The Strangest Thing

Song Meaning

Bernard Fanning's "The Strangest Thing" explores the bewildering, often contradictory nature of love's arrival. The song meaning isn't about simple infatuation; it's about the disorienting experience of profound connection. The opening lines, "I send a kiss across the ocean blue," suggest distance, both physical and perhaps emotional, that the singer attempts to bridge. There's a vulnerability in admitting that this gesture is the only thing he could "think to do," highlighting the helplessness that love can induce. The absence of a photograph, replaced by the longing to "lose myself inside your laugh," underscores the power of intangible connection over concrete reminders, pointing to a deeper, more resonant bond. The chorus, with its repeated assertion that it's "the strangest thing to feel this way," becomes the emotional core of the song. The complication that love brings isn't presented as negative; it's part of the mystery. The line, "If I got you to thank, then you be praised," elevates the object of affection to almost a divine status, acknowledging their transformative impact. This isn't just gratitude; it's a recognition of the profound shift they've instigated within the singer's emotional landscape. The lyrics analysis reveals a journey from tentative connection to a mesmerizing immersion. The initial "simple clue" evolves into deep conversation and a captivating gaze into the other person's "heart." The brief bridge, "So hats off to the month of May / Its falling leaves and its glistening days," introduces a bittersweet element. May, often associated with new beginnings, is juxtaposed with "falling leaves," hinting at the transient nature of life and love, and perhaps, a subtle acknowledgment of the potential for heartbreak even within this seemingly euphoric experience. "The Strangest Thing" captures the exquisite confusion of unexpectedly falling in love, a feeling that is both unsettling and utterly transformative.