Cast your eye tears on to me
And I'll show you what you really need
Give too much attention
And I'll reflect your imperfections
Can't you see it's over
Because you're the god of a shrinking universe

Purposeless survival
Now there's nothing left to die for
So don't struggle to recognize
Now the cruelly heart-felt suicide

Can't you see it's over
Because you're the god of a shrinking universe

Can't you see it's over
Because you're the god of a shrinking universe



Lyrics submitted by 3ssence

Track duration: 03:07

"Shrinking Universe" as written by Matthew James Bellamy

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

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Shrinking Universe song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment:I'm thinking along the lines of valnn a few posts up... but with some key differences. Basically, I think Matt is talking about the death of religion. That religion/god is now obsolete and time to go (the suicide). The shrinking universe is relative... the ancient view of the universe (about 6000 miles wide and 6000 years old) continued to shrink as science has moved forward to discover its true age and size. Also the biblical morality (used at one time to justify slavery and women as second class humans, and still used to demonize gays today, prevent birth control, etc.) doesn't keep up with advancing and expanding ideas of equality and morality as time moves on.

    In the begining section... Matt tells god (tongue-in-cheek) that if he looks too closely at man... that god will see reflected his own imperfections (i.e., since man created god in man's image). All in all, I think Matt (who's an atheist) is saying that traditional religion should just decide to call it quits.

    Responding to some earlier posts... because of the huge population explosion over the past 100 years, there are many more Christians (in numbers) alive today than ever before in history. Just because atheism is more visable doesn't mean there are fewer numbers of religious. Its just a percentage thing.
    Flag JohnJayon October 12, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always loved this song. And I like that there are tons of different interpretations. To me, Muse is what you take from it. The songs can mean different things to different people. It seems to me that it's about a person who's about to realize his insignificance, and that the influence he now has is meaningless, as what he once controlled is no more.

    The part where Matt cries out at the end is absolutely spine tingling. I'd buy an album entirely filled with Bellamy screaming/moaning/crying/etc. I've never heard so much emotion out of an absence of words.
    Flag pdkuhnon August 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The lyrics at the start are

    "Cast your ideals onto me"

    Well I'm pretty sure they are. My fave part of this song is the vocal solo in the middle, i love it!
    Flag spiderdomon February 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Alright before i explain to everyone what the song means, I want to clarify everybody what muse is all about. I don't think theres 1 Muse song that has been created that doesn't have an amazing meaning to it. Thats the thing about Muse, their songs sound great, cause they kick ass, and they have great meaning to them. so anyone who doesn't know about how deep and heavy and even amazing muses songs are, only have seen 1 side of the band.

    Ok so, most of Muse's songs are about 2 things. 1. A love song. 2 A song that has something to do with religion. Now they have songs that don't have to do with either of the subjects, but not many.

    But onto the meaning of the song!.

    Muse usually makes it obvious what the song could be about by the name of it "Shrinking Universe" Now he says in the song: can't you see it's over because you're the god of a shrinking universe. Hes talking about god. The song is about how the world keeps getting worse and worse, and as the world gets worse and worse, more people become athiest. The ammount of people who believe in god 'Shrinks'.


    Through out the song Bellamy says alot of differint things. I think every lyric in this song is suppose to be as if he was saying it to god.


    Give too much attention
    And I'll reflect your imperfections

    This part is about how God has too much attention, Pretty obvious think about it
    God does get an awful lot of attention.

    This part is about how God has too much attention, Pretty obvious think about it
    God does get an awful lot of attention.

    so to sum it up, Its about a guy telling god about all the bad things
    that hes done, and how its hard to believe in something, when all
    that happens in the world is bad.










    Flag valnnon June 09, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always though the shrinking universe sounded more like someones done something and has severely limited their choices, kind of being backed into a corner and its no fault but their own and they just need to accept it. 'you're the god of a shrinking universe' perhaps something extreme like someone being slowly cornered by police or whatever after murdering someone or committing massive fraud.
    Flag el_numbreon May 06, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:perhaps muse is referring to a time in the future when the universe is shrinking and we are all about to die. they are pointing out that nothing will matter at the end of the world, even God will be like a big fish in a small pond : can't you see it's over
    because you're the god of a shrinking universe
    Flag neilschmeilon August 02, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:To me, this song has a different messege. It seems Matt Bellamy was talking about our obsessions with material objects and unimportant things we buy, and the things we do to get them when he says "..And I'll show you what you really need." and "Purposeless survival. Now there's nothing left to die for."

    This song also reminds me of Tyler Durden's rant in the novel/film Fight Club in which he says, "We have no Great War. No great depression. We're the middle children of society. No purpose or place. Our Great War is a spiritual war. And our Great Depression...is our lives." I feel as humans, we've basically been devolving. We've abandoned our survival instincts and natural methods of living. We depend on computers, and TV's, and MP3 Players, and our houses, and bank accounts, and fancy cars, and on all these things we really don't need.

    I also think this is why they put the song on the trailer for 28 Weeks Later. Because in those movies one of the major points Danny Boyle/Alex Garland makes (at least indirectly), is how badly we are addicted to these things. And how in a world like that, none of this will matter. They have no electricity, no radio, no TV, no products we've become slaves to.

    But I'm tired and rambling so maybe I'm not making sense? I don't know...
    Flag Frank The Bunnyon May 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I first heard this song (and of this band) in the 28 Weeks Later trailer. It fit that trailer fucking perfectly, great movie too. Great song as well, although its really the only one I know. I've been meaning to buy an album... any suggestions?

    And HideYourDisguise, I agree 100% the middle section is breathtaking and whatever wonderful word one could use to describe it.
    Flag umma_gummaon May 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I know the meaning behind this song and it's one of my all time favourites, but right now I don't even care about the lyrics so much...
    The wailing in the middle section is just so beautiful.. so much expressed with no words at all.
    *___*
    Flag HideYourDisguiseon March 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's a song about the inevitable end of all religion. "Imperfections" refers to the flaws of religions, "God" is an obvious reference, whenever "God" is mentioned in a song, religion is put into equation. The song calls for letting go of religion and accepting that there is nothing to die for (i.e. Heaven). Religion in the context of the song, is a "shrinking universe," losing its influence.
    Flag ThanatosAngelon November 16, 2007   Link

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