Where the Streets Have No Name
Vanessa Carlton Lyrics
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I want to hide
I want to tear down the walls
That hold me inside
I want to reach out
And touch the flame
Where the streets have no name
I see that dust cloud disappear without a trace
I want to take shelter from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building
Then burning down love, burning down love
And when I go there
I go there with you...
It's all I can do
The cities a flood
And our love it turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
We're trampled in dust
I'll show you a place
High on a desert plain
Where the streets have no name
Where the steeets have no name
Where the steeets have no name
Still building
Then burning down love
We're burning down love
And when I go there
I go there with you
It's all I can do
The song "Where the Streets Have No Name" by Vanessa Carlton expresses a desire for freedom, a yearning to escape from social and emotional isolation. The lyrics begin with the lines "I want to run, I want to hide, I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside." The singer longs to escape from the confines of her current situation and explore a new world where she can feel free. She wants to reach out and touch the flame, to feel alive and connected.
The second verse of the song continues this theme of escaping from a bleak and oppressive reality. The singer imagines a place where she can take shelter from the poison rain, a metaphor for the negativity and toxicity that she feels surrounded by. She yearns to be free from this and to feel the sun on her face, to see the dust cloud disappear without a trace. The chorus repeats the phrase "Where the streets have no name" several times, emphasizing the singer's longing for a new and unknown world where she can begin anew.
The bridge of the song speaks of a flood, and the rusting away of love. The wind beats the couples down and they are trampled in dust. So, she offers to show the person she is addressing a place that exists high on a desert plain, where they could be free from the misery and despair that they feel in their current situation. The song ends with a plea to go there with her, as it is all that can be done.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to run
I want to escape or get away from where I currently am
I want to hide
I want to be concealed or find a hiding place
I want to tear down the walls
That hold me inside
I want to destroy the barriers that prevent me from being free
I want to reach out
And touch the flame
Where the streets have no name
I want to experience the thrill of danger or excitement in a place that is unknown or unmarked
I want to feel, sunlight on my face
I want to enjoy the warmth and light of the sun on my skin
I see that dust cloud disappear without a trace
I witness the moment when something appears to vanish completely
I want to take shelter from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name
I want to find refuge from something dangerous or harmful in a location that is unfamiliar
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
A recurring theme of desiring to be in a place that is unnamed or unknown
We're still building
Then burning down love, burning down love
Our relationships are continuously being built up and then destroyed, metaphorically representing relationships as buildings that are set ablaze
And when I go there
I go there with you...
It's all I can do
The only solace that can be found in the never-ending cycle of building and burning down love is that you're not alone in it
The cities a flood
And our love it turns to rust
Similar to the theme of destruction before, both the city and the love in this relationship are deteriorating
We're beaten and blown by the wind
We're trampled in dust
The relationship is also facing external factors, both natural and societal, that are diminishing its strength
I'll show you a place
High on a desert plain
Where the streets have no name
The singer is expressing a desire to introduce the other person to a place of freedom and newness, where they can escape the troubles of life
Still building
Then burning down love
We're burning down love
Repeating the idea that love is a structure that is continuously created and then destroyed
And when I go there
I go there with you
It's all I can do
The singer is committed to sharing the experience of love with the other person, even if it means going through the highs and lows of creating and destroying it together
Contributed by Annabelle S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
CitizenX
I want to run, I want to hide
I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside
I wanna reach out and touch the flame
Where the streets have no name
I want to feel sunlight on my face
I see that dust cloud disappear without a trace
I wanna take shelter from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name, oh oh
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there, I go there with you
It's all I can do
The city's a flood
And our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Trampled into dust
I'll show you a place
High on the desert plain
Where the streets have no name, oh oh
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there, I go there with you
It's all I can do
Our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh and I see love
See our love turn to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh when I go there
I go there with you
It's all I can do
Atlas Silverbraid
That piano intro, wow.
BuckNutty
Right..it's fire
Daniel Siano
This is the best cover version of any song that has ever been recorded.
Tsugu-chan
I love Vanessa so much, she is truly the best we've got. <3 She is an amazing pianist, singer, songwriter, ballet dancer, performer, artist! She is just so wonderful, I love her to pieces. FOREVER NESSAHOLIC <3
Eduardo Willian
esta versão é 1.000.000 milhão de vezes melhor do que do u2 a vanessa carlton deu vida esta musica tudo que ela canta fica perfeito
Alli Dowty
I can't stop listening to this.....it's just that good!
MasteriMorty
this has got to be the BEST cover I've ever heard... of anything!
Adam Souza
Ever
ccinbrooklyn
Great song.. I love it!!!
CitizenX
I want to run, I want to hide
I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside
I wanna reach out and touch the flame
Where the streets have no name
I want to feel sunlight on my face
I see that dust cloud disappear without a trace
I wanna take shelter from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name, oh oh
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there, I go there with you
It's all I can do
The city's a flood
And our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Trampled into dust
I'll show you a place
High on the desert plain
Where the streets have no name, oh oh
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there, I go there with you
It's all I can do
Our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh and I see love
See our love turn to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh when I go there
I go there with you
It's all I can do