I think it's about a woman at the end of a relationship, and it wasn't her choice for it to be over. "The dust has only just begun to fall" suggests that the worst is yet to come. One lyric confused me.."Crop circles in the carpet". You know how when you move a table that has been on a carpet for a long time and there's an indention? I think it's sort of a way of seeing signs of what once was. "Oily marks appear on walls where pleasure moments hung before" is either a literal representation of where pictures used to hang, or maybe just, again, her nostalgia of the relationship remaining. The title "Hide and Seek" , to me, suggests that she never really knew the man she loved. Then, at the very end of the song, she says "Mm, what'd you say? That you only meant well? Well of course you did. Mm whatd you say, Mm that it's all for the best, and you decided this?" shows that it was the guy's decision to end it. "What did she say?" suggests another woman's involvement. Go figure. I'm no expert, but it's my favorite song and...it's just beautiful. Not only is it powerful and deep, but she sings it accapella, with only voice effects in the background. I think having just her voice symbolizes the lonely mood of the song. -Laura McLeod, North Carolina

Absolutely nothing.

"trains and sewing machines they were here first" could represent innocence before the relationship overtook her, if you are looking at it at a relationship point of view. overall, best song in the world no matter what it means.

I believe it has to do with Tibet. It was featured on the album 'Songs for Tibet' and repeatedly uses the phrase 'all those years, they were here first'. Also, in India, Tibetan protesters have been known to play 'hide and seek' with policemen who are trying to capture them. The trains and sewing machines might have to do with the cultural imperialism that the Chinese are using, as just last year a highly controversial train was constructed in Tibet to move foriegn Chinese into the region.

I believe it has to do with Tibet. It was featured on the album 'Songs for Tibet' and repeatedly uses the phrase 'all those years, they were here first'. Also, in India, Tibetan protesters have been known to play 'hide and seek' with policemen who are trying to capture them. The trains and sewing machines might have to do with the cultural imperialism that the Chinese are using, as just last year a highly controversial train was constructed in Tibet to move foriegn Chinese into the region.

When I first heard it, I thought it was from the viewpoint of a child. I thought of a child who might have been abandoned by a parent or parents. My parents were always just trying to mean well, but sometimes the decisions they made hurt. When I listen- I just imagine a child wanting to go back to happier times, when their parents would spin them around, play hide and seek, etc. But- that's just my viewpoint. I guess only the artist truly knows.

this to me means acceptance because in the beginning where it said the dust just begun to form crops circle in the carpet maybe thats a metaphor for a new kid that came to a new school and was in with the popular crowd but they didnt really like them so begun is the key word ans when it says trains and sewing machines they were here first well thats another metaphor for well that she will never be accepted because she is different and they dont like her

Imogen, herself, had said in an interview that this song was written about 9/11 and how the Bush Administration hid so much from the general public. Knowing that, if just you sit and listen to it, you'll get it. Can't express how genius this song is.

I dunno, maybe I'm the first to think this but i've listened to the song countless times now and I absoltly love it but I actually believe that it hits and almost a "UFO/alien" view point. I can't help but listen to it and think of an abduction. Even the first lines, "where are we? What the hell is going on...". To me indicates confusion which is actually the first symptom of an alien abduction. "crop circles on the carpet...". Maybe literal crop circles in her room or figuritive circles in her mind. The song is very confusing. "oiley marks apear on the walls...". Again, real oily marks? Who knows... Though the one line that really makes me think that what i'm saying is true is "they wee her first". Now I've done some research on the Alien gospel (I know I sound crazy but stick with me) and it states that they were actually were here first. I have no idea what Imogen meant by this song though. So call me crazy but everyone is entitled there their own opinion. Whatever the meaning, it still doesn't stop me from getting chills every time I listen to it. Very moving song.

It could mean a world overrun with constant progression leaving no room for sentimentality or reflection.

I suspect this song is about the Native Americans..after they were here first.

The song is about the Native American situation....but brought into current day through carpet, tables, and paintings....THEY WERE HERE FIRST..........Being native myself I cried when I first heard this The insensitivity of this verse...God....If I ever die please play this song at my funeral.....Imogen Heap..You have my heart.........

THIS WAS COPIED FROM AN INTERVIEW W/ IMOGEN HEAP, THIS WAS THE ARTISTS ANSWER TO WHAT THE MEANING OF "HIDE AND SEEK" IS: Well, I’m not going to tell you exactly what it’s about, because I think that part of the reason why it is not so obvious is sometimes it’s good to have those songs that really mean something very dear to you, but maybe you don’t want to speak about it to the rest of the world. But, with that one, I wrote it so quickly, the lyrics I probably wrote in about 20 minutes, which is unheard of. But I like to be clever with words and I like to make them like a puzzle, I like the words to sound interesting in the mouth and create patterns within themselves. So with that one, it just literally came out of nowhere and I found myself getting really passionate about it and it just poured out of me. There was something in my life that obviously needed to be said. In a broad strokes way, it’s about losing something very dear to me and how much of an impact that person had on my life and about maybe how when something awful happens to somebody else, how other people react to it. It tied in with when I went to see Michael Moore’s Farenheit 911 and I remembered that image of George Bush being told and him completeley carrying on as if nothing had happened. And I just thought that was outrageous, if I was the president I would run out of their and fucking get onto the TV and say something amazing, and he wasn’t even reading his book and he had it upside down. And I was really horrified at how selfish and awful he was, and how emotionless he was and that kind of reminded me a little bit about somebody else behind this song.

The song is about the earth and how humans have damaged it over time...industrial revolution (trains and sewing machines). "You only meant well" is mocking the people who thought that industry and abusing nature was justified. "all those years they were here first", sounds like she is referring to the animals and nature that was here before us. "the takeover, the sweeping insensitivity of this still life". Humans taking over, how insensitive we have been. "ransom notes keep falling out your mouth mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut outs speak no feeling no I don't believe you". Ransom notes = maybe greed, the person wants more and more (money, corruption). Sweat talk is lies and excuses by the people who have caused harm. The singer of the song claims its about losing something dear. Even though that is what she said i still believe strongly in my interpretation. Please comment on what you think. I think my interpretation makes sense at least, there must be more to it than just a fight between a guy and girl.

i think its about the nazis and the jews in the time of the holocast mm what u say that u only ment well mm what u say thats its all for the best of course it is what u say it just what we need and u decided this the only part that confuses me is the last part what did she say i dont know who she is but well i was listening to the song i was in belin at one of the camps so that might be why i think this

I feel as though its all about weight issues. I feel like she is horrified by her bodily image, and sees herself on the other side. The line about trains and sewing machines, seems as though she thinks she is as big as a train, and is sewing bigger clothing for her bigger body. The part where she is professing her obession with newspaper cut outs just shows how much she idolizes a skinny body. Then when she sees all this happening on the outside, she blames herself and tells herself that its her decision and choice for her weightiness. I have studied this song for a week, and am certain this is the true meaning.

i think that the 9/11 deal is definitely something she was commenting on here but it is a stirring of mixed emotions involving a number of influences. i also believe that this is one of those songs that people will listen to and interpret according to their personal situations or situations close to them. it appears that a lot of projection is occurring in some of these suggested answers....many of the best songs written are those that evoke personal responses. these songs aren't simply fluff to hum and dance to but works of art that inspire introspection on a more subconscious level.