After their 1999 debut Anchor, the band released Different Stars in 2002. It caught the attention of Cocteau Twins bassist Simon Raymonde, who signed the band to his record label Bella Union, and re-released it with a new tracklisting. The band moved to Seattle to make their third album, 2006's Having. After the EPs Noble House (2007) and The Natural Order of Things (2009), the band entered a period of silence and ultimately disbanded owing to tensions between Williams and Brown. They reunited in 2020 to release the single "Winterstorms".
Anna-Lynne releases solo music under the name Lotte Kestner.
Different Stars
Trespassers William Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So it's no surprise my eyes are never heavy
For I've not seen you in the flesh for so long
That I'm not sure we would know each other at all
Oh the weight it must be light wherever you are
And I know you don't think twice wherever you are
Oh the weight it must be light wherever you are
So I will hum alone, too far from you
All that I say now is nothing to you
We will lie under different stars
I am where I am, and you're where you are
You're where you are
Oh the weight it must be light wherever you are
And I know you don't think twice wherever you are
And I'd ask if you're alright wherever you are
And do you think of me, you might, wherever you are
The lyrics to Trespassers William's song Different Stars paint a picture of two people who are separated by distance and time. The opening lines "So you'd sing a lullaby to get me to sleep, So it's no surprise my eyes are never heavy" describe a relationship that once existed, where one person (presumably a parent or a loved one) used to sing a lullaby to put the singer to sleep. However, the singer hasn't seen this person in person for so long that they aren't even sure they'd recognize each other.
The chorus of the song, "Oh the weight it must be light wherever you are, And I know you don't think twice wherever you are" captures the idea that the person the singer is addressing has moved on and is no longer weighed down by the past, while the singer is left to hum alone, too far away to be with them. The final lines of the song, "We will lie under different stars, I am where I am, and you're where you are, You're where you are" further emphasise the distance and separation between the two individuals.
Overall, the song Different Stars is a poignant exploration of the nature of distance, separation and how it impacts relationships. It captures the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia for something that once existed, while also recognizing that time (and distance) move on and people change.
Line by Line Meaning
So you'd sing a lullaby to get me to sleep
You used to sing a lullaby to help me fall asleep.
So it's no surprise my eyes are never heavy
It's not surprising that I have trouble sleeping now, since you're not here to sing to me.
For I've not seen you in the flesh for so long
I haven't seen you in person in such a long time.
That I'm not sure we would know each other at all
I'm not sure if we would recognize each other if we saw each other now.
Oh the weight it must be light wherever you are
I imagine that things are easier and less heavy for you wherever you are.
And I know you don't think twice wherever you are
I know that you're living your life without thinking much about me or our past.
So I will hum alone, too far from you
I'm here humming by myself, wishing you were closer.
All that I say now is nothing to you
Anything I say to you now wouldn't really matter because we're so far apart.
We will lie under different stars
We're in different places, looking up at different night skies.
I am where I am, and you're where you are
We're physically separated, in different locations.
And I'd ask if you're alright wherever you are
I wonder if you're doing okay where you are now.
And do you think of me, you might, wherever you are
I wonder if you ever think about me, even a little, now that we're so far apart.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANNA-LYNNE WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Krug
As you get older, things get much easier. Unfortunately, that is because you become somewhat desensitized by way of suffering. I also have Aspergers or high-functioning autism and I can attest to the fact that it gets so much easier and that the trade-off is well worth it.
The feeling of being not quite human or alien is unbearable at times. This also means that making a true connection is more than precious. Sometimes one person feels like a raft keeping you afloat in the middle of the ocean.
Keep swimming. There are others like you and you will find them if you keep swimming. You have no idea how strong you actually are!
I came back to listen to this song for the first time since 2003 when a girl that I loved moved away. I got in touch with her and both of us were listening to this song at the same time. It’s always held a special place in my heart. We never ended up together but I am now happily married with a 2 month old son. It’s funny, it STILL hurts to listen to this song. I feel like an alien with exactly one person who understands me all over again.
If you ever feel alone, listen to David Bowie’s Rock and Roll Suicide. He practically reaches through your headphones and tells you your not alone and not to give up. I wonder how many people that song has saved.
T- Sei
Perfect song to cry to, beautiful and haunting indeed
MrPink
Playing again, and crying now. So true.
MrPink
Oh, such a favorite. Everything in this, the chords, the progressions, the lyrics...they reach into the very heart of me. LOVE.
Good GOD! A tarantula just crawled down my window while I was listening to this. I haven't seen one around here for YEARS. Wow. Don't know what it means, but I have taken note.
MrPink
@Parnidis Ha! What a great show, and thanks for the compliment!
Parnidis
This comment sounds like something Agent Cooper from Twin Peaks would say into his dictaphone, and I mean this as a compliment
stevendphoto
I saw this band open for the artist I went to see at a little club back around 2003 or 2004, and they were so captivating a bought their CD they had for sale there at the show, and when I get into that mellow introspective mood, there is nothing better to listen to..
MelvinJr
La manera mas dulce de teletransportar todos tus sentidos a diferentes universos llenos de poesía, pasión, amor, nostalgia y melancolía. Echar a volar todos tus pensamientos acariciando plenamente tus sentimientos....
Sylvia Nolastname
Absolutely LOVE this song. The lyrics are say, yet beautiful at the same time. And that there? Defines LOVE. ❤️
Chrissy Doodle
I can’t cry enough on how my broken heart brought me back to this artist. Sometimes I have to avoid it regardless of how beautiful it is because it overwhelms me. Have Aspergers and dealing with a heart break and it’s too much. But I still come back to this beautiful music when I can actually feel strong enough to listen to it. Love sucks,😞💔.
David Krug
As you get older, things get much easier. Unfortunately, that is because you become somewhat desensitized by way of suffering. I also have Aspergers or high-functioning autism and I can attest to the fact that it gets so much easier and that the trade-off is well worth it.
The feeling of being not quite human or alien is unbearable at times. This also means that making a true connection is more than precious. Sometimes one person feels like a raft keeping you afloat in the middle of the ocean.
Keep swimming. There are others like you and you will find them if you keep swimming. You have no idea how strong you actually are!
I came back to listen to this song for the first time since 2003 when a girl that I loved moved away. I got in touch with her and both of us were listening to this song at the same time. It’s always held a special place in my heart. We never ended up together but I am now happily married with a 2 month old son. It’s funny, it STILL hurts to listen to this song. I feel like an alien with exactly one person who understands me all over again.
If you ever feel alone, listen to David Bowie’s Rock and Roll Suicide. He practically reaches through your headphones and tells you your not alone and not to give up. I wonder how many people that song has saved.