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the lights go down, outside (before our cars collide)
so we silhouette ourselves (in forty shades of fire)
do you know where this is leading? I'll meet you there.
on the other side of the crash.
on the other side of the glass.
all our friends are falling out, can't look us in the eye,
or bear to hear that broken sound, happens when we're all alone,
inside, in the middle of the night I hear your voice,
I feel ashamed every time you say, "car crash came and car crash went,
so I went along with it..."
because the girl you love's not coming back
it'll never be the same - don't look away. I need to know if this is real. don't look away.
the hospital ward sleeps
through the surgery
hiding needles in the drawer
(for emergencies)
while outside they wait
in the pouring rain
on the other side of the glass
don't look away. I need to know if this is real.
don't look away. I need to know - when will this end?
don't look away...
over and out (of control)
the IV drips the days drag on
adjust the light switch in the hall
maybe the x-ray screen keeps it from getting dark
but the bulb burns out when it gets too hot
keep crashing this car (over and over)
keep crashing this car (over and over)
keep crashing this car (over and over)
keep crashing this car (until it spins)
out of control
so hold me close or I might disappear this time
out of control,
we fight currents in the water
when we can't let go of the shore.
we've lost control.
so we silhouette ourselves (in forty shades of fire)
do you know where this is leading? I'll meet you there.
on the other side of the crash.
on the other side of the glass.
all our friends are falling out, can't look us in the eye,
or bear to hear that broken sound, happens when we're all alone,
inside, in the middle of the night I hear your voice,
I feel ashamed every time you say, "car crash came and car crash went,
so I went along with it..."
because the girl you love's not coming back
it'll never be the same - don't look away. I need to know if this is real. don't look away.
the hospital ward sleeps
through the surgery
hiding needles in the drawer
(for emergencies)
while outside they wait
in the pouring rain
on the other side of the glass
don't look away. I need to know if this is real.
don't look away. I need to know - when will this end?
don't look away...
over and out (of control)
the IV drips the days drag on
adjust the light switch in the hall
maybe the x-ray screen keeps it from getting dark
but the bulb burns out when it gets too hot
keep crashing this car (over and over)
keep crashing this car (over and over)
keep crashing this car (over and over)
keep crashing this car (until it spins)
out of control
so hold me close or I might disappear this time
out of control,
we fight currents in the water
when we can't let go of the shore.
we've lost control.
Lyrics submitted by Eddy67
Track duration: 04:41
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especially evident in the lines: "crash my car everyday the same way" (Understanding...) and "Keep crashing this car, over and over" (this one).
there is also repeated references to needles, broken glass, it being late at night ("the middle of the night" in this song, and "12:03" in Understanding...)
additionally, you can couple the line "it'll never be the same - don't look away. I need to know if this is real. don't look away" in this song with "These broken windows, open locks, reminders of the youth we lost. In trying so hard to look away from you" in Understanding...
You do know that, well, Understanding In a Car Crash was indeed about friends dying in a car crash, right?
I however, have a completely different idea of what "The Other Side" is about. I don't necessarily think that it's a continuation of "Understanding" either.
To sum it all up generally before I go into details, I think "The Other Side" is about Thursday's rise to fame and their rigorous touring over the past years.
As with anyone and their theories, I could be completely wrong. I'm fine with that and no one will ever know unless Geoff says otherwise. It's not perfect, but this is what I see/get from the song...
Think about it:
"The lights go down, outside
Before our cars collide
So we silhouette ourselves
In forty shades of fire"
-- Waiting back stage when the lights drop before the enter.
"The lights go down, outside" - Lights cutting.
"Before our cars collide" - To me, "cars colliding" or "crashing this car" is actually the act of them playing their sets. So, it's them waiting to play. It could also be thought of as them playing "Understanding."
"Do you know where this is leading?
I'll meet you there
On the other side of the crash
On the other side of the glass"
-- With this theory, I feel that "on the other side of the crash" is just after the set. Simple as that.
"All our friends are falling out,
Can't look us in the eye,
Or bear to hear that broken sound,
Happens when we're all alone, inside,
In the middle of the night
I hear your voice,
I feel ashamed every time you say,
'Car crash came and car crash went
So I went along with it'
Because the girl you love's not coming back
It'll never be the same"
-- I feel this verse is about old memories of before the popularity, as well as lost friendships, lost loves, and just how people change and fall away when you tour and such.
"Don't look away
I need to know if this is real
Don't look away"
-- I think this is possibly Geoff doing a double take on how much things have changed since the beginning of everything and thinking, "Wow."
"And the hospital ward sleeps through the surgery
Hiding needles in the drawer for emergencies
While outside they wait in the pouring rain
On the other side of the glass"
-- This verse could possibly be about the loved ones or friends who wait backstage and have seen the guys play numerous, numerous times.
"Don't look away
I need to know if this is real
Don't look away
I need to know when will this end?
Don't look away"
-- Same as above, and also Geoff wondering if/when there will be an end to Thursday... To what's been his and the guys' life for basically the last 8 years.
"Over and out of control
The I.V. drips the days drag on
Adjust the light switch in the hall
Maybe the x-ray screen keeps it from getting dark
But the bulb burns out when it gets too hot
Keep crashing this car, over and over,
Keep crashing this car, over and over,
Keep crashing this car, over and over,
Keep crashing this car till it spins
(Out of control) So hold me close or I might disappear this time
(Out of control) We fight currents in the water when we can't let go of the shore
We've lost control"
-- I think this last verse is just about constant, constant touring. The repeated line of "Keep crashing this car, over and over," suggests the fact that on tour a lot of bands play the exact same, or slightly similar set lists at every show they play. It gets monotonous after awhile and even songs that they may have absolutely loved playing may make them sick to think about after awhile.
Well, that's my quick explanation of just one of the theories that I see and have come across from the lyrics in the song. There are certain lines and such throughout the song that go better in other theories' explanations, but it all depends on how you look at it.
I hope you enjoyed this!
-PinholeLight
"We fight currents in the water when we can't let go of the shore"
I love this line and if you have ever not let go of something, you'll clearly understand this....You go through so many more obstacles when you don't let go, but for some people you'll truely never be the same again, therefore you "went along with it [the crash]"
"keep crashing this car, over and over" is like re-living it.
And
"Don't look away!
I need to know if this is real."
Is like needing to have proof, not being able to comprehend what happened....Ralph Waldo Emerson lost the love of his life early in their relationship and for months he had to continuely go look at her body. I don't think he ever got over it.
The whole "out of control" part to me is coming from a person that always is usually in control...and when they aren't it's a hard to fathom.
the hospital ward sleeps
through the surgery
hiding needles in the drawers
(for emergencies)
To me this is a metaphor for someone going through a type of rehab, but hiding the drugs (a needle) in an inconspicuous place so they can find it if they can no longer take the withdrawal. Also, the song is chock full of references to what could be people looking on and feeling helpless to stop the "car crash", which is nothing more than a metaphor for what is killing their friend (i.e. the references to watching from the outside)
Finally, I think the final lines about trying to hold onto shore could be from the perspective of the drug user, knowing that they need to metaphorically stuck between what they feel is "drowning" without the drugs, or the misery that is the safety of the shore WITH the drugs. This is my take.