Lyrics
Well I know what I like and I like what I see
Expressing personal preferences and satisfaction with what is observed.
I know what I want and I know what I need
Being aware of desires and necessities.
And the more that I get, the more that I need
Highlighting a cyclical pattern of increasing wants and needs.
So if you're coming along well you're coming out easy
Inviting someone to join, emphasizing an easygoing approach.
Everybody screams don't know what to believe
General confusion and skepticism, unsure of what to believe.
I just follow someone else's life
Admitting to following someone else's life path.
And all my bookcases groan none of the words are my own
Bookcases filled with others' words, lacking personal expression.
I just follow someone else's life cm
Continuing to emulate someone else's life.
And all the knowledge I crave is waiting there in my grave
Desiring knowledge that may only be attained after death.
So it seems - jump or be sane
Presenting a choice between taking risks (jump) or conforming (be sane).
I want to move on but I know when to stay
Expressing a desire for progress but understanding the importance of stability.
Oh you can stand there all day, you can shoulder the blame
Suggesting the option to bear responsibility without guilt.
But they're spoiling the paintwork and they're ruining the line
Referring to external factors damaging the situation.
And I've been here before and it ain't worth your overtime
Reflecting on past experiences, implying it's not worth the extra effort.
Everybody screams don't know what to believe
Reiteration of confusion and uncertainty in beliefs.
I just follow someone else's life
Continued acknowledgment of following others' lives.
And all my bookcases groan none of the words are my own
Reiteration of bookcases filled with others' words.
I just follow someone else's life
Persisting in imitating someone else's life.
They've got me running around but it's not work that they've found
Being kept busy with tasks that lack true purpose.
Just something to keep me occupied cm
Emphasizing the presence of desired knowledge in death.
And all the knowledge I crave is waiting there in my grave
Reiteration of the choice between taking risks or being sane.
So it seems - jump or be sane
Reiteration of the theme of making a significant choice.
Jump or be sane
Repetition for emphasis on the crucial decision.
Jump or be sane
-Jump or be sane
-Jump or be sane
-Eb
Introducing a challenge to be pursued, possibly metaphorical.
Catch me if you can, my feet won't ever feel the ground again
Expressing a sense of freedom and detachment from reality.
F
Metaphorical references to music and elements of life.
So let the overture take over and the symphony restrain
-F
-Let the orchestra be passion and the timpanis the rain
-Em a cm
Reiteration of following others' lives and lacking personal expression.
Everybody screams don't know what to believe
-G
-I just follow someone else's life
-Em a cm
-And all my bookcases groan none of the words are my own
-G
-I just follow someone else's life
-Em a
Describing tasks that keep one occupied without a clear purpose.
Cm
-They've got me running around but it's not work that they've found
-G
-Just something to keep me occupied
-Em a cm
-It's a mean machine keep it tight keep it clean
-G
-Just something to keep me occupied
-Em a cm
-And as a matter of course be not vexed by remorse
-G
-I'm not lost but one who's gone before
-Em a cm
Stating that desired knowledge is in death, reinforcing the theme of choice.
And as the knowledge I crave is waiting there in my grave
-G d
-Then it seems jump or be sane
-Em
Final repetition of the central theme, emphasizing the dichotomy of jumping or maintaining sanity.
Jump or be sane
-D
-Jump or be sane
-Em
-Jump or be sane
-
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