I was cold in a dream
Somewhere close to the surface
Between the ice and the stream
There is three inches of air
So I swam towards the light
I let my breath get there first
When I opened my eyes
I saw myself in the mirror
And I knew I would do like my father has done
Yes, we will never break from these chains
Your life is going to course like a history book
Don't be frightened of turning the page
Because it is all the same
It will always be the same



Lyrics submitted by I Saw Star Wars

Track duration: 04:43


Mirrors and Fevers song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:In the background of the noise collage, the people are singing June on the West Coast and An Attempt to Tip the Scales. I wonder why, in the Noise Floor album booklet, he say "this is also the only a cappella Bright Eyes in existence, thank god." I think it sounds great, I have no problem with a cappella.
    Flag Bright_Tigresson March 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:There are so many songs that could have given Fevers & Mirrors so much more power than it already has, and this is definitely one of them.
    Along with The Joy In Forgetting/The Joy In Acceptance.
    This track is crafted beautifully, Conor sounds like he's hiding in a closet from the incessant noise of everyday life.
    If you put this track between Jetsabel Removes The Undesirables and Sunrise, Sunset on the Japanese import of Fevers & Mirrors, it turns the album into a Shakespearean tragedy.
    It's beautiful.
    Flag damagedoneon January 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:In the beginning, I'm thinking part of where the girls are singing is from "An Attempt to Tip The Scales".

    You can hear them sing "in an attempt to tip the scales, I think you've lost what you love, in the mess of details..."

    :)
    Flag lauradeeon January 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:In the beginning, I'm thinking part of where the girls are singing is from "An Attempt to Tip The Scales".

    You can hear them sing "in an attempt to tip the scales, I think you've lost what you love, in the mess of details..."

    :)
    Flag lauradeeon January 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is drastically underestimated.
    Flag saltandpepperon June 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:On the Noise Floor album Conor says of this song :

    When putting together this collection we were first worried we wouldnt have a cumbersome enough intro to begin the record (a tradition we started to ward off the casual listeners). Luckily there was this track from the Don't Be Frightened of Turning the Page EP. The collage was created from dictaphone recordings from our first trip to Europe. This is also the one a capella Bright EYes in existence, thank god.

    C:
    Flag roshieneon April 27, 2007   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:LETS SEE YOU DANCE SUCKA YOU GOT NOTHING ON ME
    Flag beveahon April 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Does anyone know who sings the songs on the noise collage at the start?
    They go "i think youve lost what you love, theres..." something//
    And the other one is "you make me pure you make me pure" and something else..
    Flag bmth_ownon February 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Tihs song is about feeling like you're suffocating and as hard as you try, as hard as you swim to get to the surface and just breathe, there is a layer of ice keeping you. He may even have intended it as something you can see through, but cannot pass.

    He is living in the three inches between the water's surface and the layer of ice. Keeping his head above water is all he can do, but that's where he's always going to be. He's going to grow older, his dreams and crazy youthful ambitions will find themselves boiled down to paying the bills, and eventually he'll start a family. And he'll be just like his father.

    He is no savior, no saint, no hero; he is going to be just like his father. Just like I am. And just like everybody is, because that is the cycle of life. But the hope is in that you shouldn't be afraid of it, because it is calm. He tells you not to be frightened of turning the page and to just accept it, because those are the bounds of reality and of mortality.

    Ultimately the feeling is of contentment, not pessimism.
    Flag cowboyupinblueon February 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is a terribly pessimistic song, but goodness, he can really create an image...create emotions.

    The meanings seems clear to me at least, that no matter what, you can't break from the barriers of what you are destined to be. And to Conor, these barriers are heavy chains.

    Don't be scared of tomorrow because it will be just as miserable as today.

    Maybe I'm missing the optimism?
    Flag blueoftheskyon October 22, 2006   Link

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