Intro: E Bm D F#M
E Bm D F#M
Why do I have to fly over every town up and down the line?
E Bm D F#M
I'll die on the clouds avobe and you that I defend I do not love
G Em A
I wake up it's a bad dream, no one on my side I was fighting
F#M G
But I just feel too tired to be fighting
Em A A7
Guess I'm not the fighting kind
E Bm D F#M
When will I meet my fate? Baby I'm a man and i was born to hate
E Bm D F#M
When will I meet my end? In a better time you could be my friend
G Em A
I wake up, it's a bad dream, no one on my side I was fighting
F#M G
But I just feel too tired to be fighting
Em A
Guess I'm not the fighting kind
F#M G
Wouldn't mind it if you were by my side
Em A
But you're long gone, yes you're long gone now
F#M G
Em A
Where do we go?
F#M G
I don't even know
A G
My strage old face
Em A
And I'm thinking about those days
G
And I'm thinking about those days
G Em A
I wake up, it's a bad dream, no one on my side I was fighting
F#M G
But I just feel too tired to be fighting
Em A
Guess I'm not the fighting kind
F#M G
Wouldn't mind it if you were by my side
Em A
But you're long gone, yes you're long gone now
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
|
No Picture
Jesus Average |
#1 by Jesus Christ at Sep 27, 2007 at 1:30 AM EST |
| Possibly the strongest song on the album apart from Leaving So Soon and Try Again! the meaning seems to have been covered by the above posts, the fact he's looking back at a time when he was with someone, and now that it is over, it hurts him so much, he hopes it is just a bad dream, but you get the feeling it won't be! | |
|
No Picture
dylan Average |
#2 by dylan pesino at Sep 27, 2007 at 12:58 PM EST |
| Oh yeah i love this song makes me want to cry because it reminds me about something i was fighting for but i gave up | |
|
No Picture
connor Average |
#3 by connor gooley at Sep 27, 2007 at 9:32 PM EST |
| I dont know why but i love the line: "Baby I'm a man, I was born to hate" | |
|
No Picture
Andrew Wanna Be |
#4 by Andrew Long at Sep 30, 2007 at 9:54 AM EST |
| and how much does the intro sound like it could break into The Streets- Dry Your Eyes! | |
|
No Picture
Wacko Average |
#5 by Wacko Jacko at Sep 30, 2007 at 10:41 PM EST |
| Good song with great atmosphere, and if you actually read the poem itself you can spot the similarities... I KNOW that I shall meet my fate Somewhere among the clouds above; Those that I fight I do not hate Those that I guard I do not love; My country is Kiltartan Cross, My countrymen Kiltartan’s poor, No likely end could bring them loss Or leave them happier than before. Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, Nor public man, nor cheering crowds, A lonely impulse of delight Drove to this tumult in the clouds; I balanced all, brought all to mind, The years to come seemed waste of breath, A waste of breath the years behind In balance with this life, this death | |
|
No Picture
Josh Average |
#6 by Josh Smith at Oct 1, 2007 at 2:29 AM EST |
| This is my favorite song of the album. And yeah it's about a soldier, he even manage to make you feel like a soldier, how depressing is to go to war and all the thoughts that go through your mind. "And I'm thinking about those days And I'm thinking about those days" I love how he sings that part. I just close my eyes an the song goes through me, I love that feeling. | |
|
No Picture
Joshua Wanna Be |
#7 by Joshua Osprey at Oct 3, 2007 at 12:38 AM EST |
| Before a concert, Tom explained what this song means...you guys are all off ;) It's about a soldier going to war. In fact, a lot of the album is about disillusionment with the ways of the world and all the current events (war, etc.) But I love how the lyrics are vague so most people end up spinning it to be about failed relationships and other sad themes....let's break it down and it'll all make sense. Why do I have to fly? (GOING TO WAR) Over every town up and down the line? I'll die in the clouds above And you that I defend, I had do not love (NOT NECESSARILY CARING ABOUT THOSE YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR, MOST ARE STRANGERS ANYWAY) I wake up, it's a bad dream No one on my side (IT'S WAR) I was fighting But I just feel too tired To be fighting