This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Is happiness real?
Or am I so jaded
I can't see or feel, like a man been tainted
Numbed by the effect, aware of the muse
Too in touch with myself, I light the fuse
I'm the changingman, built on shifting sands
I'm the changingman, waiting for the bang
As I light a bitter fuse
Our time is on loan, only ours to borrow
What I can't be today, I can be tomorrow
And the more I see, the more I know
The more I know, the less I understand
I'm the changingman, built on shifting sands
I'm the changingman, I'm waiting for the bang
To light a bitter fuse
It's a bigger part
When our instincts act
A shot in the dark
A movement in black
And the more I see, the more I know
The more I know, the less I understand
I'm the changingman, built on shifting sands
(I don't have a plan)
I'm the changingman, waiting for the bang
As I light a bitter fuse
Built on shifting sands
I'm the changingman, I'm waiting for the bang
As I light a bitter fuse
Or am I so jaded
I can't see or feel, like a man been tainted
Numbed by the effect, aware of the muse
Too in touch with myself, I light the fuse
I'm the changingman, built on shifting sands
I'm the changingman, waiting for the bang
As I light a bitter fuse
Our time is on loan, only ours to borrow
What I can't be today, I can be tomorrow
And the more I see, the more I know
The more I know, the less I understand
I'm the changingman, built on shifting sands
I'm the changingman, I'm waiting for the bang
To light a bitter fuse
It's a bigger part
When our instincts act
A shot in the dark
A movement in black
And the more I see, the more I know
The more I know, the less I understand
I'm the changingman, built on shifting sands
(I don't have a plan)
I'm the changingman, waiting for the bang
As I light a bitter fuse
Built on shifting sands
I'm the changingman, I'm waiting for the bang
As I light a bitter fuse
Lyrics submitted by onearmedscissor
The Changingman Lyrics as written by Paul John Weller Brendan Lynch
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
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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.
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
wellers daughter was carrying around a toy and he asked her what it was and she said 'the changingman'
thats where he got the title from
Clearly about his life up to that point how he's clearly evolved, as we all do.
I'm only 21 and I still relate to some of this already. I'm not the same person who I was 5 years ago, or maybe even two years ago for that matter to some degree, That's probably growing up for you, but we all continute to change and learn and discove I guess.
Like the line "The more I see, the more I know, the moer I know, the less I understand". Chidlhood seems simple in comparison to now. I might know more things, but really, I feel thta sometime I'm just more confused and it's more stuff simply to have an opinion on, I guess.
I'm 21 too! It's beautiful to be 21!
Bit on teh personal side, but just thought I'd add that I heard this song on shuffle at the time I split up from my girlfriend. It was of course one of those times where the temptation's there to try and ring up to fix what went wrong, even though I surely knew deep down that it wouldn't work whichever way you look at it.
This is kind of a different interpretation, but it was sort of telling me that there's a life beyond what I had, and that it'll be different, better and it's just what I was looking for anyway. It gave me a clear-cut direction at a very confusing time. I knew it was something that i wanted, that it was only the inital shock of what ahd happened that was causing any confusion I guess.
Mind you Weller himself was splitting up from DC Lee when he wrote this though eh?
I think this is a song about the changes he goes through each time he hits the floor. It takes all his energy and most importantly "belief" to get out of it. Each time he does he comes out resurrected and different in some way. Sorrow is better than laughter, it may sadden the face but it sharpens the understanding.
He thinks so much during this time and sees so many things/situations that he can interpret in a 100 different ways that he says 'the more I see, the more I know, the more I know, the less I understand" - he's confused.
He goes into these states because he knows the muse and knows how to control it but not when he lights a bitter fuse. All because he is too in touch with himself and what he is capable of.