I think the lyrics to this song are very impressive, given what Take That had to do. They had to write a song for the film 'X Men First Class' which could also work as a standard pop tune to put on their EP 'Progressed', and which could stand alone from the film!
So there's at least three levels to the lyrics:
1) The themes of the X Men films. Note the phrase 'First Class' in the second verse - proof the song was written as a commission for the film. But also there's the references to not being like one's parents, being at the gates of human evolution, and of people needing to understand. Of course, the mutants in the X Men are themselves metaphors for difference of any non-unique sort, from homosexuality to transgenderism to racism, particularly prejudice against those of a mixed race ethnicity (hence 'you'll never be like your father or your mother'. But more generally I think it could just apply to the next generation having to always be different from their parents in terms of the constant progress of civilisation as a whole. The 'Love Love' chorus answers all this with the good old solution that is never used enough - if in doubt, preach love. It could be also a song from the point of view someone of 'difference' trying to have a relationship with someone who is more 'mainstream'.
2) An unusual but actually straightforward love song, asking someone to 'evolve' as in be more honest with their feelings.
3) This is the most clever level: it also works as a song about Take That in their 'Progress' phase! Like a lot of the songs on the 'Progress' LP and the 'Progressed' EP, it addresses the band's overcoming of past differences in order to work with Robbie Williams once more, after his acrimonius split from the band in the 90s and after all that was said on both sides publicly. The theme of the album (and the cover) was about getting older as kind of personal 'evolution' within your own life. Older and wiser, putting past arguments away. As the song goes, 'we don't have too much time here, and time it travels much too fast' - particularly when you are, like Take That, 40 year old men! Life's too short, so let's all just evolve and... love each other. If all five of Take That can give each other 'love love' and get back together - and make excellent brand new songs like this one - then there's hope for humanity yet!
I think the lyrics to this song are very impressive, given what Take That had to do. They had to write a song for the film 'X Men First Class' which could also work as a standard pop tune to put on their EP 'Progressed', and which could stand alone from the film!
So there's at least three levels to the lyrics:
1) The themes of the X Men films. Note the phrase 'First Class' in the second verse - proof the song was written as a commission for the film. But also there's the references to not being like one's parents, being at the gates of human evolution, and of people needing to understand. Of course, the mutants in the X Men are themselves metaphors for difference of any non-unique sort, from homosexuality to transgenderism to racism, particularly prejudice against those of a mixed race ethnicity (hence 'you'll never be like your father or your mother'. But more generally I think it could just apply to the next generation having to always be different from their parents in terms of the constant progress of civilisation as a whole. The 'Love Love' chorus answers all this with the good old solution that is never used enough - if in doubt, preach love. It could be also a song from the point of view someone of 'difference' trying to have a relationship with someone who is more 'mainstream'.
2) An unusual but actually straightforward love song, asking someone to 'evolve' as in be more honest with their feelings.
3) This is the most clever level: it also works as a song about Take That in their 'Progress' phase! Like a lot of the songs on the 'Progress' LP and the 'Progressed' EP, it addresses the band's overcoming of past differences in order to work with Robbie Williams once more, after his acrimonius split from the band in the 90s and after all that was said on both sides publicly. The theme of the album (and the cover) was about getting older as kind of personal 'evolution' within your own life. Older and wiser, putting past arguments away. As the song goes, 'we don't have too much time here, and time it travels much too fast' - particularly when you are, like Take That, 40 year old men! Life's too short, so let's all just evolve and... love each other. If all five of Take That can give each other 'love love' and get back together - and make excellent brand new songs like this one - then there's hope for humanity yet!