Marina and the Diamonds – The Outsider

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  My Interpretation:I really love the lyrics to this song. It's pretty obvious that she's talking about being antisocial and not interacting on the others, but what I love the most is she uses words like crazy, wildcard, weird to describe not only herself but the people around her. She thinks she can really connect the other people but doesn't take the chance, so she feels like she's "inside the outsider."

  Flag Reiniaon November 10, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I always think of this song when I'm with my fathers side of the family. They're all this tight knit group that I've never fit into. Love it though, and love Marina <3

  Flag fallenpugon November 07, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:It's about contemplating whether or not to put yourself out there to try making new friends because you are alone but at the same time being repulsed by the idea because you are afraid of failing. You are shy and to yourself outwardly but your personality burst internally. You wonder whether it's worth it because you're so good at being invisible. I love the way she describes being an inward person as being "Inside the outsider" because that's exactly how it is.

  Flag frostbyte1on September 25, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:I think this song is about being an outsider, and coming off as shy (Just because you know my name / Doesn't mean you know my game) when really, she's a wild card. (Don't get on my bad side, I can work a gun / Hop into the backseat baby / I'll show you some fun) (I'm a fucking wild card). She doesn't know whether she should stick to herself, because she's not necessarily lonely, or she should make an impression on people (Is there more to lose or gain). They have also tried to connect with her before (People are connecting, don't know what to say / I'm good at protecting what they wanna take), but since she is undecided, she doesn't know what to say, so she stays quiet and on the outside.
  
  Just my opinion, anyways.

  Flag istartwhereyouendon May 09, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I'm just totally fascinated by the inside the outsider bit. it's simple but if you try to analyze it within the perameters of this song i can't really fit it into context. i'm sure there's an obvious meaning. I always get the feeling that Marina's almost a- social, i can't explain it, she seems kind of like in a way she doesn't want or need anybody but also sad about it but also like she can get on with people but like this wouldn't really factor into her mind in deciding whether or not she'd befriend to you. maybe i'm giving it too much thought, and it could just be a total persona. I don't know though, from her interviews and stuff I really relate to her. it's almost like she's not looking for approval to the point she wouldn't notice if she's getting it. almost just like she's not bothered about making friends but at social events and stuff people kind of annoy her but she's there just because she's there and it's an attempt to be social and/ or make some friends. she strikes me as the kind of person who's so awesome she'd be popular if she opened up but i get the feeling she ravels herself up if ya get me, like all this would hurt her. I think it's about feeling the pressure to be something you're not to fit in and she's debating whether she'll get in on being herself. Inside the outsider maybe suggests that she has an in with some people or person or social group but she's inside it. or maybe it's not meant to be so literal and it's more about her projection of being perceived as an outsider leading her to misfit anywhere.I actually think it is about social bullshit, she says I'm good at protecting what they want to take. and this is what it's all based on, people always want something, and she has to protect herself by not giving into them. she basically feels like she's one in a crowd of pretenders and she's the only one who's real but she's getting burned, like on a back burner, no one appreciates who she really is because that's not what society is about anymore. they just want to keep her at a distance but at the same time torture her vicariously. she's got so caught up in it though she thinks she is the problem but it's them, so she goes inside her self to protect herself from being an outsider. i think i've solved it!

  Flag ultra1indigoon March 27, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:My interpretation:
  
  1. The people Marina's observing are weird (everyone's a little weird)and she's freaked out by them, but she wants to join them because she feels like a loser and a bum observing them while they're having fun.
  
  2. When she says, "Just because you know my name doesn't mean you know my game" I think she basically means, "Don't assume anything about me because you [think you] know this or that," which I totally get.
  
  3. That "People are connecting" part I totally get. Sometimes people are talking about stuff I just don't get, and I don't know what to say, so I'm quiet.
  
  4. "Is there more to lose than gain if I go on my own again?" She's wondering whether she should stick to herself or not. She she join the people she doesn't connect with to get pleasure, or protect her individuality.
  

  Flag littlehootson October 10, 2011   Link

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    "Hop into the backseat baby. I'll show you some fun" does NOT sound like s/he's not connecting ;) Perhaps there's another defintion of the word "connecting." LOL

    Flag ComeOnEileenon October 10, 2011  
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  General Comment:I think this song is'nt just about being on the outside of a friendship group, but more about accepting that.
  
  I can't really explain it, but that's what I think.
  Amazing song. Amazing person.

  Flag Ismmehowruon March 16, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:i like the way she sings the "these people are weird in here..."
  main vox is very hard, and in the background there's here angel-voice
  
  

  Flag leahleahleahon December 16, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I hear "I laugh myself in the face" which could be a sort of Marina like thing to say.
  
  Also this whole song reminds me of Dexter from Showtime's Dexter.
  
  "And I grinned at you softly
  Because I'm a fucking wild card"

  Flag rupeeloveon September 26, 2010   Link

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  Lyric Correction:instead of "All of us are in your face" I hear "I look myself in the face"

  Flag tomescoon July 30, 2010   Link

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