If Everyone Was Listening

I think the whole album is loosely based around the life of one man living (and wasting) his life. I believe this song is about that man dying. His life is coming to an end, and he knows it and he is scared.

I think this song is about idealistic liberal artists, who tried to change the world through their artwork, but failed when the movement collapsed (both because no one was truly listening and because the movement fell apart from the inside out). This was written in the early 70s, around the same time that Hunter Thompson was writing about the collapse of the populist hippie movement - they "tried to sing of love" until the stage fell apart, either dying of overdose or succumbing to hedonism, nihilism, and/or capitalism. Using the theatre as a metaphor could also be a reference to earlier Bohemian movements.

Dreamer has a similar theme, but a much lighter tone. I'm not sure the CotC is a concept album per say, but there are definitely some recurring and interrelated ideas. I like the take by bookends as well, I think that message is there - they compliment the potential of singing of love, lament the fact that people aren't/weren't truly listening, and criticize the artists for failing to see their own role in the downfall of their movement.

As an aside, I have to say that this is a great song off a truly classic album - a timeless masterpiece, I say.

I always thought that Crime of the Century was a concept album in a way. About a man who grows up and loses a few marbles along the way and is convicted of a crime and in the end he pays dearly due to everyone's mistakes.

It seems relevant today with the concerns about the environment especially man-made climate change, 'if everyone was listening, there'd be a chance that we could save the show'.

This song was a representation of the state of the band at that time. Their benefactor (Sam), who had paid for everything including European tours and through two unsuccessful albums, had moved on. The band was broke and their contract only gave them one more chance.

Those were dark times for the lads, who were starting to doubt whether or not what they had was good enough ('How do you plead, an actor indeed! Go re-learn your lines!)

They put everything they had on the line to make 'Crime of the Century'. Fortunately, it paid off, but there was no guarantee it would. I think this was Roger's curtain call, his last song if things didn't take off, and his plea of 'don't let the curtain fall' was hoping for another chance.

This is life in general. We all take on the project or community as if we were the brightest; the answer to it all. So we plunge ahead with an ill advised plan because in our arrogance we are certain we are the smartest. In America we cannot listen or work together . Each party uses dirty tricks and deception to undermine the work of the other party. It is sickening. When will we ever reach across the isle? Half of the country can't be stupid. We need each other; need to listen now.

Been years since anyone commented on this. I just want to say once in a while, albums, songs, and lyrics are created with something in mind, but also to leave interpretation to the listener. The songs means whatever it means to you, the listener.

I agree mostly with combining the last two tracks for better meaning, but also you really need to include :"Rudy" and "Asylum" in the prior order. Just those 4 songs really place the album in the right spot for interpretation.

We all are actors, we all wear masks, and we all deceive each other every day to succeed. Who will be the winner?

This song is about how humanity is playing a play...

''There raising the curtain, and no-one's quite certain whose play it is'' Well its the play of life...

Choose your role... Good or bad... Big or Small...

I think the last clown represents the final decieving...Like the 666, or whoever will give the earth the last blow...

Plz dont let the curtain fall... Start thinking and listening

The play isnt gooing anywhere and we can change it, but no one is listening...

From reading the lyrics over and over, and those on the entire album I felt this song was about how we could stop nuclear war from happening if we would just listen. "Who will be the last Clown to bring the house down" and "Don't let the Curtain Fall" to me sounds like "which country will be foolish enough to use nuclear weapons, that may lead to our end." and "don't let this happen"

Thank you to you 8 people who answered before me. We can debate whether CRIME is a concept album or not. Isn't that the best concept? One you have to debate its mere existence? What I am sure the 9 of us will agree that this gem of an album has a flow to it. It is even bookended with the wailing harmonica. Even if this is a Rick song and the track that follows it is a Roger song , it serves as the perfect setup for the closer. Like Mariano in the 8th before Wetland in the 9th. ( and I hate the Yankees). This song to me talks about regret and dread. Crime of the Century ( the song) is consequence , finality and the realization that WE are guilty. The blame is not out there. It is within. If everyone was listening seems to be the initial realization that maybe it is too late. The next track is the total realization that yes we could not stop the momentum and now live with the consequences. I believe we have to treat at least these 2 tracks together.