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Crime of the Century Lyrics
Now they're planning the crime of the century
Well what will it be?
Read all about their schemes and adventuring
It's well worth a fee
So roll up and see
And they rape the universe
How they've gone from bad to worse
Who are these men of lust, greed, and glory?
Rip off the masks and let see
But that's not right oh no, what's the story?
But there's you and there's me
That can't be right
Well what will it be?
Read all about their schemes and adventuring
It's well worth a fee
So roll up and see
And they rape the universe
How they've gone from bad to worse
Who are these men of lust, greed, and glory?
Rip off the masks and let see
But that's not right oh no, what's the story?
But there's you and there's me
That can't be right
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Writer
Richard Davies, Roger Hodgson
Submitted by
freddieismyidol On Jan 17, 2005
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Seeing as how the album itself, Crime of the Century, is a concept album, all the songs together tells one whole story. It tells about Rudy not liking the school system, wanting to change, but when he doesn't get any help or understanding from others so he "hides in his shell", leaving the rest of the world behind him more and more and finally goes completely crazy - madness overpowers.
The song, Crime of the Century, IMO, is a summary or what the effects of these persons leave behind and how their story is told. I'd say that the term Crime of the Century means the crime on humanity, played out by corporations and sometimes the governments. And although they are to take the blame, we the people are left to pay the fee. That when Rudy decides that the schooling system is bad he's told to shut up. So instead, be ends up seeking understanding from those on the other side of the fence, and although they agree, they believes he should stop moaning about it.
Can you see my point? People who aren't pleased with something are shot down, told to be quite, and in the end, driven to insanity, by the big corporations and/or governments. That is, the Crime of the Century.
Although this song was written in the 70s it still applies today. I'm from Sweden, and every day I read about our right wing parties dividing the people in rich and poor, lending a hand to those who have it all while they kick on those who really need the help. Supertramp knew it then, and we, I, live it now.
I read all the posts about "COTC" album & all about "Rudy", "School" .. and so on; & I was not thinking in subscribing to this forum 'till I found this! I thought I should thank & congratulate you, Lido, for such a thought. It really got me moved. I totally agree with this idea. The fact that the song was writen on the 70's & it's applicable today (maybe, more that ever) scares anyone, When I first read these words I thought it should be a dream that the writer had had: "But that's no right - oh no, what's the story? There's...
I read all the posts about "COTC" album & all about "Rudy", "School" .. and so on; & I was not thinking in subscribing to this forum 'till I found this! I thought I should thank & congratulate you, Lido, for such a thought. It really got me moved. I totally agree with this idea. The fact that the song was writen on the 70's & it's applicable today (maybe, more that ever) scares anyone, When I first read these words I thought it should be a dream that the writer had had: "But that's no right - oh no, what's the story? There's you and there's me That can't be right." This seemed to me one of those "illogical" shocks that we get when we are dreaming & something doesn't make seens at all. And the powers of the world have us in a lethargy, while they amass the fortunes we are paying for them. Apart from that, I've been listening to this album for decades now, but it was not untill today that I saw that all the songs match in the dystopy we live in, deeper & bigger everyday; probably there is not much in our hands to do for getting out of it, as long as the powers moving the world keep unbalancing the standards between rich & poor. One more thing: I'm so surprised of the few allusions found in this forum to the music of Supertramp inself. Maybe it counts that I'm a musician & for years I've been taken so high by their eclectic & visceral forms. To me, one of the best, ever! Let me point for last, that they pretended to make a loop album, as at the end of the last song (Criem) is fading out, you can hear the begining of the first one's harmonica (School) very far in the background. This was not casuality or a magnetic mistake on the tape recording anyhow. Does this bring new hints to anybody? Have a good one!
@Daddysfun Thanks mate, warms my heart :D And btw, the thing u wrote about the ending - being a loop with the harmonica from the School intro sounding, I love that! It could be interpreted so that ST meant that history repeats itself, and this had not occured to me until you wrote it. It doesn't matter how many corporations or governments are caught with their pants down preying on the week, there will always come more, they will never stop, just like their victims will never stop piling up. History repeats itself, indeed.
@Daddysfun Thanks mate, warms my heart :D And btw, the thing u wrote about the ending - being a loop with the harmonica from the School intro sounding, I love that! It could be interpreted so that ST meant that history repeats itself, and this had not occured to me until you wrote it. It doesn't matter how many corporations or governments are caught with their pants down preying on the week, there will always come more, they will never stop, just like their victims will never stop piling up. History repeats itself, indeed.
I hadn't noticed that but it does confirm my thoughts on the album. Most people seem think the 'crime of the century' is specific to the time the album was written. I always thought it was more metaphoric and that the crime of the century was ongoing, century after century. It just seemed more like a big picture concept rather than one specific incident.
I hadn't noticed that but it does confirm my thoughts on the album. Most people seem think the 'crime of the century' is specific to the time the album was written. I always thought it was more metaphoric and that the crime of the century was ongoing, century after century. It just seemed more like a big picture concept rather than one specific incident.
