I had been spending some time listening to our older songs, trying to understand what it was that made them what they were. This one was inspired by the Zero era.
The journey that Simon took to writing it was similarly obscure - the chords were originally built around the bass line from New Order's Blue Monday, and he also took inspiration from the Crash Test Dummies' Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm when writing the "aaah aaah" parts.
It might have even been good enough to go on the album, except that it wasn't ready in time, and also it's not too far from Better Days in terms of "message". Never mind...
The lyrics:
Well it’s true, life was simple then
I would learn something new each day
So now my feet move more easily
But it feels as though it’s all been said
I wonder where I lost my way
It looked alright until today
The journey here was long and slow
Now nothing’s easy any more
You were right, things were normal then
Never fought, or struggled anyway
So now the torment comes readily
And the past seems livid, cold and grey
I wonder where I lost my way
It looked alright until today
The journey here was long and slow
Now nothing’s easy any more
You gave me freedom, made me think
You drove me crazy, made me sink
And now at last I know who you are
You always watch me from afar
I wonder where I lost my way
It looked alright until today
The journey here was long and slow
Now nothing’s easy any more
(R. Martin / S. Martin)
