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The Land Of Make-Believe Lyrics
We're living in the land of make-believe
And trying not to let it show.
Maybe in that land of make-believe
Heartaches can turn into joy.
We're breathing in the smoke of high and low;
We're taking up a lot of room.
Somewhere in the dark and silent night
Our prayer will be heard. Make it soon.
So fly little bird
Up into the clear blue sky
And carry the word
Love's the only reason why, why.
Open up the shutters on your windows;
Unlock all the locks upon your door.
Brush away the cobwebs from your daydreams,
No secrets come between us any more.
Oh say it's true.
Only love will see you through,
You know what love can do to you.
We're living in the land of make-believe
And trying not to let it show.
Maybe in that land of make-believe
Heartaches can turn into joy.
We're breathing in the smoke of high and low;
We're taking up a lot of room.
Somewhere in the dark and lonely night
Our prayer will be heard. Make it soon.
So fly little bird
Up into the clear blue sky
And carry the word
Love's the only reason why, why.
Open up the shutters on your windows;
Unlock all the locks upon your door.
Brush away the cobwebs from your daydream,
No secrets come between us any more.
Oh say it's true.
Only love will see you through,
You know what love can do to you.
And trying not to let it show.
Maybe in that land of make-believe
Heartaches can turn into joy.
We're breathing in the smoke of high and low;
We're taking up a lot of room.
Somewhere in the dark and silent night
Our prayer will be heard. Make it soon.
Up into the clear blue sky
And carry the word
Love's the only reason why, why.
Unlock all the locks upon your door.
Brush away the cobwebs from your daydreams,
No secrets come between us any more.
Only love will see you through,
You know what love can do to you.
And trying not to let it show.
Maybe in that land of make-believe
Heartaches can turn into joy.
We're taking up a lot of room.
Somewhere in the dark and lonely night
Our prayer will be heard. Make it soon.
Up into the clear blue sky
And carry the word
Love's the only reason why, why.
Unlock all the locks upon your door.
Brush away the cobwebs from your daydream,
No secrets come between us any more.
Only love will see you through,
You know what love can do to you.
Song Info
Submitted by
weezerific:cutlery On Jan 06, 2002
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Why nobody commented on thid song?It's beautiful, one of my favorites.They are so underrated, I don't know anyone who listens to them.I don't know why, but this album have something that touches deep inside me like no band can do. Probaly it's the mellotron, hehe.
It sounds like people who have a feeling of happiness, are very optimistic and only see the good things in life. Still, it feels a bit sad for me. The part that he sings " So fly little bird..." combined with Justin's guitar and Pinder's mellotron, always makes me shiver and (almost) cry, just like some other songs of them. Well, if I'm already like this at 17, I fear when get to the 20s and 30s if I don't get to love someone haha.
Please, someone that likes MB comment here too, show to me that I'm not the only one in the world.Sorry for my english, I'm from Brazil.
@CoimbraCaio I totally agree with you- this is one of the most moving songs ever written. I can't actually listen to this track without shedding tears. so pleased I found this entry - great review.
@CoimbraCaio I totally agree with you- this is one of the most moving songs ever written. I can't actually listen to this track without shedding tears. so pleased I found this entry - great review.
@CoimbraCaio It made me cry listening to it just now, such beautiful lyrics and music even without thinking of the exact meaning. Hope you are going well
@CoimbraCaio It made me cry listening to it just now, such beautiful lyrics and music even without thinking of the exact meaning. Hope you are going well
@CoimbraCaio I hear you, it too touches something in me, as doesall their music. This song not only speaks of love as the ultimate solution but in the lines about breathing in the smoke of high & low, taking up a lot of room, it speaks of our polluting the earth.
@CoimbraCaio I hear you, it too touches something in me, as doesall their music. This song not only speaks of love as the ultimate solution but in the lines about breathing in the smoke of high & low, taking up a lot of room, it speaks of our polluting the earth.
I've always loved this song and found it inspiring, but now that I listen to it carefully, it becomes distinctly fragmented, and the fragments each seem to tell a different story.
