This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
I could feel at the time
There was no way of knowing
Fallen leaves in the night
Who can say where they're blowing
As free as the wind
Hopefully learning
Why the sea on the tide
Has no way of turning
More than this, there is nothing
More than this, tell me one thing
More than this, there is nothing
It was fun for a while
There was no way of knowing
Like a dream in the night
Who can say where we're going
No care in the world
Maybe I'm learning
Why the sea on the tide
Has no way of turning
More than this, you know there is nothing
More than this, tell me one thing
More than this, no there is nothing
More than this
Nothing
More than this
More than this
Nothing
There was no way of knowing
Fallen leaves in the night
Who can say where they're blowing
As free as the wind
Hopefully learning
Why the sea on the tide
Has no way of turning
More than this, there is nothing
More than this, tell me one thing
More than this, there is nothing
It was fun for a while
There was no way of knowing
Like a dream in the night
Who can say where we're going
No care in the world
Maybe I'm learning
Why the sea on the tide
Has no way of turning
More than this, you know there is nothing
More than this, tell me one thing
More than this, no there is nothing
More than this
Nothing
More than this
More than this
Nothing
Lyrics submitted by luckycharm, edited by normanh38
More Than This Lyrics as written by Bryan Ferry
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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to understand this song, one should read the 17th century Dutch philosopher -Baruch Spinoza. In essence, Spinoza, lthough being a religious Jew, was in effect one of the first heralds of secular (dis-)believes in modern times. Nature is god, said Spinoza, and there is no transcendental one. More then this - there is nothing. Determinism governs the world and free will is an illusion. But our limited mind, of course, it "feels" like we are free, but that's just out epidemiological limit. So, how can we know where leaves falling in the night are blowing? there is no way of knowing. Our lives appear to us an an unfolding, open ended movie. like a dream in the night, we can never know where we are going. Still, deep within us, we ask the question of the determinism we see around us - why the sea on the tide can has no way of turning (e.g, choose is way). We feel we are free, but we see determinism surrounding us. We want the comfort of certainty and absolute knowledge, but also fear it since its consequence will surly mean we are no more then sophisticated automatons. The solution for this dilemma is written in the second stanza: accept the uncertainty and re-joy in it (no care in the world). the official video of the song, appear to support this thesis. It has religious icons and setting (cross, and hell-like environment), Bryan is sitting in a cinema, watching himself play in a scene.
@ququrico HAHAHAHAHA oh man thats funny.. yeah everything is about being an atheist hahaha
@ququrico Good analysis.
Nope. Never in a million years is it that deep. This isn’t Progressive Rock you know. It’s the next guy down and their analysis. Simple as that.
@ququrico Thank you for your thoughtful interpretation. Yes, I am most familiar with Spinoza, and always felt the beautiful melancholy of this song, and deceptive simplicity of the lyrics, hinted at deeper meanings. Good observations with the religious imagery in the video. Enjoyed your take, and it expanded my view of this haunting song.
@ququrico Thank you. Really appreciate this insight. The song transcends to poetry. What a gift.
@ququrico <br /> <br /> Perfect! Just as it only could have been. ;)
@gnash<br /> As a matter if fact, it is progressive rock.
@ququrico well said.. now in our hubris over quantum theory, multiverse soft science fiction, and recent delusional and useless misinterpretations of relativity theory, we forget more important stuff that was known in 1905, 300 yrs back and eved 2000+, by Aeschyus the "father of Tragedy" who one of the first to used this "trope" of fate to entertain and relieve our anxiety , not to make us depressed or felling powerless. brilliant song brilliant use in by Sophie Copola in Lost in Translation
@ququrico Wowza, you totally killed that! A+<br /> I knew Roxy Music was deep. I hope you did one for Slave to Love, checking now!
Bryan Ferry does a masterful job with the lyrics of "More Than This". I think this is one of those rare songs that can be interpreted 2 ways.
More than this could be thought of in the true sense of there is nothing more to the situation he is singing about (relationship, life, etc.), that this is the best it's going to be.He has come to the realization that this is the end of the road.
On the other hand, Mr. Ferry could also be saying that in the moment he is in there is nothing more that could be added. he is in a perfect place, nothing could make it better.He has reached the pinnacle of satisfaction.
The great thing about a song like this is that the interpretation is totally up to the listener.
Do you want to make people cry? Play this at your funeral.
@stoolhardy If I am the DJ at my own funeral, people will more likely be screaming and running for the exits than crying.
@stoolhardy ROFL
Roxy Music are superb. The song "More Than This" is a marvellous song about the acceptance of circumstances and human limitations.
There is nothing more than this situation, this life, this love, or this human condition. The song is open-ended in the way that the sentiment isn't urging the listener to take any particular path - it is simply telling you how things stand now, and how finite we are.
"More Than This" is a bittersweet song. It's sadness is the message of our limitation and finiteness. But it's positive message is that it's really nothing much to worry about. So live for the moment! :)
The song works on three levels as far as what the "this" means: love, life or a moment. I think the song is being sung to a new lover, and the "this" is the feeling of love that comes from being in the throes of pure passion and love. There is nothing better than that.
But I think it could also be that this is a one time encounter - that there will literally be no more of "this" between them. Could be a married person, a one night stand, a drunken mistake.
In general, it is romantic but tragic whilst maintaining this lighthearted joy to it. Acceptance of suffering is the first step to enlightment, and I feel like that is what Roxy Music does best.
This song, as others have said, seems to be talking about how temporary life is.
Enjoy and live for today.
This song always reminded me of a girl I dated in college, we kind of went our own ways, and one night we were talking.. she mentioned the lyrics "It was fun for a while.. There was no way of knowing"
Always stuck in my head. If she sees this.. hi Joanie :)
@Exedornet This song totally reminds of a girl I dated in college, Toria. Around the same time I was very into Let Me Go by Heaven 17. I wasn't super into the words just loved the sound of it. Totally bugged her!
I have nothing against Blink 182, Sex Pistols or any other punk rock group. In fact, I like that music too. But if you check out the comments on the lyrics of those groups you will find that most of them are posts like "This song rulez!" or "What a %&$·# great song, man!", and nothing else. I'm not surprised by the fact that the persons who enjoy and love "More than this" are people with a good language ability, who can express thoughts and appreciations deeper than a mere declaration of taste. And I think that is because this song, in its melody and in its lyrics, keeps an unique flavor, an ability to make you question your life and relate the words to existence itself. And that's part of the uniqueness of this song: it attracts people who are able to make profound insights, because it is, itself, a reflection about life.
Your ruining good music with your egotistical rant. Actually nothing you say can ruin this amazing song.
@Alieno "You are"
i enjoyed your comments HAwkgold...this is one of those rare songs where the instrumentation works PERFECTLY with the lyricism to truly creat catharsis. the gauzy synths at the beginning, the reverb on each drum, the clean and compressed guitar tones...all these things are aesthetic benefits to the amazing lyrics...a gem.
I love listening to this song, it gives a both melancholic but comforting feel. To me, it is about accepting situations as they come, and although we keep on dreaming, there is nothing more than this, what we have at the moment, and we should worship that.
We can't predict the future, and can't change anything about the past... All we have is nothing more than this... It's a down-to-earth song.
Anyway, I love how the instrumental part and lyrics match up, and it's magical to listen to. Most definitely one of my favourite songs.
One of those songs you can have on repeat and it wouldnt annoy you.
Bryan Ferry! I love him.
Ha ha ha - yes absolutely! As I read this remark; I've had the song playing for the 5th time in a row! It is a timeless classic! What a song! What vocal quality! What sublime production!