I'll just nod, I've never been so good at shaking hands
I live on the frozen surface of a fireball
Where cities come together to hate each other in the name of sport
America, nothing is ever just anything
I looked up to you, but you thought I would look the other way

And you hear what you want to hear
And they take what they want to take

Don't be sad, won't ever happen like this anymore
So when's it coming, this last new great movement that I can join?
It won't end here, your faith has got to be greater than your fear

Forgive them, even if they are not sorry
All the vultures, bootleggers at the door waiting
You are looking for your own voice but in others
While it hears you, trapped in another dimension

Drop your guard, you don't have to be smart all of the time
I've got a mind full of blanks, I need to go somewhere new fast
And don't be shy, oh no, at least deliberately
'Cause no one really cares or wonders why anymore
Oh, I got music, coming out of my hands and feet and kisses

That is how it once was done
All the dreamers on the run

Forgive them, even if they are not sorry
All the vultures, bootleggers at the door waiting
We're so quick to point out our own flaws in others
Complicated mammals on the wings of robots

If you believe in this world then no one has died in vain
But don't you dare get to the top and not know what to do



Lyrics submitted by jdfreeze

Track duration: 04:04

"11th Dimension" as written by Julian Casablancas

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


11th Dimension song meanings
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31 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:As some of you already said, this song has a lot going on, but I do think that most of you have missed the major point here. The whole song is quite simply about being original, thinking for yourself, and not conforming. There is an "11th Dimension" that Julian is in while the rest of the world is all busy thinking the same way. I'll just pick out a few lines that really tell the story of the song.

    "I'll just nod, I've never been so good at shaking hands
    I live on the frozen surface of a fireball
    Where cities come together to hate each other in the name of sport"

    You can see the contradictions here between Julian and societal norms. We all shake hands, but Julian just nods. Odd that cities would "come together" to "hate."

    "And you hear what you want to hear
    And they take what they want to take"

    This is getting a little deeper into the song that's a little more up for interpretation. I see "they" as America that he talks about briefly in the opening. He's essentially saying that society trains us to think.

    "So when's it coming, this last new great movement that I can join?"

    Self explanatory. When is this movement away from the crap that society feeds us going to take place?

    "You are looking for your own voice but in others
    While it hears you, trapped in another dimension"

    'Looking for your own voice in others.' This is perhaps the most telling line that just bluntly states the overall point of the song.

    "I've got a mind full of blanks, I need to go somewhere new fast"

    "'Cause no one really cares or wonders why anymore"

    "That is how it once was done
    All the dreamers on the run"

    These last couple of lines just continue to show his feelings about being original and thinking for yourself.
    Flag Gary03mwon March 15, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I was just wondering, perhaps the "Complicated mammals on the wings of robots" line may be a reference to "standing on the shoulders of giants" (a quote that Isaac Newton had referred to)... perhaps in this quote he is highlighting the change in culture from those who would find inspiration for their ideas and innovations and aspirations from a higher being, or at least thousands of years of development of the mind and soul through the vastness of history, to now, where we look to our own creation (robots, technology) ... and the dangers of us relying on and almost handing over our responsibilities to these hollow media... Brilliant song.
    Flag DanaScullyon July 24, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The first time I heard the song '11th dimension' I didn't really hang onto the lyrics or search for them. The feeling I got from the music itself took me over like happy and passionate waves of notes crashing between my ears. Then, after reading the lyrics, it was like the song morphed and became another creation altogether. The words used are really powerful and thoughtful. What I feel from the song is the power of forgiveness, having an open mind, the uniqueness we all have and the importance of giving a s*#@ about this world, and ourselves... to forget the hatred, evil and narcissism and to pur more Love and care in the day to day which some of us feel that binds us. If you wake up in the morning thinking it's going to be a crap day, it will. If your thoughts change for the better, then you'll not miss out on all the beauty that is there, even in the places you usually don't dare to go.

    Don't forget to dig deeper, ask questions and try and regain some of the innocence lost from childhood that escapes us so quickly. Never be afraid to ask why and keep an open mind.

    Thank you, Julian for sharing your Love, music and perspective with us... I am grateful.
    ~cg
    Flag pinkdervishon December 31, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song is about seeing all the terrible-ness and evil in the world (people's greed and selfishness), but holding all these feelings in ("living on the frozen surface of a fireball"). He wants to join a "great movement" to end the evil.

    The "phraze" that goes with this song is "Art is the image of life, its purpose simply to enhance it"
    I think in this song, he is trying to find a voice to stand up against evil - but he realizes that hating the evil people won't help and that you must forgive them - because ultimately we are all hypocrites.

    And the funny line "complicated mammals on the wings of robots"
    Human's are the "complicated mammals" and "on the wing of robots" means our heartless, selfish things people do - to a point where we become these money hungry machines.

    Take this interpretation with a grain of salt. Art is for you own interpretation.
    Flag beokbrokenon June 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Wow. Why aren't there more amazing songs like this??? Good music along with an amazing message... it is truly full of phrazes for the young! I wanna live by this song!
    Flag chibigirl77on June 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is seriously fucking amazzzzinnggg!!!! =]
    Flag gabs079on June 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is seriously fucking amazzzzinnggg!!!! =]
    Flag gabs079on June 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Eeeuurrgh! Julian Casablancas' songwriting skills are so...
    Flag aMAEzingNOYseson April 06, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:your faith has got to be greater than your fear

    love it
    Flag aroutinemalaiseon April 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:they forgot the "whoooo!" after "Oh, I got music, coming out of my hands and feet and kisses"
    Flag treblecleffon March 18, 2010   Link

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