Song Meanings by Band:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

Login  |  Register


Forums

     Requests

Links

    Random Song

Arcade

  Submit an
      Interpretation

 

  

The Killers - Mr Brightside Song Meanings

Lyrics:
Mr. Brightside
I'm coming out of my cage
And I’ve been doing just fine
Gotta gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started ...
(See the rest of these lyrics)

Hide poorly rated interpretations
< Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next >

Top Rated Interpretation

2005-07-10 21:22:40
The key in this song is its title. By calling himself Mr Brightside, the speaker is commenting on how he is incurably optimistic - he always looks at the bright side of any given situation.

The song is about his propensity for getting overly involved emotionally with women he has only just met, and suffering heartbreak when his love proves to be unrequited. His "destiny" is to continually experience such heartbreak because he always opens up his "eager eyes" to the next possible paramour.

To get into a closer reading, look at the first stanza:

Coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all

Here, he is freeing himself from the emotional restraint that was protecting him from having his heart broken and allowing himself to become interested in a girl. The "all" that he wants refers to true love, the kind that you can only get if you are willing to give the entirety of yourself to someone else.

It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this
It was only a kiss
It was only a kiss

Here, he's wondering how he's gotten to the point that he cares so deeply about her after just one kiss - the answer is because he allowed himself to invest that kiss with meaning that for her was not there.

The next couple stanzas basically tell the story of him seeing this girl that kissed him once hanging out with other guys - and because he feels so strongly for her, he becomes deeply jealous/angry. It's sort of like a situation where two people made out on a dance floor one night, and the girl felt like she was just having fun whereas the guy thought there was actually a connection.

Where we get the best crystallization of Mr Brightside's true nature and motivation is in the following stanza:

But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr Brightside

Here, we should be getting that the "price" he pays is the intense feelings of jealousy, rage, and heartbreak that come from his penchant for getting too attached too fast. He asserts that it is out of his hands, that this pattern of behavior is simply part of his core personality by referring to it as his "destiny." His eyes are "eager" for the next girl that he will fall for, which is sure to happen because he is the perpetually optimistic "Mr Brightside" - always looking for and ready for love.
Mr.Wrongside 2007-12-24 17:21:32    
I feel like he was finally seeing the good in the world when he met a girl he liked. But the girl also has a significant other which makes him jealous. He was once a good person and now is obsessed with love and hate. He believes he can never be good enough for her and he looses his once stable mind.
honeybear 2008-01-04 02:18:10    
Mr. Brightside is an old English story about Tim Brightside, who goes to America for a while. He meets a prostitute. They fall in love. The prostitute promises him she will quit her prostitution for her love to him. But one night, She doesn't come home. She is waiting outside a hotel for a carriage to arrive... with a client. She gets in and the man starts to remove her clothes on the way to where he lives. Word got around to our Brightside friend, and he becomes depressed. One day, he climbs to the top of the Brooklyn Bride and commits suicide. And that is the story of Mr. Brightside.

I think they based it on the story of Tim Brightside.
basically, the song is about a girl cheating on him, he's jealous, andi have this feeling that murder has some part in this song.

I don't think this songs linked to the other songs "jenny was a friend of mine" or "midnight show".

"I never"
i think that's him thinking that he never thought it would happen? Or maybe, I never did it (if there was murder involved with this song)

Well yeah, he feels sick about the situation cozhe didn't think she'd do something, like cheating him. And he can't stop thinking about him. Similar to Tim Brightside's story, so that's where the name came from.

Correct me if I'm wrong tho..
anonymous 2008-01-06 16:14:49    
Dear username
i think the only hostile person in here are you, so will ya please come down and stop biting anyones head off because he might be wrong about what he/she said about your beloved cure?
as far as I saw it there wasn't anything hostile or what ever hallucinatoin you might have had (and, yes, this is meant to be offensive so you can see whats it like being addressed to like that and I don't care if your forgive me or not as I don't think it matters) so I've heard, too, that the song was written or inspired when the band wasn't even complete, but maybe there could be a compromise and they wrote it together or someone did the music and others the text? I'm sorry I'm spoiling space where a really good interpretation should be, and I think I am staying anonymous too because I'm not keen on receiving letter bombs or anything from you... but I think you forgot your interpretation, too, all in eagerness to stress that could only have been the one and only cure who wrote this great song, (no prob here but stop teeing off other people for saying they have heard otherwise)so.... why don't you shut your big mouth? I wish you a blessed day
anonymous 2008-01-13 20:03:18    
ACT I: HE OPENS UP AND FALLS IN LOVE (VULNERABLE)

I'm coming out of my cage
And I�ve been doing just fine
Gotta gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss

ACT II:JEALOUSY SETS IN WHEN HE'S NOT AROUND HER- HIS IMAGINATION GOES WILD (FALLS ASLEEP...ALL IN MY HEAD)

Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
but she's touching his chest
Now, he takes off her dress

ACT III: HE CAN'T TAKE THIS FEELING OF JEALOUSY ITS BECOME HIS OBSESSION

Now, let me go
I just can't look its killing me
And taking control

ACT IV: SUMMARY: METAPHOR THAT HE IS NAIVE (SAINT) THAT IS CAST OUT INTO THE UNCHARTED/OVERWHELMING TERRITORY OF LOVE(THE SEA) WHERE HE FINDS HIMSELF GOING TO BED WITH THESE JEALOUS THOUGHTS (SICK LULLABIES) AND WHEN HE DOES SEE HER HIS TWISTED THOUGHTS OF JEALOUSY MAKES ANYTHING SHE SAYS ABOUT THEIR TIME APART AS (ALIBIS) BUT THIS WAS THE PRICE OF FALLING IN LOVE AND SINCE HE KNOWS IT WAS ALL IN HIS HEAD (NO PROOF) HE DESPERATELY WISHES HIS JEALOUS FEELINGS TO BE ALLAYED AND (EAGERLY) LOOKS FOR ANYTHING TO PROVE THESE FEELINGS WRONG. HE DOESN'T CONFRONT HER BECAUSE HE WISHES TO SEE THE (BRIGHTSIDE) OF THINGS SO HE CAN MAINTAIN THEIR RELATIONSHIP - WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE FOR SOMEONE THAT IS HOPELESSLY IN LOVE.

Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
Cause I'm Mr Brightside
anonymous 2008-01-14 03:55:43    
I don't really know about the whole murder trilogy thing - sounds interesting, however I think this song is about the sad truth that the girl is married or attached to another older guy, is miserable with him... Has had a relationship with the younger man ( Mr Brightside ) has feelings for him, but is trapped in the relationship with her spouse or whoever. Secretly, she loves the younger man, and he loves her, but cannot do anything about it. This kind of scenario happens quite often in marriage/affair situations, where the wife or husband (ie: blond girl) is trapped within her marriage, but longs to be with another man.
anonymous 2008-01-22 17:40:04    
I thank it's about a good guy (Mr. Brightside), always positive, always looking for the good in everyone, falls in love with a hooker/swinger/slut, and it's driving him crazy seeing/imagining her with other men.
anonymous 2008-02-01 03:45:15    
I think that perhaps Mr Brightside is in love with his female friend. He's been feeling this way for a long time - unable to get over her, and feeling trapped because of it - and hasn't told her until recently. Maybe they ended up kissing accidentally really drunkenly one night ('it was only a kiss') and he, encouraged, decided to tell her how he felt. She told him that she cared about him (being tactful enough not to bluntly turn him down relationship-wise) a lot, but needed time to think about it.

They go out for drinks one night and she hits it off with some other guy. Mr Brightside gets increasingly depressed about this and drinks enough to render himself incomprehensible and on the verge of passing out ('now I'm falling asleep'). He knows now that even though she is aware of how he feels, this is how the situation will ultimately turn out: her not caring about him. Having 'just come out his cage' (that drunk kiss encouraged him a lot) he was feeling a lot more optimistic about the possibility of them going on to be in a relationship, and feeling less hopeless. Now seeing the whole sorry mess, 'how did it end up like this?' he wonders what the hell went wrong. In his state of delirium his imagination runs wild 'now it's all in my head,' and he can see nothing but the girl that he can never have with some strange man who doesn't know her, doesn't appreciate her and who probably won't call her.
This is a bit detailed - I don't think it's necessarily all true but certainly it's watching someone he knows he shouldn't care about that much be with someone else, and despising it all.
anonymous 2008-02-10 19:03:37    
If you really listen to the lyrics, he could be jealous of the girl, not the guy.

"I'm coming out of my cage..."
he's gay.
anonymous 2008-02-10 21:15:20    
Okay to end this crap about who wrote this song take a glance at the cd. On the inside you can find who wrote what song. Flowers and Keuning wrote this according to that, not the cure.
anonymous 2008-02-13 20:33:39    
I think that this song is about jealousy in a relationship, whether or not the singer has any reason to be jealous-"it's all in my head". The cure did not write this song. Dave Keuning, the lead guitarist for the killers, started to write it, and Brandon Flowers finished it. Also, if you take a look at the other video of this, you would know that it was a tribute to Moulin Rouge, Brandon's favorite movie. The song has nothing to do with prostitutes, only distrust in a relationship, causing the relationship to fail. It also shows how other people's opinions can effect a relationship-"they're taking control." and please stop bringing up Andy, Jenny and Natalie, okay?
anonymous 2008-02-26 18:32:03    
This song is much deeper than you would think. By lyrics alone, it appears to be about some guy in love with a girl who is in love with someone else. BUT, the second music video (of three) plays this song out in a Moulin Rouge setting. This video makes everything clear.

