“Out of Touch” by Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates’ “Out of Touch” is a song which of course many people like the sound, but actually deciphering the lyrics contained therein can be a bit challenging. However, here goes an attempt to interpret the intricacies of the narrative this track is based on.
The addressee would be a romantic interest of the singer. And it appears that their romance has been largely based on intimacy. However, their relationship has now reached the point where such activity is no longer able to sustain it. Or phrased differently, they have faced challenges which now threaten the perpetuation of their union. However, this may not be due to any beef between them in particular but rather their individual need for personal, internal development.
This idea seems to be buttressed in the second verse. And again, the metaphors used throughout are quite-exquisite. However, the general idea which seems to be presented is that via the couple’s respective soul searching, they have grown apart.
But this is not the imply that singer believes they should give up the search. Indeed he states explicitly that “soul really matters” to him. However that being established, said aspiration has apparently led to his partner now being “out of touch”. In other words her personal quest to understand the meaning of life has led her down a road whereas not only is she more confused than before, but also, as mentioned earlier, she does not spend as much time with the singer. And the latter aspect really seems to be what is cheesing him off. Indeed he is faced with his own, similar mental issues when she is “not around”.
Conclusion
So that is one theory behind the meaning of this song. Both the singer and his romantic interest are looking for a deeper meaning to life and perhaps even their relationship. In doing so, his partner in particular has become alienated. So now on top of the issues which compelled him to soul search in the first place, he also has to deal with the absence of the woman he loves.
Facts about “Out of Touch”
Hall & Oates were mega-popular in the early 1980s, and this song proved to be the last of six Billboard Hot 100 chart toppers of their heyday. Furthermore, it was also the 14th consecutive single dropped by the duo which broke the top 40 of the Hot 100.
“Out of Touch” also charted in 8 other countries, including the UK Singles chart.
RCA Records released “Out of Touch” on the 4th of October 1984. The label released it as the lead single from the duo’s album “Big Bang Boom”.
This song was written by the musical duo of Darryl Hall and John Oates, who also produced the tune in conjunction with Bob Clearmountain.
The music video to this song had Jeff Stein as its director.
This song made the tracklist of the “Vice City” (2002) installment of the popular videogame “Grand Theft Auto”.
I like to compare this song to Out Of Time by the Rolling Stones… Completely opposite songs but have similar lyrics and structure
This song came on thec radio and and l had no idea what it was about
Knowing Daryl’s interest in the occult and mysticism, the song I believe alludes to astral / soul travel. “Using the bodies up as we go” could mean the different bodies we all possess on the inner planes, getting finer “up as we go”. “Out of my head” refers to the exit point of your spirit, while “the shades aren’t the colours” and being “out(side) of time” are all aspects of being out of the body.
Please don’t ruin this beautiful song with new age mysticism bs. He’s clearly talking about relationships, it’s the effing 80’s.
This song is special to me. For me it represents being out of touch with my Creator until that day back in 1984 through an experience I had while reading scripture. After that experience l turned on the radio and this song came on.
Wow….all these fans of hall and oates and not 1 person knows that their songs are NOT about the relationships the song implies. They even said in one of their interviewa that they like to take situations and make a song about it as if it was an interpersonal relationship.
Example: Maneater – this is NOT about a woman!! It’s about New York City at night. (I think you all get the idea after that example). I think this was about Hall and o
Oates musical career. It got harder and they weren’t syncing as well as they used to. But they made it as if it was him talking about his girlfriend.