Lyric discussion by Mofowizard 

Cover art for Tin Man lyrics by America

"Sometimes late when things are real and people share the gift of gab between themselves."

"Some are quick to take the bait and catch the perfect prize that waits among the shells.

Sometimes late at night when people have nothing better to do, they congregate at parties, clubs and social scenes. Many people enjoy talking and many of them talk even then they have nothing particularly relevant or interesting to say. They just want to try to fit in with the social scene. They feel important when others listen to them. These people are interposers and social opportunists.

This is a shell game because what the interposer has to say may be relevant and interesting to the others and they could be encouraged to continue, i.e., "catch the perfect prize among the shells". Or, probably more likely, the interposer fails to entertain and is deemed irrelevant to the established socialites and intellectuals.

"But Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man that he didn't, didn't already have."

The interposer, or "Tin Man", is seeking to be made whole through social acceptance in situations where he or she may not belong. But the other people may also be tin men in their own right. Although they seem socially connected, they each have their own deficiencies, fears self doubts. It is impossible for these people to give the Tin Man what he really needs, that being self confidence to go out and make his own mark.

"And Cause never was the reason for the evening or the tropic of Sir Galahad."

The interposer or Tin Man should realize that he is in this place by choice and he could easily wake up and realize that he would be better off somewhere else. Other people's opinions are not as important as his own opinion of himself. Everyone won't fit in every place. It is up to each of us to find where we belong. The the problem of social acceptance will be solved.

"So please believe in me when I say I'm spinning round, round, round, round..."

Note to self: although I'm trying hard to fit in here, I really don't think that this is working out for me. Believe me when I say that I'm really confused about what my next move should be. I feel like I'm spinning out of control, wasting my time and I'm not thinking clearly. In my heart, I know that I'm going in the wrong direction but I really need to work on my self confidence and perhaps I need to pray for direction and purpose. I'm going to work hard to figure this out so I can do better. I owe myself that much. I'm going to make a conscious decision to believe in myself from now on.

We have all probably been a tin man or tin woman at some point. The song writer expresses this frustration beautifully even though the lyrics are a bit cryptic.

Not Valid

Mofowizard, your interpretation of 'Tin Man' sounds pretty good, but the word is 'shelves', not "shells"......."Sometimes late when things are real And people share the gift of gab between themselves Some are quick to take the bait And catch the perfect prize that waits among the shelves"

@Mofowizard

Brilliant, and most likely spot on with respect to where the artist's head was at when he penned the lyrics. I truly wonder what America would have done and become had they worked with George Martin from their onset. BTW, of course it certainly is "shells" not "shelves". I may be wrong but I always took this to mean that much like when you lend your ear to a conch type sea shell, and listen closely, you hear what seems like the rushing of the waves and the sea in motion. When in truth it's just an attractive trick...