Man of Simple Pleasures

It seems strange the way so many people try to narrow affluence of meanings in various songs into just issues between men and women.

I see this song quite differently. It is not about some certain partner or person, and “whiskey measures” seems to be put here just for a rhyme.

Tom unfolds his reflections on society he lives in. In a constant flow of dos and donts coming from it we swim like fishes trying not to drown. People that surround us, social institutions, religion, media etc., they all bring knowledge, shouting loudly, casting tons of information on our heads. We are told that world’s end is coming, year by year, but we’re still alive by some miracle, and “birds are always singing” just like they used to. They treat you like a fool when you refuse to play their games in terms of what they seem to be normal, modern and respectworthy. Them, “the righteous ”.

He sees no future, but don’t be misunderstood and upset with this phrase. No future - in going on living up to others’ rules, “man-made rules”. He just dares to doubt them!

These are the words of a quite content man, yet bitter a little way, who lives on his own, and feels strong and self-sufficient.

One of Kasabian’s most profound songs, I think.

Cant believe I am first to do this song.

I think this song is about a partner he is with. Basically saying he had simple things he wanted at begging but wanted whiskey to blur the bad points and allows to be treated the fool.

By the second verse he getting tired of it, world ending but birds singing. . . She treats him like a dog "you throw sticks and bones" But warns that he will have his day.

In verse three he getting ready to leave, telling her to go home cuz he happy how he is and they belong in two separate places.

And in the end he had enough and left her, but she wants him back but he better than her now and stronger/faster and knows if they did get back the cycle would happen again and she'd leave him.

In the chorus he says he pretending and going along with it, he cant live by her rules and if he lives on streets he be rid of them. He sees no future and wants her to leave him alone

Cant believe I am first to do this song.

I think this song is about a partner he is with. Basically saying he had simple things he wanted at begging but wanted whiskey to blur the bad points and allows to be treated the fool.

By the second verse he getting tired of it, world ending but birds singing. . . She treats him like a dog "you throw sticks and bones" But warns that he will have his day.

In verse three he getting ready to leave, telling her to go home cuz he happy how he is and they belong in two separate places.

And in the end he had enough and left her, but she wants him back but he better than her now and stronger/faster and knows if they did get back the cycle would happen again and she'd leave him.

In the chorus he says he pretending and going along with it, he cant live by her rules and if he lives on streets he be rid of them. He sees no future and wants her to leave him alone

This is gonna sound harsh, and I doubt this is what Serge had in mind when writing this, but the lyrics really sound like someone finally realising that his views of the world don't lead anywhere. I'm reading a book on how modern man is at a point of tension: on the one hand, he doesn't believe in God and believes in blind chance etc, but on the other hand he cannot deal with the logical consequence of that worldview. He believes in feelings and meaning and things like love and beauty, when he actually has no basis for such feelings. By amazing coincidence I found that same message in this song.

The chorus is powerful support: Here I go once again trying hard to pretend There's a future in your man made rules I'll be governed by the road, get to shed this heavy load I see no future, so leave me alone in the past

By the modern man's worldview, rules are indeed man made. But if everything is a result of blind chance, then the rules don't really make a difference - hence there's no future in them, as the man in the song realises. He sees no future - quite rightly, since his worldview doesn't support a glorious future. That's why he wishes to be left alone in the past, in a tone that to me at least sounds quite sombre and dark (as it well should, following my interpretation).

Also this blends in nicely: I am told, the world is nearly ending But when I look outside the birds are always singing

There's all this talk of the world ending and everything finishing in chaos with no ultimate meaning. However, the man in the song notices that there is beauty and meaning in nature (birds singing). This is interesting because it contradicts with his worldview of meaninglessness brought about by chance and randomness.

Go on, let the righteous guide you home to where you belong I'll stay, listen to my favorite tunes, that's where I belong You won't take me for a ride, you won't take me for a ride

The song closes with an arrogant attitude of not wanting to change and wishing to stick to the paradox that he is in. Nothing has meaning, but still the nature around him proves otherwise. Nevertheless, the person here chooses to ignore any possibility to mend the situation he is in.

Awesome song. I hope it makes listeners think about the situation they are in, too.

It's about longing for the simple things in life. It's not about a girl, it's not about religion.