The meaning of the lyrics of the song "The Evening's Young" by the artist "Yello"

The song "The Evening's Young" by the Swiss band Yello paints a picture of existential loneliness and indecision set against the backdrop of a night bar. The lyrical hero finds himself trapped in his own apathy, stuck between the desire to leave and the inability to find a reason to do so.

The repeating phrase "the evening's young, the night has begun" creates a sense of paradox. Night, traditionally associated with rest and entertainment, is perceived here as the beginning of uncertainty and inner turmoil. The hero is in a bar, surrounded by empty promises of fun, symbolized by bottles on shelves, which he mechanically counts.

The reflection in the mirror between the bottles becomes the only interlocutor, an illusory attempt to find a connection with himself. The smile is fake, hiding emptiness and confusion. The bartender, a faceless symbol of routine, brings another beer, maintaining a vicious circle of inaction.

The question "why am I here?" hangs in the air unanswered. The hero realizes the possibility of choice - "to get up from the chair and leave", but postpones the decision, constrained by his own indecision. He is waiting, but for what exactly is unclear. The face, lost between the bottles, reflects his lostness.

Indifference to what is happening around (football on TV) emphasizes the hero's inner detachment. He leaves, but aimlessly, not knowing the answer to the question "where are you going? what are you doing?". The song does not provide answers, leaving the listener alone with the oppressive atmosphere of an existential dead end.