I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Is it a warning?
Is it an evil sign?
Is it a people
Who have lost their mind?
Is it the darkness?
Is it a man resigned?
Is it a best friend
Leaving you behind?
Is it ever gonna stop
Will they ever let you go
Your in a rush they don't care enough
Cause there lives are very slow
Time is ticking on
You don't get a second shot
And when you sell your soul
For a leading role will the lost souls be forgot
And if I can?t hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
And I hope the lonely hearts club band
Will play out one last song
Before the sun goes down.
And is it ending
Should it really make you sick is now the time that you realize
You better get out quick cause time is ticking on
To long to fake your smile
But then you sell your soul for a leading role so wear it for a while
And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
And I hope the lonely hearts club band
Will play out one last song
Before the sun goes down.
And there she goes
And there she goes
So write
Cause billy's got himself a gun billy's got himself a gun
And your right to be afraid they'll send you to your grave cause your strange
And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
Cause billy's got himself a gun billy's got himself a gun
And your right to be afraid they'll send you to your grave cause your strange
And if I can't hear the music and the audience is gone I'll dance.
And is it evil?
Should it really make you sick?
Is now the time that you realize
You'd better get out quick?
And is it envy
Or pride that makes them vain?
Did you give your all
But you're only small
And now your body's drained?
This is never gonna stop.
They will never let you go.
You're in a rush.
They don't care enough.
Cause their lives are very slow.
Time is ticking on.
Too long to fake your smile.
But then you sold your soul for a leading role
So wear it for a while.
And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
And I hope the lonely hearts club band
Will play out one last song
Before the sun goes down.
And there she goes
And there she goes
So round you'll see me run
Cause billy's got himself a gun
And you're right to be afraid
They'll send you to your grave
Cause it's strange and new
And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
And I hope the lonely hearts club band
Will play out one last song
Before the sun goes down.
And there she goes
And there she goes
So round you'll see me run
Cause billy's got himself a gun
And you're right to be afraid
They'll send you to your grave
cause it's strange and new
So round you'll see me run
Cause billy's got himself a gun
And you're right to be afraid
They'll send you to your grave
Cause it's strange and new
And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance?
Is it an evil sign?
Is it a people
Who have lost their mind?
Is it the darkness?
Is it a man resigned?
Is it a best friend
Leaving you behind?
Is it ever gonna stop
Will they ever let you go
Your in a rush they don't care enough
Cause there lives are very slow
Time is ticking on
You don't get a second shot
And when you sell your soul
For a leading role will the lost souls be forgot
And if I can?t hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
And I hope the lonely hearts club band
Will play out one last song
Before the sun goes down.
And is it ending
Should it really make you sick is now the time that you realize
You better get out quick cause time is ticking on
To long to fake your smile
But then you sell your soul for a leading role so wear it for a while
And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
And I hope the lonely hearts club band
Will play out one last song
Before the sun goes down.
And there she goes
And there she goes
So write
Cause billy's got himself a gun billy's got himself a gun
And your right to be afraid they'll send you to your grave cause your strange
And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
Cause billy's got himself a gun billy's got himself a gun
And your right to be afraid they'll send you to your grave cause your strange
And if I can't hear the music and the audience is gone I'll dance.
And is it evil?
Should it really make you sick?
Is now the time that you realize
You'd better get out quick?
And is it envy
Or pride that makes them vain?
Did you give your all
But you're only small
And now your body's drained?
This is never gonna stop.
They will never let you go.
You're in a rush.
They don't care enough.
Cause their lives are very slow.
Time is ticking on.
Too long to fake your smile.
But then you sold your soul for a leading role
So wear it for a while.
And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
And I hope the lonely hearts club band
Will play out one last song
Before the sun goes down.
And there she goes
And there she goes
So round you'll see me run
Cause billy's got himself a gun
And you're right to be afraid
They'll send you to your grave
Cause it's strange and new
And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
And I hope the lonely hearts club band
Will play out one last song
Before the sun goes down.
And there she goes
And there she goes
So round you'll see me run
Cause billy's got himself a gun
And you're right to be afraid
They'll send you to your grave
cause it's strange and new
So round you'll see me run
Cause billy's got himself a gun
And you're right to be afraid
They'll send you to your grave
Cause it's strange and new
And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance?
Lyrics submitted by gporter419
I Can't Hear the Music Lyrics as written by James Blount
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This whole song has references to other songs and rock bands. Lonely Hearts Club band (The Beatles) Billy's Got a Gun (Def Leppard) Yoshimi (Flaming Lips) Darkness is a band as well (perhaps reason for capitalization)
I agree with kInGancaptain... this sounds of him doing what he does for the music and not for the fame. Maybe others think he has sold out and moved on, but he is still doing it for himself. Maybe these bands he mentions in the songs are the same... people liked them and then turned away... but they still kept "dancing on their own".
benie102... I really beg to differ about it having no soul. This song isn't about making the money, but the beauty of the music for himself... I'm sad that you cannot see what a beautiful lyricist this man is.
I believe the lyrics are "cause Billy's got himself a GUN not job.....
But it DOES say gun in these ones too<br />
that, m'dear, is because upon seeing this comment, gporter419 realised their mistake and corrected the lyrics. (:
breemeister is correct - the lyrics are now changed
Great song, I love james blunt.
Another song with no heart or soul, another monney maker, pop is so crap it's unreal...
At least it's not crap. I mean RAP. (same difference.)
Nice song but what's up with the. "run yoshimi run" part?
I believe the Yoshimi reference is from this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshimi_Battles_the_Pink_Robots
Don't know how it fits in though.
I read an interview where James said that this song is about the time at the end of his career when all his fans have gone on to a new band, and how he did it for the love of music not for the fame or the fans he just wanted to express himself.
I wonder if the "Billy" he is refferng to is the same billy off the song "Billy". love the song James you are the best but i promise you'll always have atleast one fan, and that will always be me.
This whole song has references to other songs and rock bands. Lonely Hearts Club band (The Beatles) Billy's Got a Gun (Def Leppard) Yoshimi (Flaming Lips) Darkness is a band as well (perhaps reason for capitalization)
I agree with kInGancaptain... this sounds of him doing what he does for the music and not for the fame. Maybe others think he has sold out and moved on, but he is still doing it for himself. Maybe these bands he mentions in the songs are the same... people liked them and then turned away... but they still kept "dancing on their own".
benie102... I really beg to differ about it having no soul. This song isn't about making the money, but the beauty of the music for himself... I'm sad that you cannot see what a beautiful lyricist this man is.