This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty
Sound of their breath fades with the light
I think about the loveless fascination
Under the Milky Way tonight
Lower the curtain down on Memphis
Lower the curtain down all right
I got no time for private consultation
Under the Milky Way tonight
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
And it's something quite peculiar
Something shimmering and white
Leads you here despite your destination
Under the Milky Way tonight
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
And it's something quite peculiar
Something shimmering and white
Leads you here despite your destination
Under the Milky Way tonight
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
Under the Milky Way tonight
Under the Milky Way tonight
Under the Milky Way tonight
Sound of their breath fades with the light
I think about the loveless fascination
Under the Milky Way tonight
Lower the curtain down on Memphis
Lower the curtain down all right
I got no time for private consultation
Under the Milky Way tonight
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
And it's something quite peculiar
Something shimmering and white
Leads you here despite your destination
Under the Milky Way tonight
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
And it's something quite peculiar
Something shimmering and white
Leads you here despite your destination
Under the Milky Way tonight
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
Wish I knew what you were looking for
Might have known what you would find
Under the Milky Way tonight
Under the Milky Way tonight
Under the Milky Way tonight
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My impression of the song is that is very simply and straightforwardly written, about the writer's feelings at a certain moment in his life. i don't think this is meant to have much hidden meaning.
From these lyrics, I imagine that once after a show in Memphis, after the crowds had gone and the lights had faded, the songwriter/narrator was feeling pensive, lonely for lack of a relationship due to having been on the road for a while. "loveless fascination" means adoration of the fans during his tour, but without someone for him to love. "got no time for private consultation" simply means he wants to be alone, under the stars (without being bugged by fans, perhaps). "under the milky way" and "something shimmering and white" both mean the stars in the night sky. "leads you here despite your destination" = he was heading for his hotel, but decided to gaze at the stars instead.
Oh, I forgot to talk about the chorus. This is to continue my post above.<br /> <br /> "wish I knew what you were looking for... might have known what you would find"<br /> <br /> I take this to mean he's talking to himself in his moment of solitude. He wishes he knew what he was looking for (in life? at that point in his life? at that moment? could mean any of these) so that he might know what to find. sometimes there's a feeling of discontent that is hard get rid of, because one hasn't figured out what it is that one wants/lacks that is missing. that's the kind of discontent I sense from this chorus. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
Obviously, this is all interpretation - but I think yours is the best thus far.
@mliem411 pretty much sums up what I was going to write, so thank you for saving me the time!
Interesting to see that many interpret this as "he" the narrator being the one who hurts the girl. I always interpreted it the other way around. The narrator himself is the one who is seeking true love. The girl, however, is "looking for" something else, although she keeps coming back to him. Note the words......"got no time for private consultation"........he is saying that he is getting frustrated with her, in essence he is saying, if you're not going to be with me, stop treating this like a relationship by telling me all of your problems.
Also, "leads you here, despite your destination". She keeps coming back to him, despite her "destination" which is ultimately another guy who she deems a better fit for her, even though he wishes that would be him.
Lastly, the "loveless fascination" is what he is reflecting about. He doesn't understand why she keeps coming back, but doesn't love him like he loves her. It is her "loveless fascination" in him that drives him crazy.
Donnie Darko ? You aren't frickin' serious are you guys?...This song has been around for a lot longer than "Donnie Darko"! I heard this song in heavy rotation on "MTV's 120 Minutes" show back before alternative went mainstream(1988-1991). Its a beautiful, and haunting song about the immensity of the world we live in and a human beings capacity to love and hurt. Some people around here believe that Pearl Jam are a classic rock band. Stop listening to the radio!
To me, this song is about an emotionally uneven sexual encounter, where the girl expected a bit more... "wish I knew what you were looking for... might have known what you would find". The narrator is depressed, lost in life, and is looking out for himself... but nonetheless considers this encounter to be a significant and deeply emotional moment, but did not realize that the other person expected more and ended up hurt.
I have to agree with tommyrock on this one.Yeah i'm showing my age but the first time I ever slow danced with a girl,I was 12 years old and it was at a roller rink(do they even still have those) this song was playing in the background.Her first name was Kim if I remember correctly,she was taller than me with feathered black hair and I still had a mullet.Hey it was 1988!!Anyway that was the first time I ever heard the song,back when it was new,and it's one of those great memories that makes me miss that childhood innocence.Beautiful song.Can listen to it over and over and never get tired of it,even to this day 20 years later.
reading these comments, i am kind of wishing this song wasn't in Donnie Darko. i've never seen that movie before, i am australian and know this beautiful song for simply what it really is - not "that song from donnie darko", but as an Australian classic; the thinking-man's unofficial national anthem, if you like. i really really desperately hope that this is what the song will be remembered as. because it's beautiful and deserves more than simply a film reference..
It's just a great song. :)
This is a stretch, but this song reminds me of Graceland and people's "loveless fascination" with Elvis.
The line, "Lower the curtain down on Memphis" is significant - otherwise, why mention the city? (Graceland, by the way, is in Memphis.)
The chorus, then, makes sense to me: "“Wish I knew what you were looking for, might have known what you would find.” Of course, he doesn't have time to chat with people ("private consultation"), but it sparks his curiosity.
It seems the narrator, too, is drawn to Graceland for reasons unclear to him, which is why "it's something quite peculiar. Something shimmering and white Leads you here despite your destination, under the Milky Way tonight."
He may not have thought about visiting Graceland, but once in Memphis - how can you not?
If I'm off the mark, then the clue to the song's meaning is the city of Memphis.
Memphis is a modernization of Menopher... knowing Steve Kilbey, this is potentially more complicated.
I have heard this song is about: a) an Egyptian temple priest speaking to his apprentice b) Elvis' last night on Earth, driving home c) a hash bar in Amsterdam (from Steve Kilbey)
Great song.
Memphis = Menopher
I honestly would like to believe that owennnnnnnnn's interpretation a) is correct, that just makes it seem all the more poetic. I adore this song, it takes me away to some mystical far off dreamscape and makes the universe seem so mysterious. I heard this song on the radio long before Donnie Darko hit the theaters and first mistook it for U2!