Interpretations:Window

• Song
• Lyrics
• Interpretations
• Credits
• Guitar Tab
• Bass Tab
• Chronology

Interpretation 1

Whenever I hear Window, I always think of a dog in a petshop window, looking out at the people walking by. I mean, if you were a dog in a petshop window, wouldn't you feel uncomfortable? And maybe, because you're a dog, you don't realize that there's a window between you and the people...that might prove troublesome. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.26.176.14 (talk) 11:20, September 1, 2003

Interpretation 2

This song could possibly be about a person observing others going about their business. It makes the narrator uncomfortable that they are at such a close proximity, and that there is nothing dividing the people from them. They have an inate fear of the window, because there are others that could look into the window and see the narrator. The narrator finds a little solace in watching the people, only to remember that they could be watching him. But in reality, the people are far too busy with their own lives to notice the window that they are being watched from. It's easy to assume that the narrator has a fear of being put in the spotlight and is an extremely introverted being that wishes it could be more like the people it fears so it wouldn't fear the people anymore. But not being able to do that, it merely watches them and continues to be terrified by their existence outside of his window.

The window might also represent a the way someone views the ouside world. They fear change and although it makes them uncomfortable, they are intrigued by the world outside of their 'box'. --Brittany W. 21:37, August 28, 2004

Interpretation 3

I've always felt the "Window" was a television set, and the song is a lament about the problems the narrator encountered when he thought what he was seeing reflected what happened outside, in the real world. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.63.203.230 (talk • contribs) 17:09, June 5, 2005

Interpretation 4

I thought it was fairly obvious (btw, the voice in the song is t3h awesomeness)

~Look at all the people in the window. I'm checking out the people in the window.

In front of a shop window, looking inside at all the mannequins.

~I was uncomfortable. Now I'm uncomfortable.

He was uncomfortable that he was so ugly compared to the great fashions in there. Now he bought them and he doesn't feel like himself.

~ The trouble I encountered when I thought it was it was a window.

He thought it was a window into how fashnoble he could be.

~It was a catalog etc.

It's just one big advertising scheme.

~AgentChronon 16:50, September 12, 2006

Interpretation 5

I've always thought that the voice in this song is supposed to be an homage/parody of Crash Test Dummies. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.131.248.233 (talk • contribs) 17:55, October 1, 2006

Or a Mollusk track Ween wrote three years before its release. -AnaNgInaSpaceSuit

Interpretation 6

I think that this song is about a guy who walked into his living room, and mistook his TV for a window, and in this "window" he saw all kinds of people staring at him, so he ran outside to tell them to get off his property, and because no one was there, which made him feel uncomfortable, everyone thought he was crazy and put him in an asylum, which made him feel even more uncomfortable. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.7.151.109 (talk • contribs) 12:56, October 21, 2006

Interpretation 7

And I always thought it was like Frank Zappa. And that the window is the computer, and maybe the song is about how weird it is to see who your fans are and how they interpret your songs (for example). --magbatz 16:13, May 27, 2007

Interpretation 8

I thought this song was about the process of seeing and observing people and choosing who you want to spend time with or become closer to. In a way, each decision to spend time with someone is like selecting them from a "catalog" of potential friends, potential realities. Relating to people is sometimes uncomfortable, but so is being lonely. --fractal tact 00:56, September 20, 2007

Interpretation 9

This song makes me think about the Alfred Hitchcock film "Rear Window", in which a man buys a telescope and watches people through the window to occupy his time while his broken leg heals. --The Cowch 04:02, July 13, 2008

Interpretation 10

Really now? Nobody's written anything up here about the distortions of body images put forth by certain fashion magazines? For shame! The singer is clearly upset that his own body does not compare to that of the figures seen in the catalog, while at the same time "checking out" all the hot people that they show. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.161.15.84 (talk • contribs) 15:41, January 5, 2009

Computer windows - internet dating?

Maybe he's looking at an internet dating site & the 'windows' are the ones on the computer?--Tirranie 16:48, 18 July 2009 (UTC)

James Ensor Follow-Up?

I was always pretty certain that this song is just a clever little follow-up to Meet James Ensor. He's staring out the window at all the people gathered outside, and repeating himself. Sounds about right to me. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.115.141.75 (talk • contribs) 19:03, August 19, 2009

Interpretation 13

Dear Previous Poster,
It's not really about anyone's individual interpretation being 'right'.
The fact that their lyrics can have so many simultaneous meanings is what makes their songs so semiotically rich.
All the interpretations people post here are equally valid & interesting.
Kind regards,
--Tassie Jess 05:24, 20 August 2009 (UTC)

Interpretation 14

The first thought that came to my mind was a tourist wandering into a "red-light district" and not knowing what's going on. I know I'd be plenty confused if that sort of thing caught me off-guard.

I was uncomfortable

...when I thought it was merely a window. Maybe he thought they were being held captive or something.

Now I'm uncomfortable

...now that I know what is actually happening here. Perhaps he is too modest to be around suck activity.

It was a catalog

You're essentially picking from a long list of diverse options at these cathouse type places. Heh, do they even have men in those?

--Randy 11:42, 26 August 2009 (UTC)

Interpretation 15

I just imagine a bunch of kinda zombie or stoner-like people crowded against a window. --Nascarbean 97 11:24, January 24, 2012

• They must have heard the Bells...

It's James Ensor

I always assumed the lyrics were from the point of view of James Ensor, particularly in the conext of the song, "Meet James Ensor." It is mentioned in that song that he repeated himself ("I thought it was, it was a window," and "I was uncomfortable, now I'm uncomfortable.") and people would "..gather round, pressed against his window so they could be the first" to meet him ("Look at all the people in the window"). --CJSF 10:05 20 November 2012 (EST)

Interpretation 17

I think the singer was looking at a window, but didn't realise it was a window at first. When he realised it was a window he felt embarrassed because the people on the other side were looking at him. End33thousand (talk)

2020 follow-up to Computer Windows: ZOOM predictions

If you've been on Zoom or Google Meet for half a year since Covid hit, you were uncomfortable. Now you're uncomfortable. -AJ