Sleep as the goer
the bridge that watches the light speed thru
and cries while the spirit stumbles
and inside missile for the protection of you

maybe it's silent
the voice can't bear anymore strain
but speak without even knowing
and streams outside in the direction of truth

there's no reason there's no secret to decode
if youc an't save it, leave it dying on the road
wide open arms can feel so cold
so cold
feel so cold

balance the books, the ledges, the loons
the disappointed look on the faces
that squint at the moon
let's see it with shadows enhance
and then vote to decide who'll advance
silver jet plane, making a turn
exciting the brain that expects it to crash and then burn
it's not the life lesson I'd've guessed
if you're conscious you must be depressed
or at least cynical
but someone might still eat the steaks
even if they're tough
spending the day
chewing the fat
floating away isn't rough but it's not enough
oh marianne, pass me the joint
the sandpaper's tan
go-getters are surfing the point
and london's a cratch on the lens
it's over before it begins
silk 'round her neck falls down to her shoulders
the older I get, the more I suspect there's a trick
but really there's no trip at all
that doesn't result in a fall
or a faltering
but something might spit out the bait
even if it's real
rolling away
missing a spoke
close to the ground like a wheel but it's not a joke
holding the line
clutching the phone
nobly wasting the night, but it isn't right
it's not right
smelling for blood
praying for rain
running away isn't rough, but it's not enough

the low tide is telling me, when it's over,
to breathe in everything exposed
and comes back to cover me in a blanket
being here's always changing tunes

the empty sky surrounds me but i can't see at all
wide open arms can feel so cold
and you can sit beside me and tell me what it's
worth
but I hope I die before i get sold
I hope I die before I get sold
I'd rather die before I get sold

if you find the soul that you lost
frozen in a starry void
take it within and hope the sight of blood
can will signs of life to return
back to the way that it was
long before it made a noise
to keep on quietly reminding you
what's never created or destroyed

wake as the swell peaks
the close-outs drowning the birds with roars
and howls scare the new unkindness
that picks and laughs at the carrion scene

forces you see breath can always go into hiding
and wait 'til it passes over
or stay far gone for all eternity



Lyrics submitted by afternoontara, edited by jdprod20

Track duration: 12:10


Siberian Breaks song meanings
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36 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This is definitely one of my favorite MGMT songs simply because of how classic rock it is. It's a rare thing that you don't see anymore, especially on a major record label.
    Flag leesaenzon May 10, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Definitely a song that has to do with their own feelings and the way they view the world / music industry (duh). Frustrated with the industry demanding that they make "hits" as opposed to what they are truly inspired to do. Awesome music.
    Flag jdprod20on January 24, 2013   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:In really random ideas taken throughout the song:
    While humans can make such achievements or goals as landing on the moon, we're more excited to see things fail or go wrong. Perhaps because it exploits something we all have in common in life, failure. Group grieving or bondage through an event is something we can relate to more than getting ahead.
    "floating away isn't rough but it's not enough"
    "close to the ground like a wheel but it's not enough"
    "nobly wasting the night, but it isn't right"
    "running away isn't rough, but it's not enough"
    Possibly disappointed that people hope and anticipate that life's pleasures are simple, but they're not. They're not complete. MGMT doesn't want to sell out to these simple pleasures, and while the music industry and its consumers may be gung ho on more Oracular Spectacular music, the band would rather die before they get sold continuing the hopeless dilemma of searching for their desires.

    If you realize what you've demanded from the world and yourself, see the damage that is done. It will stop you from ever doing damage again. You'll wake and see the issue at hand, as well as the situation attacking you.
    Flag Fubgaon September 04, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment:This song makes me reminisce, dream, and feel contempt. This song is everything... and let's leave it at that.
    Flag Admx94on May 28, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:i love this song so much. it evocates the ecsense of a dream the way it starts with "sleep as the goer" and ends with "wake as the swell peaks" it's so awesome.
    "silk round her neck falls down to her shoulder" such bright and realistic imagery, it also reminds me of the lyric in metanoia "Save me some dark hair over a face like hers
    She'll help the rain come to a pour"
    its just such a great song
    Flag psychedelicescapeon March 03, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is just amazing and beautiful, i mean it's hard to explain this song because all of the different emotions this song envolves.
    BEAUTIFUL
    Thanks MGMT!
    Flag SaraEmmaleeon December 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:I've seen quite a few postings about comparing mgmt with pink floyd...and im going to have to agree with that..to an extent. To me i feel like mgmt sounds more like pink floyd with syd barrett. I think, especially with this album, they started where pink floyd left off with syd. I've also listened to their other stuff, the synth electric pop commercial stuff and that stuff is okay but to me with congratulations you can really hear their voices fit in really well with the way the instruments are played on here and their soft melodic voices go so well with the acoustic sound on this song...defiantly my favorite song on the album..They have different sections on this song (something very classic prog rock, very similar to bands like pink floyd, genesis, etc) that break into the other parts good. I just love this, my favorite parts the beginning and end with the acoustics, their voices are so melodic and haunted at the same time its so great! I like the direction this band is going and really hope they stay on this path for their next album too
    Flag universalsoundson November 14, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:Whilst reading this, I've notice everyone comparing MGMT to Pink Floyd. Yeah I can see the connection to them, but with this song am I the only one who finds a connection to The Moody Blues..?
    Flag dizitalcoffinzon June 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:it's truly one of the most beautiful songs i've ever heard. I love it.
    Flag dunkgreeneron April 04, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:This isn't about the lyrics but about the song in general. Essentially it's 3 songs stitched together. Well it could be seen as that - there are distinct stops. But I think the point about having this monolith 12 minute song in the middle is to emphasise the fact that this album has so much to offer. If it were 3 separate "sensibly" lengthed songs it would be easy to skip them and not engage with them. This song is like a symbol for the whole album. It needs listening. In the age of spotify and music downloads at our fingertips it's so easy to not engage in music and just take the music for what you expect from it. You want 3 minutes, you want the chorus to repeat, you don't want to be surprised. But it's like a kid who wants sweets but his parents give him vegetables. This album is good for you in the end. And that's why I love it.
    ANYWAY, sorry about that.
    Flag Calum111on January 05, 2011   Link

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