Thank You for the interpretation. I fell in love with this album in 1974 and a friend turned me onto it again recently. In 1974, I had know idea this was a concept album and had a young man's perspective, now that I'm older I can see the concept so clearly. I feel your interpretation is right on, but have some additions... Rudy is a representation of the common man and the songs tell of the common man's life. The "crime" is that we are all taught what it means to be successful early on in life, that getting in line with the...
Thank You for the interpretation. I fell in love with this album in 1974 and a friend turned me onto it again recently. In 1974, I had know idea this was a concept album and had a young man's perspective, now that I'm older I can see the concept so clearly. I feel your interpretation is right on, but have some additions... Rudy is a representation of the common man and the songs tell of the common man's life. The "crime" is that we are all taught what it means to be successful early on in life, that getting in line with the beliefs of the established rule system (i.e. getting a job, finding a mate, buying a home and raising a family). I wonder if when producing this album if they thought of making Crime of the Century the first song on the album followed by School. I'm glad they didn't and left the lead in harmonica in the end of the last song. Next, we are taught that we all have a voice and head into the world headstrong... just we find the voice level is determined by the money and who is in your family tree. You're Bloody Well Right! Now we fall into ourselves to find the answers to heavy questions like "what is love" and finding the perfect match and the feeling that everyone is out to get you (i.e. to get the job posted you must have 2 years of experience, but how do you get the experience without the job?). The establishment then is in the back of your mind saying "I want to know you, I wanna touch you. I can help you". They bring you back in line. When you are young, In the struggle to create the perception that you are on your way to being successful, you begin to wonder what insanity really is and if you're alone in your thinking. The establishment is also watching and asking the same thing... "Will he take a sailboat ride? He's likely to." Now the saddest song of all! Dreamer. I once thought this to be such an uplifting song, but man was I wrong. This is the Establishment mocking the common man for even thinking about having a dream and the personal realization by an individual that time has passed and it's too late to go live their dream. (i. e. living to work vs working to live). So Rudy falls into the middle age rut tries in vain to get off the train but in the end is back on the line. If Everyone was Listening they would know they do have the power to break out of the established government/corporate rut civilization has created, but everyone must Listen to what is being said. We as a whole keep electing the lesser of 2 evils, but still we are electing evil. "Who will be the last clown to bring the house down?" Back to Crime of the Century. How will the established governments, corporations bleed the common man even further? Let's start in the School system! Thank You Roger and Richard for such a beautiful piece of work!
My thoughts are that we are so blinkered by the crimes that inspire the headlines necessary to sell newspapers, that we fail to notice that there are much greater crimes being committed against society and the environment by "these men of lust, greed, and glory" - multinationals and the governments that serve and protect them. However, it is the last four lines that are most powerful - while us ordinary people are willing to vote for these governments, purchase the products of these multinationals, and believe what we hear in the media, then surely the responsibility for these "crimes" rests with us. Of course, this assumes that we have the luxury of choice, which sadly is becoming decreasingly the case.
I love that fact that this is a serious topic in a song and they can go into a 4 min keyboad solo. Great song.
I believe this song is meant as a reminder that though we want to put criminals in a spotlight, everyone has their flaws. At daytime we are friendly fathers and cheerful mothers, but at night, we can be child molesters or alcoholics. We aren't holy. Though I like EvolutionBeanFeast's theory as well. And to end, I think this is one of the best songs ever made.
I believe it's not a concept album as Roger and Rick always wrote separately. Rick sang the songs he wrote and the same applies to Roger. I belive Rick was speaking about the powers that run the planet ( illuminati, skull n bones, free mason's and other secret societies. He speaks about the biggest crime they have in the works for humanity, population reduction of the earth via wars,diseases, and food shortages. God bless Rick and prayers as he is in hospital with what is reported to be cancer. November 2016.
I think the meaning of this is all about the last lines. “…but there’s you and there’s me”.
He’s pointing out that the governments, big business, the corrupt, the rich, are all raping the planet, which of course is plain to see even today.
But we are all part of that eco system, and so we are as much to blame as the corporations etc.
It apples even more today - we all want our iPhones etc. but we turn a blind eye to the forced child labour in Africa mining the cobalt, lithium etc needed to make them. We all wail about climate change but still get on the plane to take a 2 week holiday in the sun.
And the fantastic instrumental after the lyrics is perfect for us to spend time listening and taking a long hard look at ourselves, reflecting on how we are the ones raping the planet as much as anyone else. And if we are not raping the planet, we are still the ones sitting in silence while others do. Silence is acquiescence….
bloody amazing song. yeah it's pretty much what everyone else has said, but...I love the song. it's so powerful and perfect and amazing and everything.
I think this song, like many lyrics, leave some of the meaning up to the listener. They may be about the various types of criminals, small time and big time (corporate, government), and how all of us are responsible in some way for allowing it, or each of us has committed some type of offense. It is a concept album about crime and society, but I do not think that all the songs are about "Rudy", or that they are that closely linked to one narrative.
Couldn`t be more apt in todays political climate.
I think its about these horrible people who are destroying the aearth and taking away from everyone until the citizens have nothing left but themselves