Portishead Lyrics, Meaning & Videos

Publish date: 2024-05-08

Roads
Portishead Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Oh, can't anybody see
We've got a war to fight
Never found our way
Regardless of what they say
How can it feel, this wrong
From this moment
How can it feel, this wrong
Storm, in the morning light
I feel, no more can I say
Frozen to myself
I got nobody on my side
And surely that ain't right

And surely that ain't right

Oh, can't anybody see
We've got a war to fight
Never found our way
Regardless of what they say
How can it feel, this wrong
From this moment
How can it feel, this wrong

How can it feel, this wrong
From this moment
How can it feel, this wrong

Oh, can't anybody see
We've got a war to fight
Never found our way
Regardless of what they say
How can it feel, this wrong

From this moment
How can it feel, this wrong


Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Portishead's song "Roads" speak to the feeling of being lost, isolated and ignored. The first stanza starts with a message that the world is fighting a war, but despite this fact, people are still struggling to find their way. The feeling of disorientation is amplified by the fact that no matter what advice or guidance others offer, it seems to do little to help. The repetition of "How can it feel, this wrong?" emphasizes the sense of confusion and desperation that the singer is feeling- they simply cannot understand why things feel so broken.


The second stanza deepens the sense of isolation, painting the picture of a desolate landscape shrouded in a storm. The singer notes that they are "frozen to myself", suggesting that they are paralyzed by their own sense of helplessness. The emotional weight of this stanza is underscored by the sense of loneliness and abandonment that the singer is experiencing, with the closing lines lamenting the fact that they are "nobody's side".


The final stanza loops back to the opening, repeating the earlier message that the world is fighting a war, but this time adding a note of urgency- "can't anybody see?" Despite the need for action, however, the singer can't seem to shake the feeling that they are completely without guidance, unable to find their footing in what seems to be a chaotic, confusing world.


Overall, "Roads" paints a powerful picture of what it feels like to be lost, alone, and struggling to make sense of the world around you.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, can't anybody see
The singer is frustrated that nobody seems to understand the urgency of the situation.


We've got a war to fight
This is a metaphor for a struggle, but it is also a reference to the actual wars that were being fought at the time the song was written.


Never found our way
The singer and others like her are lost and unsure of what to do.


Regardless of what they say
The artist feels that others are not helping and instead adding to the confusion.


How can it feel, this wrong
The singer is questioning how things can feel so wrong when they are supposed to be right.


From this moment
The singer is implying that something must change, and it must happen now.


Storm, in the morning light
The storm imagery symbolizes chaos and confusion.


I feel, no more can I say
The singer is overwhelmed and feels like she has said all she can say, yet the situation is still the same.


Frozen to myself
This represents the singer feeling stuck or trapped in the situation and her emotions.


I got nobody on my side
The singer feels alone and unsupported in her struggle.


And surely that ain't right
The singer is expressing her disbelief that it is right for her to be alone in her fight.


Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Adrian Francis Utley, Beth Gibbons, Geoffrey Paul Barrow

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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