Exits

Foals' song 'Exits' paints a vivid picture of a world in disarray, where natural and societal structures have been upended. The opening lines, 'Now the sea eats the sky / But they say it's a lie,' immediately set a surreal and apocalyptic tone. This imagery suggests a world where the natural order has been disrupted, and the truth is obscured by those in power. The recurring theme of hiding and secrecy, 'We'll hide out / Oh, the weather's against us,' indicates a sense of paranoia and the need for self-preservation in a hostile environment.

The lyrics delve deeper into this dystopian reality with lines like 'Houses underground / The flowers upside down,' which evoke a sense of inversion and chaos. The repeated mention of dreams, 'In our dreams, in our dreams,' serves as a refuge from the harsh reality, a place where the characters can escape and find solace. However, even in their dreams, they are not entirely free, as 'they watch us in sleep / The language that we speak / And the secrets that we keep' suggests a pervasive surveillance and control.

The chorus, 'I said I'm so sorry / To have kept you waiting around / I wish I could've come up / I could've shouted out loud,' expresses a deep sense of regret and helplessness. The protagonist feels trapped, unable to find a way out as 'They got exits covered / All the exits underground.' This sense of entrapment is further emphasized by the repetition of 'the world's upside down,' highlighting the disorientation and confusion experienced by the characters. The song concludes with a nostalgic longing for simpler times, 'Back to the days of yore, when we were sure of a good long summer,' contrasting the current dystopian reality with a lost, idyllic past.