West Of The Fields - Live From Rock City, Nottingham / 1984

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a mind adrift, grappling with a lost sense of direction and a fading connection to reality. The repeated phrase "Long gone intuition" sets a tone of disorientation, suggesting a departure from natural instincts or a clear path forward. The narrator seems caught in a cycle of trying and failing, dreaming of escape or a different state of being, perhaps a "living jungle" or "Elysian" fields, but always returning to the same point of confusion. The central tension lies in the struggle between an internal desire for something more vibrant and a present reality that feels stagnant or even hostile. The act of "trying" is a recurring motif, highlighting effort without apparent reward. This effort is further complicated by the instruction to "listen with your eyes," a paradoxical command that underscores the difficulty in perceiving truth or understanding when intuition is absent. The lyrics suggest a profound disconnect, where sensory input is unreliable and inner guidance has vanished. The imagery of "antelopes are strange / Trying to sicken me" introduces a surreal and unsettling element. These creatures, typically associated with open plains and natural grace, are presented as a source of unease, actively hostile. This could represent external pressures or internal anxieties that are poisoning the narrator's state of mind. The repetition of this line amplifies the feeling of being under siege by forces that are both bizarre and deeply personal. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their evocative ambiguity and the palpable sense of being lost. The repeated, almost mantra-like chorus of "West of the fields" acts as an anchor to a place that is undefined but clearly signifies a departure from the familiar. The fading of intuition and the struggle to perceive reality "with your eyes" create a powerful emotional resonance, capturing a feeling of profound alienation and the desperate search for meaning in a world that feels increasingly abstract and difficult to navigate.