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The Actor Lyrics

The curtain rises on the scene
With someone chanting to be free.
The play unfolds before my eyes,
There stands the actor who is me.
The sleeping hours take us far
From traffic, telephones and fear.
Put out your problems with the cat,
Escape until the bell you hear.

Our reasons are the same
But there's no-one we can blame
For there's nowhere we need go
And the only truth we know comes so easily.

The sound I have heard in your hello
Oh darling, you're almost part of me,
Oh darling, you're all I'll ever see.

It's such a rainy afternoon,
No point in going anywhere.
The sounds just drift across my room,
I wish this feeling I could share.

It's such a rainy afternoon,
She sits and gazes from her window.
Her mind tries to recall his face.
The feeling deep inside her grows.

Our reasons are the same
But there's no-one we can blame
For there's nowhere we need go
And the only truth we know comes so easily.

The sound I have heard in your hello,
Oh darling, you're almost part of me.
Oh darling, you're all I'll ever see.

The sound I have heard in your hello,
Oh darling, you're all I'll ever see.
Oh darling, you're almost part of me.
Oh.
8 Meanings

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Cover art for The Actor lyrics by Moody Blues, The

It sounds to me like it's about living our life as a facade compared to what lies beneath; acting your life, pretending things that aren't true. It also sounds like being alone in your feelings, and not being able to express them to someone who is so important to you:

"The sounds just drift across my room, I wish this feeling I could share"

"The sound I have heard in your hello, Oh darling, you're all I'll ever see. Oh darling, you're almost part of me."

And on a completely unrelated topic: "Put out your problems with the cat" That is one of the best lines I have ever read/heard, I love it!

It sounds like the song is about the conflict between an individuals dream life, the life they were ment to live and the one that they currently possess, or act out. Seperation is a strong underlying theme. "The sound I heard in you hello", sounds like the begining of a phone call to me. She is looking through her window alone, he is alone in a room. Everyone chooses the roles they play, and in this song their chosen positions have brought on seperation, isolation and the writer is questioning his choices.

@live2daygone2morrow Touche`! Agreed

Cover art for The Actor lyrics by Moody Blues, The

I agree. I think this song is about how all your life you are just like an actor on the stage, like Shakespeare "All the world's a stage". But the latter half is very much like the romanticist Hayward is, describing his loneliness without his love. Perhaps the person he sings about is wishing to break free of this act and be with who he loves.

Cover art for The Actor lyrics by Moody Blues, The

Always loved this song, the bass is almost sinister, whilst the flute soars like a bird.

Anyway. Meaning. I hear a lonely songwriter who for some reason, can't be with a woman he loves. Maybe the first verse is a simple reflection on his fake stage persona as the lead singer of the Moody Blues,when he actually prefers songwriting on his own. Maybe it's more personal than that, and he's trying to keep up a facade in public, but there's some personal problem he really wants to express. Either way, there's worry and pressure in those lyrics. And he knows he's pretending. He looks forward to sleep as respite from those telephones, traffic, and fears. He wants to put out his problems with the cat. What's he worried about?

'The sound I hear in your hello' suggests he doesn't get much more than 'hello' from the lady in question, but boy, the plaintive soaring cries on the next lines tell the real story. He feels a lot of longing for 'hello ' woman. Why are they apart with so little contact ? Is she an unrequited love? Does he feel more for her than she does for him? Did they only meet briefly, which is why she tries to 'recall his face?' Was it a brief illicit affair, and she's someone else's partner?

Then he paints the picture of the rainy afternoon, he's sitting on his own. And he's thinking of her, also sitting alone on this rainy afternoon. A feeling deep inside her grows. Is this just wishful thinking on his part? Or. Does he know that they both long for each other but can't be together?

Or another thought. That deep feeling inside her. Is she pregnant with his child? It would explain the worrying.

@dr11565954 I just created an account to simply respond to this perfectly beautiful interpretation. I have always felt exactly what you describe for this song. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if you are Justin Hayward. This song speaks to me because I have felt this same way: knowing that I met someone I was supposed to meet, there was a connection like I’ve never felt before. We both felt it, but we have lived too much life to change course and jump into this relationship that we know is there. Then again, I wonder if...

Cover art for The Actor lyrics by Moody Blues, The

This song could very well contain the most chillingly struck notes by Hayward, he really cuts loose. It gives me goosebumps. "The sound I have heard in your hello, Oh darling, you're all I'll ever see. Oh darling, you're almost part of me."

IMO

Cover art for The Actor lyrics by Moody Blues, The

Be yourself, but don't be a nobody. Good advice.

Cover art for The Actor lyrics by Moody Blues, The

I find this song to me is talking about religion, specifically how easily people blame the evil in the world on the devil, and all the good in the world on god, when in fact, it all comes from within us... Our reasons are the same but there's no one we can blame(God or Satan), for there is nowhere we need go (heaven). beautiful song.

Very interesting interpretation.

I Think thes songn describes a dream: "the sleeping hours takes us far"... sometimes a dream can tell you that that you live tour life in a stage, acting. To become aware of this fact sets you free.

@cplagge 🤔, I think you've hit on something.

Cover art for The Actor lyrics by Moody Blues, The

the vocals compliment the lyrics beautifully :)

"in the end, life's a gag." -charlie chaplin

Cover art for The Actor lyrics by Moody Blues, The

It's hard to put in words because everything's been said before, ad infinitum, but it is a hauntingly great song as it makes a perfect analogy with all of us being on a great stage, acting out the grand play of life itself, with definitely a nod to Shakespeare or whomever wrote all those other great words.

 
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