On Returning

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone returning from a trip, but the tone is far from celebratory. The opening lines immediately establish a sense of impending doom or consequence, warning of being "roasted" like a lobster, suggesting a harsh judgment awaits. This sets a peculiar, almost clinical mood, with strange mathematical instructions and "anatomical derision" hinting at a dissection of the traveler's experience or perhaps their very being. The second verse deepens this unsettling imagery, juxtaposing the mundane (briefcase, toothbrush) with the exotic (a third language, a foreign newspaper). The "lobster head and lobster feet" phrase, repeated from the first verse, now feels like a grotesque transformation, implying the traveler has become something alien or diminished by their journey. It's as if the act of traveling, or the knowledge gained, has fundamentally altered them in a way that is not entirely human. The narrator appears to be observing, perhaps judging, the traveler's actions and their perceived lack of genuine connection or planning. The "sons and daughters who registered nought" under scrutiny suggests a disconnect or failure in legacy, while the traveler's focus on their physical appearance ("regard your body with regard to events") seems superficial. This contrasts sharply with the idea of a "head of world service" and "the best of your culture" mentioned later, creating a tension between outward presentation and inner substance. The repeated outro, "An evening of fun in the metropolis of your dream," becomes increasingly ironic and hollow with each iteration. What might initially sound like a triumphant return to a desired destination now feels like a hollow echo, a superficial fulfillment that masks the underlying critique. The lyrics suggest that the "fun" and the "dream" are ultimately empty, a performance of success rather than genuine satisfaction, leaving the listener with a lingering sense of unease about the true cost of such aspirations.