The setting for this video is in what otherwise could be known as a "whore-house" (my apologies for any offenses and lack of political correctness). The infamous "girl" is one of these--we'll call them 'girls'--who work here. The main singer is the guy who supposedly isn't having any luck with this girl. When in all actuality they both are in love with each other. The other guy sang about in the song is actually the many men she is paid to "please". The master of this business catches the girl and lead singer of The Killers kissing and this accounts for the lyrics: "it was only a kiss...it was only a kiss". It ends up with The Lead Singer giving up on her and walking away; leaving her with her mess of a life.
anonymous 2008-02-28 13:36:00    
I think it's about someone who is naive in a relationship and is just 'coming out of his cage', it is up to the girl he loves to teach him about jealousy as he has a fanatical dreamy view of love-hence 'mr brightside', it is up to the girl to 'open up his eager eyes' while his 'stomach is sick' from thinking about her infidelity after they have broken up-i.e 'he takes off her dress now'
anonymous 2008-02-29 13:36:41    
Okay. It's about a guy who is il love with a girl and he kisses her and it all goes down the drain.

He tells her that he loves her, telling her his secret. (Coming out of my cage)He is coming out of his cage by being out in the open with his love, and if feels good. (And I've been doing just fine). "Gotta gotta be down Becaues I want it all" Means that he loves her and wants her but she doesn't love him so he feels sad. He kissed her but she didn't return the feelings (It was only a kiss, how did it end up like this) and ends up leaving because he offended her. He decides to go to bed.(Now I'm falling asleep) And she is leaving him (And she's calling a cab). The cab driver shares his cigarett with the girl and they hook up (while he's having a smoke, and she's taking a drag, now they're going to bed) He feels sick at the thought but its only his imagination and he knows it (And my stocmach is sick And it's all in my head). But even though he knows its just his imagination he can't stop dwelling on the thought. (But She's touching his chest Now, he takes off her dress). He just wants to forget about it (Now, let me go). But he can't forget and continues to dwell on it and he is quite distressed (I just can't look its killing me and taking controll)He feels jealous of anybody who might be with her and he feels as if he has lost some of his innocence and is going into the unknown (Jealousy, turning saints into the sea)

"Swimming through sick lullabies choking on your alibis" refers to how cheating is sick and lies don't come out well. He is paying the price for taking a risk and telling her that he loves her (But it's just the price I pay), but he has to move on (Destiny is calling me). And he opens his eys to return to the real world and get away from his imagination (Open up my eager eyes). The "Mr. Brightside" I think could be two things. It could be sarcastic, because he is obviously thinking of the worst case scenario, or it could be that he is leaving that behind and looking toward the future and things probably aren't as bad as he thinks. The "I never" part could be that he didn't think he did anything wrong, or that he never got anywhere. So, essentially, its a song about a guy who professes love to a girl who did not love him back. He kisses her and she gets offended and leaves in a cab. The boy imagines her hooking up with the cab driver, and later decides that he needs to move on.
anonymous 2008-03-22 18:45:53    
I can't actually believe that a lot of you can't see/work out that the title "mr brightside" is ironic. The song is about a PESSIMISTIC guy that imagines his girlfriend cheating on him. Its a declaration of his own paranoia, and the hate that he will never be "mr brightside"; he will always see the bad, or think the worst. He will never be happy as he destroys his relationships by presuming that everyone is cheating on him.

I can't work out if the "kiss" at the beginning is him having kissed a girl and then the paranoia kicks in, or him having seen his girlfriend kiss someone else, and he is desperately trying to convince himself it was "only a kiss". These sound like HER words to him, trying to reassure him that it didn't mean anything, but he assumes the worst. I like to think the second.
anonymous 2008-04-02 23:24:42    
I think he is reflecting on a relationship that he had. Hes coming out of his cage because he wants more. The relationship he is looking back on I think he was with a women and she was cheating on him, and he has a gut feeling it was going on. Then, he catches her, he sees him taking off her clothes, she's touching his chest, watches her call a cab etc. He feels sick and doesn't want to look, ...Its killing me and taking control..." It seems that he is very hurt and jealous and we they talked about it she chokes on her alibis. But that's what you have to pay in a relationship, destiny wants more and he has to move on. I think the part about eager eyes and being Mr. Brightside is sarcasm to help deal with the pain. I feel bad for him.
anonymous 2008-04-14 09:15:41    
People have taken the song too literally.

There is a strong subliminal psychiatric theme

Refers to the behavioral/emotional disturbances of someone with a paranoid schizophrenic disorder.

"Cage" is metaphorical for the the mental torture/anguish and in "coming out" the protagonist is transiently released from this. During this window period he gains insight into life

elements of self denial of the disease "how did it end up like this" are soon forgotten amidst lustful imagination and a fall back into the life that led to his demise "gotta be down".

