Meaning of "Voices in the Mall" by The Clientele

The lyrics of "Voices in the Mall" by The Clientele depict a sense of longing and introspection. The narrator seems to be torn between a desire for connection, as represented by conversations with friends and a declaration of love, and a sense of failure in reasoning with their own emotions and heart. The imagery of a watercolour night, birches, and a black canal evokes a dreamy and melancholic atmosphere, perhaps symbolizing the blurred boundaries between reality and the internal world of emotions. The presence of voices in the mall may represent a yearning for connection and understanding in a seemingly impersonal and commercialized modern environment. The repeated mention of being back in nowhere suggests a retreat into a comfort zone of solitude and introspection, where the true depth of emotions can be explored away from the noise of the outside world.