Well her face is a map of the world
Is a map of the world
You can see she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
And everything around her is a silver pool of light
The people who surround her feel the benefit of it
It makes you calm
She holds you captivated in her palm

Suddenly I see (suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me
(Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

Well I feel like walking the world
Like walking the world
And you can hear she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
She fills up every corner like she's born in black and white
Makes you feel warmer when you're trying to remember
What you heard
She likes to leave you hanging on a wire

Suddenly I see (suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me
(Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

And she's taller than most
And she's looking at me
I can see her eyes looking from the page of a magazine
She makes me feel like I could be a tower
A big strong tower, yeah
The power to be, the power to give
The power to see, yeah, yeah
(Suddenly I see)
She got the power to be, the power to give
The power to see, yeah, yeah
(Suddenly I see)
She got the power to be, the power to give
The power to see, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Suddenly I see)
She got the power to be, the power to give
The power to see, yeah, yeah
(Suddenly I see)
She got the power to be, the power to give
The power to see, yeah, yeah

Suddenly I see (suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me
(Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me, oh-oh
(Suddenly I see) hey, yeah
Suddenly I see (suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me
(Suddenly I see) yeah
Suddenly I see (suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me


Lyrics submitted by LillyDarko

Suddenly I See Lyrics as written by Kt Tunstall

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Suddenly I See song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

92 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +9
    General Comment

    I've interpreted this song somewhat differently than the previous users. I think of this as observing the happiness of another (also admiring the beauty that comes from it), and having it influence you so greatly that you want it for yourself, to continue to inspire others with.

    peacefrog80on February 17, 2006   Link
  • +7
    General Comment

    The song is actually about how Patti Smith inspired KT to do what she does. She told us at a gig the other night.

    davecheesepipeon August 19, 2005   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    nobody replied cos they dont care m8 :)

    cistm_konfliqton December 17, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I don't see the point of every one arguing over this song. Everyone is going to have a different opinion on what it means- music is an art form, so how each person responds to it is completely subjective. For me personally, I think the song can be interpreted as a girl/woman who has a friend whom she greatly admires and wants to be like- someone who is beautiful, inside and out; someone who lights up the room and makes others happy just to be around her etc. It could be stretched to indicate some kind of lesbian connotation in my opinion, but at face value I'd say she simply idolises this girl and wants to be like her. :) Cheers

    giggleheadon August 11, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    If she told you that at a gig it's probably true, but I will always perceive it as how I did when I first heard it, which is that she's singing about herself. Now that she's famous, she suddenly sees that it's where she wants to be, why it meant so much for her to keep at it and never quit.

    The lines "I can see her eyes looking from a page in a magazine Oh she makes me feel like I could be a tower A big strong tower yeah"

    to me say she's seeing herself in a magazine and it sinks in that she finally made it to the big time, and she feels she can take on the world.

    That's just what I've always thought!

    chriswarneon October 07, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I liked this song from the first time I heard it because of how catchy it is. Then after noticing the lyrics I LOVE this song!

    I love how non-politically correct this song is, it goes against everything young women have been brainwashed to believe

    There is a war against beautiful women, our culture encouages women not to look pretty or even look ugly. This song recognizes the forgotten truth that a beautiful woman has power. I especially like and agree with the lyrics about a "pool of light".

    Jay Fon May 19, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song started playing on the radio in my town right after I achieved a very meaningful goal. I already have a happy successful life; I'm a college professor, I'm finishing up my doctorate, I have 4 great kids, I'm in love with an amazing man... but all of my adult life I've wanted to be an Air Force Officer. (That would be over 15 years). This past year, I achieved my goal. It is everything I hoped it would be. It is an amazing opportunity to be a leader to others and to serve my country... suddenly I see this is exactly what I want to be. Besides that, I want to be a role model for other Air Force women who are goal chasers. I put my goals off until it was almost too late (because of my age). I hope I have the opportunity to inspire other Air Force women to pursue their goals, to become confident leaders, and to live their dreams. Look for me driving around my town... my license plate is "SDNLYIC".

    SassyProfessoron April 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think it is a very nice song. You are obviously some weird saddo freak who feels the need to get a really big bad responce from saying a song is terrible. Maybe erm.. get a life and if you want a real arguement have one with your imaginary mates!

    lindzson January 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    OMG!! Haha, you funny bastard! you should be a comedian. Loser!

    lindzson February 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Well thanks, I will see you down the front, for my first gig.

    quiffpornon February 13, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.