Guess I'm not the fighting kind Where will I meet my fate? (FEAR DEATH) Baby I'm a man, I was born to hate And when will I meet my end? In a better time you could be my friend (ABOUT THE ENEMY, HE DOESN'T REALLY "HATE" HIM BUT IT'S WAR SO YOU HAVE TO KILL; IN ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE THE ENEMY COULD HAVE BEEN SOME PERSON YOU BEFRIENDED) Where do we go? (POINTLESSNESS OF WAR) I don't even know My strange old face (FIGHTING AND TIME HAS AGED THIS SOLDIER) And I'm thinking about those days (BEFORE HE HAD TO FIGHT, BEFORE HE WENT TO WAR, FRIENDS, FAMILIES, ETC) And I'm thinking about those days ========== I could go on and on but this should elucidate a lot of things. You guys are correct in bits and parts but your context is incorrect; it is a soldier going to war. Straight from the source. | |
|
No Picture
Freddy Badass |
#8 by Freddy Timmons at Oct 3, 2007 at 8:57 AM EST |
| "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death" is the name of the poem. However, in that poem the speaker suggests that he's fighting in the war not for glory, not out of necessity, but simply out of "A lonely impulse of delight. Drove to this tumult in the clouds;" | |
|
No Picture
Chuck Average |
#9 by Chuck Norris at Oct 3, 2007 at 6:49 PM EST |
| Thanks for the meaning about war. From your break down I can see why that is the case. Obviously not the first thing i thought of. I thought it wasnt as straight forward as that but enjoyed the song nonetheless. First thing that came to me was, Things happened for whatever reason whether or not he likes it but he has to endure it even though he is wanting those better days back. | |
|
No Picture
nick Average |
#10 by nick caldwell at Oct 5, 2007 at 12:31 AM EST |
| UKingdom! right on the spot! i think people just have the habit of thinking music is always about love and broken hearts... well it is in most cases, but when the band is good there is more to say! take pink floyd for an example! by the way... the initial part of this songs feels a bit like some pink floyd songs... i think. Anyway, that´s what makes music so beautiful. One word, diferent meanings! | |
|
No Picture
ben Lead Player |
#11 by ben Tee at Oct 5, 2007 at 3:40 AM EST |
| this song is pretty cool I just heard it for the first time last night and now I cant stop listening to it. I'm not sure what its talking about but I guess I agree with the posts above me. cant wait till I buy the new album. | |
|
No Picture
*Lee Average |
#12 by *Lee * at Oct 5, 2007 at 5:30 AM EST |
| he's obviously thinking about 'the good old days' and how he misses his lifelong soulmate - partner or wife - and he's going to be with her soon i've only just listened it for the first time but i can already see what a touching song it is. | |
|
No Picture
black Rhythm Player |
#13 by black rose at Oct 5, 2007 at 5:35 PM EST |
| UK, thanks for the first-heand info. Unfortunately it might change the way I listen to the song for the worse, being that I tend to despise all things "war." Nonetheless, love and war are of the same world, and some would argue that a song about one speaks of both. | |
|
No Picture
Alex Lead Player |
#14 by Alex Russo at Oct 8, 2007 at 8:07 AM EST |
| The song is vague enough that you can twist it into different contexts though, I suppose, like bad relationships, etc., which is what most people do. | |
|
No Picture
Goat Average |
#15 by Goat Screwer at Oct 8, 2007 at 11:11 PM EST |
| UKingdom, you could not be more spot-on, and I thank you for setting the record straight. Though as human beings, we do possess a natural tendency to internalise and relate to things subjectively, thereby ignoring the universal context of songs such as these which are more tied into society and its experiences as a whole rather than just a single person or personal circumstance. That being said, it does tie into the personal sphere in terms of the narrator speaking from that standpoint. Yes, he's tired. No, he doesn't see the reason for fighting anymore and is even questioning his dedication to his nation, the people he defends, though (not necessarily) 'loves'. Apropos, I think, and perhaps even some social commentary befitting of the current times. All in all, a great song about a very powerful subject. Though I agree, it's interesting how many relate to it on the level of personal / romantic relationships. | |
