you back again
Just when I was starting to feel okay
You're on the phone
I never wanna be alone
Never wanna be alone
I hate to have to take you home
[Yeah, yeah, yeah]
[Yeah, yeah, yeah]
Never wanna be alone
I _________
Want you to bad to say no, no
[Yeah, yeah, yeah]
[Yeah, yeah, yeah]
My feelings always have been something _______
I can' confide
Don't know what's going on inside
So every night I tell myself I am the cosmos
I am the wind
But that don't bring you back again
I'd really like to see you again
I really want to see you again
I'd really like to see you again
[that don't bring you back again]
I really want to see you again
I'd really like to see you again
I really want to see you again
I'd really like to see you again
[that don't bring you back again]
I'd really like to see you again
I know I'd like to see you again
I never want to see you again
The song "I Am the Cosmos" by This Mortal Coil is a poignant reflection on the pain of unrequited love. The lyrics describe the inner turmoil of the singer, who is haunted by thoughts of their lost love. The singer tries to find solace in the universe, telling themselves that they are the cosmos and the wind, but this does not bring their love back. They are constantly reminded of the person they love, as the person calls them and they "never want to be alone." The singer is conflicted, as they "hate to have to take you home" but "want you too bad to say no." They feel like they cannot confide in anyone about their feelings and are left alone with their pain. The song ends with the singer expressing their desire to see their love again, even though they know it won't bring them back.
The lyrics of "I Am the Cosmos" are powerful and introspective, tapping into the universal experience of heartbreak and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. The use of cosmic imagery, such as the wind and the universe, adds a surreal quality to the song that highlights the singer's feelings of isolation and helplessness. The repetition of the line "I never want to see you again" at the end of the song is particularly poignant, as it underscores the pain of letting go of someone you still love.
Line by Line Meaning
Every night I tell myself I am the cosmos
Each night, I try to convince myself that I am the universe and everything in it.
I am the wind
I have the power to move and affect things around me, just like the wind.
That don't bring you back again
However, this belief of mine cannot bring you back to me.
Just when I was starting to feel okay
Right when I thought I was getting better from the pain,
You're on the phone
you suddenly call me,
I never wanna be alone
and I realize how much I never want to be alone.
Never wanna be alone
I fear the loneliness that comes with losing you.
I hate to have to take you home
Even though I don't want you to go, I hate to be the one to take you home.
Wanted so much to say no
I wanted to refuse your request to leave, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
[Yeah, yeah, yeah]
A vocalization that expresses my pain and anguish.
[Yeah, yeah, yeah]
A repetition of the vocalization, emphasizing the intensity of my feelings.
Never wanna be alone
I fear the loneliness that comes with losing you.
I _________
I'm so drawn to you
Want you to bad to say no, no
that I cannot say no to you, even though I want to.
[Yeah, yeah, yeah]
A vocalization that expresses my pain and anguish.
[Yeah, yeah, yeah]
A repetition of the vocalization, emphasizing the intensity of my feelings.
My feelings always have been something _______
I have always struggled to fully express my emotions.
I can' confide
I don't feel comfortable sharing my deepest feelings with anyone.
Don't know what's going on inside
Even I don't fully understand my complex inner world of emotions.
So every night I tell myself I am the cosmos
To cope with this confusion, I resort to delusions of grandeur.
I am the wind
I convince myself that I have enough power to change my reality.
But that don't bring you back again
In reality, these delusions cannot bring you back to me.
I'd really like to see you again
Despite everything, I desperately want to see you again.
I really want to see you again
My desire to see you is so strong that it's almost painful.
I'd really like to see you again
I can't help but feel drawn to you.
I really want to see you again
I can't imagine going on without seeing you again.
I'd really like to see you again
I yearn to be in your presence once more.
[that don't bring you back again]
A reminder that my desires are futile.
I'd really like to see you again
I am consumed by this longing to see you.
I know I'd like to see you again
I am aware that my desire to see you is irrational and will only cause more pain.
I never want to see you again
Despite my intense feelings, I know that it's best for me to let go and move on.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER HAMILTON BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind