He was born and raised in privilege
Took everything it gave
Had financial help from his father
From the cradle to the grave

And this enabled him to believe in the things
He did try hard, God forbid he should give in to pointless wandering
But he would wander from time to time
Seeking guidance from the Holy he tried to find the truth

Among the radical revolutionaries
Who canonized his youth
And gathering strength from the feeling that
To believe could undoubtable change the world

Turned his back on education
And listened to the word
So with little or no formal education
He taught himself to work

Would often steal the pain it took
To rise up from the dirt
And out of desperation would
Disturb the millionaires

Whose patronage had helped the power
Rise up from thin air,
Then he sunk back into despair
Take me out in another world

Keep me warm and dry
Where other men are worrying
And other men must die
And when the lies are spoken

Give endurance to the weak
And when the heart of a man is broken
Give the power to believe


Lyrics submitted by fletch699

Power to Believe Lyrics as written by Gilbert Alexander Gabriel Nick Laird-clowes

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Power To Believe song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is so amazing, went so well with the movie Plains,Trains and Automobiles starring John Candy and Steve Martin, r.i.p John Candy and the director John Hughes, me and my parents watch this movie the night before every thanksgiving, it's a tradition, and i just can't stop listening to this song!

    ZebraLoveron February 14, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    Most of it is pretty straightforward. It's about a man who is born in a wealthy/powerful family. He never has to worry about menial or basic things, like food or comfort. Everything is handed to him on a silver plate.

    But it sounds like he grows tired of the easy life and becomes curious how the other half lives. He wants to change the world. So he goes out into the world to work with little or no experience. However, he quickly grows tired of hard work and comes crawling back to his father.

    There seems to be a lot of references to religion or possibly Christianity ("Seeking guidance from the Holy," "Listened to the word," and "radical revolutionaries" such as Martin Luther King Jr. and others I suppose). However the song does not seem to focus on any kind of spiritual connection; only references. I think it's meant to symbolize man's search for truth and meaning in life.

    OatMaGoaton January 17, 2015   Link

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