Somersault

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a narrator adrift, finding solace only in the repetitive motion of a record player. This spinning vinyl becomes a temporary anchor, a way to "start dreaming" when reality feels directionless. The initial state is one of profound inertia: "Wasn't lost, wasn't found, wasn't anywhere at all." This emptiness is palpable, a void before a significant encounter. The arrival of another person fundamentally shifts this state of being, introducing a dizzying, disorienting, yet exhilarating new perspective. The central metaphor of a "somersault" perfectly captures this feeling of losing control and spatial awareness. It's a state where the familiar ground disappears, and the fear of falling, of being unsupported, becomes very real. This is amplified by the melancholic observation that "the summer's gone," suggesting a loss of warmth and a period of waiting. The most striking craft element is the persistent repetition of the "somersault" image, directly linked to the narrator's experience of love or intense connection. The pre-chorus's litany of negations ("Wasn't in, wasn't out, wasn't anything at all") highlights the profound emptiness that existed prior to this person's influence. The act of "thinking of you, I'll turn" suggests that even in absence, the narrator is perpetually caught in this dizzying, transformative state, driven by the memory of the other person. This lyrical construction is effective because it translates an abstract emotional state into a vivid, physical sensation. The contrast between the static, almost numb existence before and the chaotic, exhilarating tumble after is stark. The fear of falling in the somersault is balanced by the implicit promise of transformation, making the disorientation a necessary part of finding a new sense of self, even if it's a temporary one tied to another's presence.