Underground
Voltaire Lyrics


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Six feet of earth above my head

keeps me safe from what she says

six walls of wood to keep them out

their smart remarks, the screams the shouts
they scream, they shout


There's only one way to drown them out


I hear your voice I hit the ground

you looked for me but I'm not around

In that small cafe there I wrote it down



I looked for you, you were not around
You're the buring lie that kills my child
He's gone underground
I've gone underground




I've gone underground

I've gone underground


Some come to pay their last respects


Or beckon me to come around

they leave dried flowers in the air

or place their feelings on the doorstep

at best they try to understand
And offer plans, most futile plans


Here in this darkness I can see


Your skin is the closest thing to grace
It dancelike goes upon my fingers

and feelings fly, they're still alive



There's only one way to drown them out

I hear your voice I hit the ground

you looked for me but I'm not around
In that small cafe there I wrote it down


I looked for you, you were not around

you're the buring lie that kills my child

she's gone underground

I've gone underground



I've gone underground

I've gone underground

I've gone underground


I've gone underground


Underground



Six feet of earth above my head

don't keep me safe from what she says

six walls of wood don't keep them out
These frightful screams come from inside





they lay with me here through the night

Overall Meaning

In "Underground," Voltaire sings about a person who has gone underground, perhaps in a literal or metaphorical sense, to escape the judgment and negativity of others. The singer is surrounded by "six feet of earth" and "six walls of wood" that are supposed to keep the outside world and its "smart remarks," "screams," and "shouts" away. Despite the physical barrier, the singer is still tormented by the voices of others, which can only be drowned out by the voice of someone who cares for him or her. This person is not physically present, however; they can only be heard through memories and writings left behind in a small cafe.


The song becomes even more poignant when the singer reveals that the person they are longing for is actually gone, and perhaps the singer is also struggling to live after the loss of someone close. The feelings of the singer are raw and intense, and cannot be soothed by the well-meaning but futile plans offered by others who visit them. The only solace can be found underground, where the singer is closest to the grace and beauty of the lost person's skin. The song seems to be about the desire to escape from the judgment of others and the pain of loss, and to seek refuge in a place where only the memories and feelings of those who matter are present.


Line by Line Meaning

Six feet of earth above my head
Being buried in the ground often feels like a safe haven for someone who is struggling with emotional pain.


keeps me safe from what she says
The person who is buried underground is trying to escape from the emotional pain caused by another person.


six walls of wood to keep them out
The person who is underground is looking for a peaceful escape from the constant negativity of others that surrounds them.


their smart remarks, the screams, the shouts
The constant verbal abuse they face from others every day is hurting them.


they scream, they shout
The noise and chaos caused by the negativity around them is almost unbearable.


There's only one way to drown them out
The only way to ignore the negativity around them is to focus on something else.


I hear your voice I hit the ground
The only thing that can distract them is focusing on the memories of a lost love.


you looked for me but I'm not around
The person who is underground is unable to keep up with the constant emotional pain of the outside world and has retreated into a place where they are hidden away.


In that small café there I wrote it down
The writer feels comforted by the memories of a lost love and is trying to capture them in their writing.


You're the burning lie that kills my child
The person feels like their emotional pain is a lie and they must hide from it. The 'child' represents their happiness and potential, which they feel is being destroyed.


He's gone underground, I've gone underground
The person has retreated to a place where they are hidden away because they cannot bear the constant negativity of the world.


Some come to pay their last respects
Some people have moments of kindness, though it is unlikely anyone will truly understand how they feel.


Or beckon me to come around
Others tell the person who is underground to come out and face their pain, but cannot comprehend how difficult it may be for them.


they leave dried flowers in the air
Others express their compassion through symbolism, leaving flowers behind as a message of goodwill.


or place their feelings on the doorstep
Others express empathy by sharing their own experiences of emotional pain and reaching out to the person who is underground.


at best they try to understand
But ultimately, no one can truly understand the emotional pain felt by the person who is underground.


And offer plans, most futile plans
Even when people offer solutions to help, they are often not realistic, and the person who is underground cannot see a way out of their pain.


Here in this darkness I can see
Despite the overwhelming emotional pain they are in, the person who is underground still finds beauty in the darkness.


Your skin is the closest thing to grace
They find solace in the memories of a lost love, where they felt hope and joy.


It dance-like goes upon my fingers
The sensitivity of the skin of the lost love feels like a beautiful dance, and the memories bring the person happiness despite their surroundings.


and feelings fly, they're still alive
The thoughts and feelings the person associated with their lost love are still alive inside of them, even if everything else feels dark.


she's gone underground
Even though their love is gone, this person has little else left to hold on to in the outside world.


I've gone underground
They feel little hope for their future in the outside world, and have retreated into a place of darkness.


Underground
The only comfort they feel right now is in the solace of hiding away from the outside world.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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