|
No Picture
Eric Wanna Be |
#16 by Eric Canfield at Oct 9, 2007 at 12:10 PM EST |
| I think this is a beautiful song - I was hoping to see Keane in concert but tickets sold out too quickly :'(. It is definitely about a fighter (evidently a plane fighter) in WWII, based on W.B. Yeat's "An Irishman Forsees His Death". Regarding its title, it is related to dreams, and Keane have said it starts slow dreamy and builds up to be loud and angry. Beautiful music. | |
|
No Picture
Nic Rhythm Player |
#17 by Nic F at Oct 11, 2007 at 6:18 PM EST |
| I think this song is about someone who obviously is lonely, old, with no friends. If things were different he could make friends. Now his chances are gone. And he's at the end of his days. Overthinking his life... | |
|
No Picture
mat Wanna Be |
#18 by mat bar at Oct 13, 2007 at 12:37 AM EST |
| It comes from a poem by W.B. Yeats titled something like "Irish Airman Predicts his death" or something like that. | |
|
No Picture
Chad Wanna Be |
#19 by Chad Barri at Oct 14, 2007 at 6:16 PM EST |
| I think that's the beauty of the song - you think it's about one thing (the failed relationship/someone who's lonely etc - I thought that too) and then when you hear what it's really about (the soldier) it goes from being a really good, heartfelt song to being a truly beautiful, meaninful song. | |
|
No Picture
james Rhythm Player |
#20 by james dobson at Oct 15, 2007 at 7:06 AM EST |
| I think songs have a personal meaning to everyone and Just because a writer bases his song on something doesn't mean people who listen to the song feel the same at all because thats not what music is about | |
|
No Picture
DUMBASS Average |
#21 by DUMBASS Thomas at Oct 15, 2007 at 8:55 PM EST |
| And think about the title, "A Bad Dream." As a soldier fighting and tired of it all it just seems like a bad dream you want to end, sick of fighting, tired of fighting, you don't see the point of it, and you long for the days before you had left and for all your loved ones, because you're alone fighting a war you may not necessarily believe in for strangers and fighting people who in any other circumstances would not have been your enemies. | |
|
No Picture
David Average |
#22 by David Tims at Oct 15, 2007 at 11:03 PM EST |
| I get what this song means now, but I'm listening to it right now and it makes me think of a relationship too. Like you're thinking about the old days, and looking back and thinking about that person. But you realize that they're gone now, like a bad dream... and you're alone now. And the fighting part reminds me of a breakup, like you fight to stay strong or to convince the other person to change their mind or whatever battle you're fighting... but you just get so tired of it and give up. And then this line: "In a better time you could be my friend" could mean that once time has passed, even after a breakup, they could be friends again. However, I know that's not what this song is actually about, but it does make sense. That's just my own interpretation though because that's what I think of when I listen to it. Probably just because I went through a bad break-up, though. haha. | |
|
No Picture
The Mexican Who Average |
#23 by The Mexican Who's Living Under Satan's Wing at Oct 16, 2007 at 2:22 AM EST |
| whether it's about relationship or anything else, the simple fact is that this song is amazing. | |
|
No Picture
Average |
#24 by Fig at Oct 16, 2007 at 3:48 AM EST |
| Just agreeing with Ukingdom. I saw Keane at the V festival last week and they announced this song by saying it was about a fighter pilot going to war. I think it's a fantastic song, really poignant and you can adapt it for lots of different situations. | |
|
No Picture
zach Wanna Be |
#25 by zach lilly at Oct 16, 2007 at 1:01 PM EST |
| i'm not going to say what i think this song means to me since its already been covered half a dozen times here, but i just have to say, this song is absolutely amazing! i must buy their album! | |
Top 7 Keane Guitar Tabs
Popular Guitar Tabs