First, there are the "we" sections. Either the singer is singing to the loved one, or the singer is telling the audience about how he and the loved one feels. In both cases, he's not very sure; love has fooled him / them so many times before. It is a kind of faith that maybe this time it will work out, even considering all the failures before. It's better to not let it show, since it is so fragile. Even calling it love or showing that it is love might be enough to break it.
Then there's the section where the singer is singing to a bird, telling it to fly etc. This is also quite beautiful, but it reminds me of 2 related stories. One is from the Bible, where each day a bird is released by Noah. If I recall that story correctly, it was the return of the bird that gave the true message - whether the waters had receded. The other bird story is more of an image: birds released to symbolize a hero's death.
Finally, there are the "you" sections of the song. There is no mystery to these: the singer is directly advising us, the audience, to open ourselves up to love, and to clean out the cobwebs in our daydreams, for instance. He reminds us that we know the benefits of this, and that it is the only way. He wants us to explicitly agree.
Altogether, the song should seem somewhat fragmented, but it all holds together remarkably well, I suppose due to the fantastic artistry of the Moodies.
@briandashhansen wow...perfect words to describe this incredible song.
@briandashhansen wow...perfect words to describe this incredible song.
Difficult to put into words the emotional impact this song has had on me throughout my life. Everything from the rolling build up of the verse into the spiralling chorus, its one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.
As the first reviewer noted, the song is both uplifting and sad at the same time. It's melodramatic magic, a fearless call to humanity to the possibility and existance of the purity of hope and love, sadly a call most human beings in this world will never hear.
The entire album is a testament to how music can transend beyond the concept of just a song, just a piece of music, this 'song' and this album are far more than that. Though I honestly have a difficult time listening to this track, without crumbling into dust, from my own personal sadness felt through past and present guilt and regret, I hope this song and others like it are never forgotten.
@la10738939 Same here. I found this album: seventh sojourn in 1976 and could not stop listening to this side and especially this song. Along with Jethro Tull Passion Play and Yes Fragile, these three emotionally affected me very deeply. Land of Make Believe is one of the most emotive songs I have ever heard - and I even learned to play it on the piano to try and evoke some of the same emotions on the fly. An anecdote: my piano is a Sojin [Korean Babay Grand]. Patrick Moraz, of YES and The Moody Blues played a concert at my...
@la10738939 Same here. I found this album: seventh sojourn in 1976 and could not stop listening to this side and especially this song. Along with Jethro Tull Passion Play and Yes Fragile, these three emotionally affected me very deeply. Land of Make Believe is one of the most emotive songs I have ever heard - and I even learned to play it on the piano to try and evoke some of the same emotions on the fly. An anecdote: my piano is a Sojin [Korean Babay Grand]. Patrick Moraz, of YES and The Moody Blues played a concert at my house in 1995 - a long story. Anyway when he was leaving, he signed the sound board in my piano, and in his signature, he wrote "7th Sojin" a play on the title of the Moodies Album. BTW, Patrick did not play on that album - it was before he joined the Moodies. :)
This has been one of my favorite MB songs since I first heard it as a teen. I’m 65 now and it still is and it has the same profound emotional effect on me. It opens my heart to all the pain and possibilities that this wonderful life has to offer
@eichcal Hi, MB fan. I've been a huge fan of this great band all of my life. I'm very fascinated with their songs that pertain to astral travel. Do you know of any biographies that put the spotlight on this part of their musical history?
@eichcal Hi, MB fan. I've been a huge fan of this great band all of my life. I'm very fascinated with their songs that pertain to astral travel. Do you know of any biographies that put the spotlight on this part of their musical history?
@eichcal Me too, I'm 71 now, didn't start really appreciating this album until '79, wish I'd started appreciating them more during my hard rock days from '72-'76. I began listening to them some in '76, but until getting out of college & starting to face some of the rigours of life did I really appreciate them.
@eichcal Me too, I'm 71 now, didn't start really appreciating this album until '79, wish I'd started appreciating them more during my hard rock days from '72-'76. I began listening to them some in '76, but until getting out of college & starting to face some of the rigours of life did I really appreciate them.
Why does no one refer to the profound lyrics concerning our pollution of this planet? "We're breathing in the smoke of high & low, we're taking up a lot of room," refers to pollution & overpopulation.