Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I’m getting old, and I need something to rely on.

When we’re weary from our daily problems, sometimes we seek out familiar patterns and places to bring us comfort. In Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” it appears like a relationship is having difficulties and the man is asking his love to meet him at their private place that only they know about. It is special that he can just say “our place” and the two of them would both know where that is. He is reminding himself and her.

Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” is driven by its strong melody. It is really catchy and powerful. The singing sounds like a man yearning for something: perhaps to be comforted by his love. The instrumentation is strong. Both piano and keyboards are used to strong effect. The drums are well done.

A strong, purposeful bridge helps bring the song home. The building of the song from piano in the beginning building towards forte at the end is the right choice. It feels like Keane starts sad and upon reflection sees a course of action to fix the relationship and needs to fix the relationship now.

Somewhere Only We Know 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?

Ahh
Ohh
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?

Songwriters: Richard David Hughes / Timothy James Rice-Oxley / Tom Chaplin (Keane)