Song Meaning
The lyrics immediately plunge the listener into a transient experience, arriving in a "city of dreams" with palpable excitement. The narrator appears on a plane, "too excited" to eat, anticipating what the day might bring. This sets a scene of hopeful, almost childlike, anticipation.
This initial optimism quickly gives way to a sense of aimless motion and disillusionment. The phrase "always coming and going / But you don't know why" suggests a lack of purpose despite constant movement. Encounters with "bad people" described as "parasites / Leeches and satellites" paint a stark picture of exploitation and predatory relationships within this aspirational landscape.
The most striking element is the abrupt shift and the relentless repetition of "You are now leaving." What begins as a hopeful arrival culminates in a drawn-out, almost mechanical departure. This seven-fold repetition transforms a simple exit announcement into a powerful, almost mournful chant, emphasizing the unavoidable and cyclical nature of leaving the "city of dreams."
These lyrics effectively capture the bittersweet reality of chasing aspirations. The direct address "You" makes the journey intensely personal, while the rapid transition from eager arrival to jaded encounters and then to an inescapable exit highlights the fleeting nature of opportunity and the often-unseen costs of ambition. The final, echoing departures leave a lingering sense of transience and the difficulty of truly finding a home in a place built on dreams.