The female is a personification of paranoia. It has seduced him slowly , coming to get him by "calling a cab" ; she has changed his personality "turning saints into the sea".

The other male is the protagonist's alter-ego - one that is intrigued and welcoming of the auditory hallucinations and paranoia, not wanting to reject (but rather accepting) this state of abnormality.

The protagonist however is a realist; recognising the disease but uncontrollably accepts it has taken over is life. This is dramatised by the love scene which he observes (his symptoms) despite his disgust.

The voices continue however "swimming through sick lullabies" and the overwhelming rule of his unconscious is "the price I pay".

Mr Brightside is an ironic referral to his depressive personality and what he sees when he commits suicide "destiny is calling me"
anonymous 2008-04-25 11:41:44    
I really don't think this song is about murder and it is NOT part of the murder trilogy. The trilogy is Jenny was a friend of mine(hot fuss), Midnight show(hot fuss), and Leave the bourbon on the shelf(sawdust). Also, it is NOT written by the cure whatever you say, username! This was the first song that the killers wrote and was made when there were only two people in the band.
anonymous 2008-05-25 15:39:35    
I think that this song is about a guy (boyfriend or not) sees this girl and a guy kissing. He tries to convince himself that it ended there, but his imagination has him picturing the girl and guy doing other things, thus making him jealous just thinking about the idea. "mr. brightside" is a sarcastic title he gives himself because he is suspects the worst.
~CeCe
anonymous 2008-05-27 10:25:24    
The main person whoever it may be is in love with a girl who maybe loves him back or maybe doesn't but for some reason she can't be with him and is with another man. In the video we see Brandon and a woman kissing but her also with a man who he gets angry with. It's possible this man and the other have a fight over the girl.
cataractbabe 2008-05-28 10:22:30    
Well, I like to look at the music video for a reference to analize this song. If you watch, he seems to be looknig at the one girl (pale, white, puffy hair, and shher green dress. obviously the main girl) for most of the shots. and she seems to watch him from the corner of her eye. Every time he seems to look at her she goes and gets a guy to kiss and be lovey with. She seems ot be trying to get his attention or make him angry. but there are also the scenes where it cuts to him(the lead singer) and her alone. They seem to be having a love moment in these scenes.

This is what I make of it all:

i believe that that the girl I described above portrays jealousy. The green and paleness and how she always seems to have to be with one of the other guys. She strives to make the lead singer jealous as it seems.

i see everything as this:

the lead girl (jealousy) and the boy were or are together. He knows what she is doing with other men, but he doesn't say anything. jealousy believes that he doesn't care for her enough, so she is trying to make him jealous by flirting and kissing other men. before, his anger has gotten the boy into trouble, that's how the lyrics start.

I'm coming out of my cage (coming out of his restraint, what is keeping him locked up and angry with her)

And I’ve been doing just fine (hes doing well with everythnig)

Gotta gotta gotta be down

Because I want it all (he wants to be good with everything if he wants her back just for him. becase that is what he wants)

It started out with a kiss

How did it end up like this (it started out with her kissing 1 other guy, and him not saying anythnig. now it has turned into her going after every other man)

It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss

Now I’m falling asleep (hes remembering what he saw)

And she’s calling a cab

While he’s having a smoke

And she’s taking a drag

Now they’re going to bed (he was watchin her and this other man do these things, but she didn't know it. I always saw this as him watching them through a window or something)

And my stomach is sick

And it’s all in my head (hes just remembering it, it isn't really happening)

But she’s touching his—chest

Now, he takes off her dress

Now, let me go (he wants to be let free from the memory, the torture of watching her do that)



I just can’t look its killing me

And taking control (its taking over him and its ripping him apoart inside)

Jealousy, turning saints into the sea (hes jealous of the other men who are getting her affection, but he used to be a good man)

Swimming through sick lullabies (remembering everything that happend like a lullaby in his head)

Choking on your alibis (shes messing up all of her alibis for those nights. She is getting her story mixed up)

But it’s just the price I pay

Destiny is calling me (it is what he has to pay if he wants her, he has to go through this to get what he wants)

Open up my eager eyes

‘Cause I’m Mr Brightside (mr. brightside is like his diguise. He really isn't happy, but he shows that he is fine ot hide his emotion.)

I find it very helpfull if you watch his and her facial expressions throughout the video. at times he looks as if he is trying to convince himself that thinga arent so bad. This is just what I have pieced together. I think that there are some things missing and parts that are important to the meaning, but I can't decipher them. good luck for others wishing to though!!

< Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next >

Submit your interpretation!

Discuss this group in the The Killers forum

Email me when this band is updated

Back to The Killers Song Meanings

Home



Users Online

Jen
   
There are 34 guests and 1 registered users online.