Lyrics: Pick me up, dust me off, give me breath and let me cough. Drag me back, collect my thoughts. I've come back to the land I'd lost. The opening lines of the song suggest that the narrator is in need of support and rejuvenation. They want someone to help them recover and regain their composure after facing difficulties or setbacks. They speak of returning to a place they had previously lost or left behind. The palms are down, I'm welcomed back to town. Sometimes, I feel, like they don't understand me. I hear, their mouths, making foreign sounds. Sometimes, I think, they're all just speaking tongues. The narrator expresses a sense of alienation or misunderstandings when they return to their hometown. The reference to "palms" implies that they are in a tropical or exotic location. They feel disconnected from the people around them and perceive their conversations as incomprehensible or foreign. The phrase "speaking tongues" suggests a lack of understanding or communication barriers. Tell me all the things I've missed, who's been killed and who's been kissed. Drag me back, collect my thoughts, I'll be gone when the drugs wear off. The narrator asks to be updated on the events and occurrences they have missed while they were away. They want to be informed about who died and who experienced romantic moments. They express a desire to be quickly restored to mental clarity before leaving again. The palms are down, I'm welcomed into town. Sometimes, I feel, like they don't understand me. I hear, their mouths, making foreign sounds. Sometimes, you'd think, they spoke another language. The repetition of the previous lines reinforces the narrator's feelings of being misunderstood or disconnected from the community. They continue to feel like an outsider despite being welcomed. The language barrier between them and the people around them is emphasized. They say I'm the only one, who can be brave. That I am the chosen one, but there is no way, That I am the only one, and there's no one to save, If there's nowhere for them to run. In these lines, the narrator suggests that they have been burdened with an unrealistic expectation of being the only courageous or exceptional person. They feel overwhelmed by this pressure and acknowledge that they cannot be the sole savior for everyone. They also highlight the need for a safe place for people to seek refuge. The palms are down, I'm welcomed into town. Sometimes, I feel, like they don't understand me. I hear, their mouths, making foreign sounds. Sometimes, you'd think, they spoke another language. Again, the refrain is repeated, emphasizing the ongoing sense of being misunderstood or disconnected from the community. The language barrier is still an obstacle in their interactions with others. They're all just speaking tongues. (Repeated four times) The song concludes with the repeated line, "They're all just speaking tongues." This suggests that communication and understanding remain elusive, and the narrator continues to feel isolated from those around them.
