2 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Word of Mouth Lyrics
Now the world is getting older
There's a few things to be said
Do you believe the things they told you
Do you believe the things you've read
There's a rumour on the corner
But it's always been denied
Cause they don't want you any wiser
You're just toeing the party line
From the west side to the east side
From the north side to the south
You'll never get bad information
If you believe in the word of mouth
Look out for those who still want to hang on
Look out for those who live in the past
Get out and listen to the whisper
Because the times are changing fast
From the west side to the east side
From the north side to the south
You'll never get bad information
If you believe in the word of mouth
You don't believe the information
You don't believe it when it's denied
So when you're reading explanations
You have to read between the lines
From the west side to the east side
Through the windows I'm looking out
You'll never get bad information
If you believe in the word of mouth
There's a few things to be said
Do you believe the things they told you
Do you believe the things you've read
But it's always been denied
Cause they don't want you any wiser
You're just toeing the party line
From the north side to the south
You'll never get bad information
If you believe in the word of mouth
Look out for those who live in the past
Get out and listen to the whisper
Because the times are changing fast
From the north side to the south
You'll never get bad information
If you believe in the word of mouth
You don't believe it when it's denied
So when you're reading explanations
You have to read between the lines
Through the windows I'm looking out
You'll never get bad information
If you believe in the word of mouth
Song Info
Submitted by
songmeanings On Feb 06, 2012
More Mike + the Mechanics
Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)
All I Need Is a Miracle
The Living Years [*]
Now That You've Gone
Nobody's Perfect
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
To each their own I suppose, but my take on this has always been that of a warning not to let the greater politcal animal, or the "powers-that-be" pull the wool over your eyes. The lyrics refer to misinformation, question what you believe, and urge you to see things through your own eyes. Understandable, if you see this in the context of the time it was released - communism was on it's deathbead in Europe, and a great many people were experiencing political and social freedoms for perhaps the first time in their lives. Not to mention also it was the start of a new decade, taking over from one where people had high hopes and ambitions, and were awaiting the chance to see them realised. Perhaps in a way this message is more relevant today than ever, with global financial woes, climate change, terrorism and a bunch of other evils constantly in the headlines, and a seemingly endless supply of politicians ready to dispute these, and make cynical attempts to convince the populous that all is well. In short, if you want to know the truth, get out there and find it for yourself, don't let anyone construct it for you.
@Ulyanov It's ironic that those aspirations of "political freedom" coming out of the end of communism have actually led to nothing but suffrage under capitalism. The thing supposedly freeing them now enslaves them AND destroys the planet.
@Ulyanov It's ironic that those aspirations of "political freedom" coming out of the end of communism have actually led to nothing but suffrage under capitalism. The thing supposedly freeing them now enslaves them AND destroys the planet.
Funny, but I see this as a song about our lack of a truly free and unbiased press. Our yellow press is no better or worse than a government-controlled press. When we don't get the truth (all of it) and when our news people interject their personal opinions (also when deciding what is newsworthy), we cannot make informed choices at the polls. Our press hasn't been decent since the days of Walter Cronkite, but it's been especially bad over the past decade...choosing our political leaders for us; thinking it's our social conscience; influencing are morals/values; etc. The media does NOT provide the voice of America, at least of the America it will not acknowledge if it does not agree. The song says to listen to those on the street, not those with an agenda, which the North American press has (and is too arrogant to be ashamed).