Check your pulse
Its proof that you're not listening to
The call your life's been issuing you
The rhythm of a line of idle days

Scared of the world outside you should go explore
Pull all the shades and wander the great indoors
The great indoors

Lamplight makes the shadows play
And posters take the walls away
The TV is your window pane
The view wont let you down

So put your faith in a late night show
I bet you didn't even know
Depends on how far out you go
The channel numbers change

Scared of the world outside you should go explore
Pull all the shades and wander the great indoors

Though lately I cant blame you
I have seen the world
And sometimes wish your room had room for two

So go unlock the door
And find what you are here for
Leave the great indoors
Please leave the great indoors

Check your pulse
Its proof that you're not listening to
The call your life's been issuing you
The rhythm of a line of idle days



Lyrics submitted by Ice

Track duration: 03:36

"Great Indoors" as written by John Mayer

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Great Indoors song meanings
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21 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:i love this song it's so relaxing! "check your pulse it's proof that you're not listening to the call your lifes been issuing you the rythm of a line of idle days"
    Flag goldnavaon March 23, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i have no words
    completely speachless
    if you like this song guys check his demo acoustic version on youtube of this song you'll love this song ever more
    there is something in mayer voice that calms us
    but there is everything in mayer lyrics.
    since john left this song open to interpretation
    i am gonna do mine
    this songs says "go out and have fun, life is what you make of it. you have one life either you can be happy or drown your self in misery"
    chorus part is not instructive its a kind of soliloquy
    the last chorus is instructive
    please guys leave the great indoors.
    not so great once you're outdoor
    or thats what i think.
    Flag loverorloseron July 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i love this song,
    especially the first part, about the post it's. i just listened to it and looked up at my big "to do" list and laughed. sometimes we just can't help but to wonder about what things are like outside of what we surround ourselves with (school, work)-- mayer is saying don't just let it be a thought, be proactive about it. if you've been wondering what something is like, go discover it for yourself and make it more than just a passing thought.
    Flagged kevindevineluvahon April 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with junglemonkey.

    To me, it could really relate to a form of anxiety - social anxiety, or even agoraphobia.

    Interesting song. I guess the beauty of JM's music is that it really is a form of art and expression, and is therefore open to interpretation.
    Flag JMDIOR-08on January 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:His Deep insights (or better " New Deep") combined with a rare talent to communicate the "Heavier Things" in life, directly and indirectly, so effectively across such a wide demographic.

    I believe the meaning of a song is open to interpretation for anyone, regardless of the writer's intentions. That is the Beauty.
    As for me, I felt that the " great indoors" is not a physical place, but a rather a place inside of us. His descriptions of the indoors are metaphors for what can be seen by this exploration of the innerself. He mentioned a TV Late Night Show followed by " I Bet You Didn't even know", know that you could go inside. "PULL all the shades and WANDER the GREAT INDOORS." Interesting choice of words. Afraid of the WORLD OUTSIDE because of its chaos, its a view also shared by John. He too wants to share the "inner" exploration but there is no room for two. Self Exploration can only be done individualy. And toward the end [after you open the door and "find out what you are here for", he then contradict himself by telling you to "LEAVE the Great Indoors". I think he is trying to say that once you found what you are looking for within yourself you then need to leave that place, Just as he did in "New Deep". After all the world outside isn't as bad and scary once you understand the "Wheel".

    The best thing about it is, it doesn't matter what I think because as long as you got something possitive out of his work then he has done something special. And by the tons of comments I have read, I would say he is cutting down the wait for the world to change.
    Flag innerspaceon January 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:His Deep insights (or better " New Deep") combined with a rare talent to communicate the "Heavier Things" in life, directly and indirectly, so effectively across such a wide demographic.

    I believe the meaning of a song is open to interpretation for anyone, regardless of the writer's intentions. That is the Beauty.
    As for me, I felt that the " great indoors" is not a physical place, but a rather a place inside of us. His descriptions of the indoors are metaphors for what can be seen by this exploration of the innerself. He mentioned a TV Late Night Show followed by " I Bet You Didn't even know", know that you could go inside. "PULL all the shades and WANDER the GREAT INDOORS." Interesting choice of words. Afraid of the WORLD OUTSIDE because of its chaos, its a view also shared by John. He too wants to share the "inner" exploration but there is no room for two. Self Exploration can only be done individualy. And toward the end [after you open the door and "find out what you are here for", he then contradict himself by telling you to "LEAVE the Great Indoors". I think he is trying to say that once you found what you are looking for within yourself you then need to leave that place, Just as he did in "New Deep". After all the world outside isn't as bad and scary once you understand the "Wheel".

    The best thing about it is, it doesn't matter what I think because as long as you got something possitive out of his work then he has done something special. And by the tons of comments I have read, I would say he is cutting down the wait for the world to change.
    Flag innerspaceon January 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think this song is about telling people who live life in a closed space, not litterally, but all of those who live life behind the safe line... he's motivating them to explore, to leave that closed space in which they live and to find out what is ahead of them ..and in the part when he says "though lately i cant blame you" i think he means ..well yeah i understand why you hide sometimes because i have felt that way too ..i think it's one of his best and definitely one to hear in winter time

    ...the only thing i wonder is ..why does he say pull all the shades and wander the great indoors ..shouldnt it say outdoors?
    Flag melissaskon July 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this, song, is my FAVORITE ever by john mayer.

    not only because of the lyrics, but this song has touched me deeply this past year on how it relates to me leaving my own "great indoors"

    this part of the song especially makes me tear up everytime i listen to it:

    though lately I can't blame you
    I have seen the world
    And sometimes wish your room had room for two

    so go unlock the door
    and find what you are here for
    the great indoors
    leave the great indoors
    Flag juicyjuiceon July 19, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:i know that i am probably wrong but to me this song is about being scared of getting hurt and maybe missing out on something that could be really great
    Flag specialK37on June 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:People get outa ur house and explore this beautiful world hes being so sarcastic in this song i love it
    Flag Mosef123on April 30, 2006   Link

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