Is it a warning?
Is it an evil sign?
Is it a people
Who have lost their mind?
Is it the darkness?
Is it a man resigned?
Is it a best friend
Leaving you behind?
Is it ever gonna stop
Will they ever let you go
Your in a rush they don't care enough
Cause there lives are very slow
Time is ticking on
You don't get a second shot
And when you sell your soul
For a leading role will the lost souls be forgot

And if I can?t hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
And I hope the lonely hearts club band
Will play out one last song
Before the sun goes down.

And is it ending
Should it really make you sick is now the time that you realize
You better get out quick cause time is ticking on
To long to fake your smile
But then you sell your soul for a leading role so wear it for a while

And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
And I hope the lonely hearts club band
Will play out one last song
Before the sun goes down.

And there she goes
And there she goes
So write
Cause billy's got himself a gun billy's got himself a gun
And your right to be afraid they'll send you to your grave cause your strange

And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
Cause billy's got himself a gun billy's got himself a gun
And your right to be afraid they'll send you to your grave cause your strange

And if I can't hear the music and the audience is gone I'll dance.

And is it evil?
Should it really make you sick?
Is now the time that you realize
You'd better get out quick?
And is it envy


Or pride that makes them vain?
Did you give your all
But you're only small
And now your body's drained?
This is never gonna stop.
They will never let you go.
You're in a rush.
They don't care enough.
Cause their lives are very slow.
Time is ticking on.
Too long to fake your smile.
But then you sold your soul for a leading role
So wear it for a while.

And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
And I hope the lonely hearts club band
Will play out one last song
Before the sun goes down.

And there she goes
And there she goes


So round you'll see me run
Cause billy's got himself a gun
And you're right to be afraid
They'll send you to your grave
Cause it's strange and new

And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance here on my own.
And I hope the lonely hearts club band
Will play out one last song
Before the sun goes down.

And there she goes
And there she goes

So round you'll see me run
Cause billy's got himself a gun
And you're right to be afraid
They'll send you to your grave
cause it's strange and new

So round you'll see me run
Cause billy's got himself a gun
And you're right to be afraid
They'll send you to your grave
Cause it's strange and new

And if I can't hear the music
And the audience is gone
I'll dance?


Lyrics submitted by gporter419

I Can't Hear the Music Lyrics as written by James Blount

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

I Can't Hear The Music song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

13 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    This whole song has references to other songs and rock bands. Lonely Hearts Club band (The Beatles) Billy's Got a Gun (Def Leppard) Yoshimi (Flaming Lips) Darkness is a band as well (perhaps reason for capitalization)

    I agree with kInGancaptain... this sounds of him doing what he does for the music and not for the fame. Maybe others think he has sold out and moved on, but he is still doing it for himself. Maybe these bands he mentions in the songs are the same... people liked them and then turned away... but they still kept "dancing on their own".

    benie102... I really beg to differ about it having no soul. This song isn't about making the money, but the beauty of the music for himself... I'm sad that you cannot see what a beautiful lyricist this man is.

    Elvishswimmeron February 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I believe the lyrics are "cause Billy's got himself a GUN not job.....

    breemeisteron September 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    breemeister is correct - the lyrics are now changed

    gporter419on September 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great song, I love james blunt.

    whatisdoneisdoneon October 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Another song with no heart or soul, another monney maker, pop is so crap it's unreal...

    benie102on October 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Nice song but what's up with the. "run yoshimi run" part?

    Shaftellon October 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I believe the Yoshimi reference is from this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshimi_Battles_the_Pink_Robots

    Don't know how it fits in though.

    cagsmithon November 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I read an interview where James said that this song is about the time at the end of his career when all his fans have gone on to a new band, and how he did it for the love of music not for the fame or the fans he just wanted to express himself.

    kInGancaptainon December 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I wonder if the "Billy" he is refferng to is the same billy off the song "Billy". love the song James you are the best but i promise you'll always have atleast one fan, and that will always be me.

    kInGancaptainon January 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This whole song has references to other songs and rock bands. Lonely Hearts Club band (The Beatles) Billy's Got a Gun (Def Leppard) Yoshimi (Flaming Lips) Darkness is a band as well (perhaps reason for capitalization)

    I agree with kInGancaptain... this sounds of him doing what he does for the music and not for the fame. Maybe others think he has sold out and moved on, but he is still doing it for himself. Maybe these bands he mentions in the songs are the same... people liked them and then turned away... but they still kept "dancing on their own".

    benie102... I really beg to differ about it having no soul. This song isn't about making the money, but the beauty of the music for himself... I'm sad that you cannot see what a beautiful lyricist this man is.

    Elvishswimmeron February 07, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Siberian Kiss
Glassjaw
its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
Album art
Techno Ted
Audioslave
Techno Ted may be a person who caused Chris incredible emotional pain & trepidation as well as moments of peace & happiness but now is removed and awaiting his fate. Darling may be a different person who is also free of him and can live her life free of Ted's tyranny. "In between all the laughing, and daydreams ... lies: a desert of truth" Lies are like a desert or the omission of Truth: Where there were Lies then Truth was absent. The song, "Techno Ted", may be a cathartic celebration of the downfall of this person.
Album art
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines: "Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet" So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other: "I had all and then most of you" Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart "Some and now none of you" Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship. This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.