Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of mundane idleness, a person with "Time on your hands" who "doodle the day" and shuffles their feet. There's a passive consumption of news, waiting to "hear what they might say." This establishes a quiet, almost bored resignation to the everyday.
Beneath this surface, a deeper anxiety simmers. An unnamed "they" are busy with a "new fangled device," ominously "lighting the fuse," while offering hollow comfort: "no need to worry." This external threat contrasts sharply with the individual's internal struggle, leading to a desperate, "silently screaming" question: "What can I do?"
The lyrics masterfully use time as both a burden and an escape. Initially, the protagonist has time to fill aimlessly, but later, "Till time trips you out" suggests time itself becomes the catalyst for a profound shift. This person moves from simply muddling through to being actively disoriented, no longer just observing but experiencing a complete break.
This progression from passive observation to internal anguish and finally to a disorienting escape makes the lyrics resonate. The vivid imagery of being "High as a kite" captures a sense of surrender, a complete detachment from the pressing anxieties. It's a powerful depiction of coping with an overwhelming world by simply letting go.