Franz Ferdinand – 40 Ft.

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As I glance once upon the foam
40 feet beneath my feet
The coldest calm falls
Through the molten veins
Cooling all the blood to slush
That congeals around the brain

La la la

40 feet remain

Salt scales upon my drying arms
Burn my back beneath the sun
But I am cold beneath the burning rays
Looking down, looking down
Down, down again

La la la

40 feet remain

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Lyrics submitted by _valerie

Track duration: 04:18


40 Ft. song meanings
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69 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment:The greatest thing about FF is that they combine both real life situation reference and an historical//myth reference in most of their songs, read the words again, it rings something not?
    Flag veryvellon November 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:When I first heard this song I thought it was about world war II. With their band name, I thought the guys might have written this song about the fighting. I somehow pictured soldiers fighting in muddy trenches, pushed by their commanders to take the last 40ft of ground from the enemy.

    But then I read the lyrics and it just doesn't fit :P

    Could have been cool though
    Flag Yejmeron September 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:All of you got it wrong... This story is about Icarus And Daedalus, a greek myth. Read about it and compare it. I promise you it will relate to it more than suicidal thoughts and situations. I don't know why people put up as if the song was based on a life situation. You guys should have learned this story in elementary! haha im surprised...
    Flagged daydreamer101on May 30, 2010   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • +1
    General Comment:Just a random thing that probably has little to do with this song - in Nova Scotia, there is a 'money pit' where many believe there is buried treasure. They keep trying to excavate it to no avail. However, they found a stone that says, "forty feet below, two million pounds lay buried." Perhaps it's about being so close to something and yet so far away, and knowing that no matter how much you desire it, you'll never be able to get it.
    Flag TinDefactoon November 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think these lyrics are incorrect.
    it sounds to me like he's singing
    "congeals around AGAIN"
    instead of
    "congeals around the BRAIN".

    just listen.
    i'm probably wrong, but i dunno
    Flag nuclearloveon August 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I just assumed it was someone literally looking down from a cliff towards the water. Feeling everything put in perspective, being humbled, etc.
    Flag bbuckykkatton February 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:its about.... Lord of the Flies
    Flag _space_on November 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think, that this song is someone close to committing suicide and feeling like theyre going to jump off of a cliff into water. but something stops them and the "40 ft remains"and they dont do it. only my perception, so yeah? x
    Flag eden.bluebellon March 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always assumed this was a song about suicide
    a person standing upon a cliff looking down into the foaming sea
    the sun is hot, perhaps summer (like a haiku, the seasonal word)
    salt scales from the water below drying upon his arms
    looking down, down, looking down down again...
    perhaps having second thoughts, seeing how far down it is?
    Flag huzzah_huzzahon October 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Ben Nevis
    Alex and his mates jumped off it 40ft into the water below
    really risky with rocks and that in the way
    Flag Shayakylieon October 12, 2007   Link

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