Lyrically Evocative (30)

~ beetleypete

In 2004, I heard a song by the British band, Keane. It was called ‘Somewhere Only We Know’. I liked it a lot, but not enough to buy the album it came from as some of the other tracks did not appeal. Many years later, the song was covered by Lily Allen, to be used as the soundtrack for the John Lewis Christmas TV advert, in 2013.

Her plaintive vocals touched my heart, and for me they lifted the song to a new level.

Earlier this morning, I commented about her version on another blog post, and listening to the song once again, it made me remember just how relevant the lyrics are to me.

Here are those lyrics.

I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete
Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I’m getting old and I need something to rely on
So, tell me when you’re gonna let me in
I’m getting tired and I need somewhere to begin
I came across a fallen tree
I felt the branches of it looking at me
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I’ve been dreaming of?
Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I’m getting old and I need something to rely on
So, tell me when you’re gonna let me in
I’m getting tired and I need somewhere to begin
And if you have a minute, why don’t we go?
Talk about it somewhere only we know
This could be the end of everything
So, why don’t we go?
Somewhere only we know
Somewhere only we know
Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I’m getting old and I need something to rely on
So, tell me when you’re gonna let me in
I’m getting tired and I need somewhere to begin
And if you have a minute, why don’t we go?
Talk about it somewhere only we know
This could be the end of everything
So, why don’t we go?
So, why don’t we go?
This could be the end of everything
So, why don’t we go?
Somewhere only we know
Somewhere only we know
Somewhere only we know

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Rice Oxley Timothy James / Hughes Richard David / Chaplin Thomas Oliver
Somewhere Only We Know lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Mgb Ltd.

And here is Lily’s version, with the animated TV ad.

33 thoughts on “Lyrically Evocative (30)”

  9. Its that long since I have seen a UK advert, I had forgotten all about John Lewis and the Christmas specials 🙂 I heard Lily say in an interview that she hated her voice in this advert as it sounded screechy, but until now I hadn’t linked the advert 🙂 And now I know what a glottal stop is!
    Amazing work on the animation 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. Lily hated her version, and it was only ever used on the TV ad. But for me, her voice was perfect for the song, and better than the original. (Which I also liked) The way the lady explains the glottal stop in the short video is more or less how I talk. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

  11. Well, unlike some of your other readers, I really enjoy these lyrics and this version by Lily Allen. I will look up the version by Keane, but this one is lovely. I can understand why you enjoy it.

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. Not for me this one, didn’t like the original as I don’t like bloke singers with weedy little voices, the advert was commercial sentimental slush, and the lyrics are just banal. I’m getting old and tired, I went for a walk, let’s have a chat about it. 🙄 sorry Pete. 😘🤣

    Liked by 2 people

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