Let's take a map of the world
Tear it into pieces
All of the boys and the girls
Will see how easy it is

To pull it all down and start again
From the top to the bottom and then
I'll have faith or, I prefer
To think that things couldn't turn out worse

All that we need at the start's
Universal revolution (that's all)
And if we trust in our hearts
We'll find the solutions

To pull it all down and start again
From the top to the bottom and then
I'll have faith or, I prefer
To think that things couldn't turn out worse

Took a plane across the world
Got in a car
When I reached my destination
I hadn't gone far

Let's take the whole of the world
The mountains and the sand
Let all the boys and the girls
Shape it in their hands

To pull it all down and start again
From the top to the bottom and then
I'll have faith or, I prefer
To think that things couldn't turn out worse

Put it all down and start again
From the top to the bottom and then (that's all)
I'll have faith, or I prefer
To think that things couldn't turn out worse

Put it all down and start again
From the top to the bottom and then
I'll have faith, or I prefer
To think that things couldn't turn out worse (that's all)

Put it all down and start again
From the top to the bottom and then (that's all)
I'll have faith, or I prefer
To think that things couldn't turn out worse (that's all)

Put it all down and start again
From the top to the bottom and then (that's all)
I'll have faith, or I prefer
To think that things couldn't turn out worse


Lyrics submitted by Fistan

And Then... Lyrics as written by Martin Gore

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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And Then... song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I believe this is a play between the Bible’s Genesis that cites the creation of the world (…and then “God created”) and how we humans destroyed the world by making borders exist - which creates hate between humans. It’s a song of hope about how young people (boys and girls) can be divine as God, tear the “false” borders down (hate between countries, human suffering, hunger, war) and restart the world from scratch - as what we did didn’t turn out that well. You can see the poetry in the lyrics even if you’re an atheist.

    indstrlgalon April 04, 2023   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It is a song about how every one of us can influence the world and change it for the better. It can't get worse, anyway!

    Ultraviolatoron April 14, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "Took a plane across the world Got in a car When I had reached my destination I hadn't gone far"

    Environmental issues here, perchance?

    SteamMachineon May 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's about starting over. Maybe something didn't go right the first, even the second and third. It's about having faith to not give up on and to keep it moving. Life is a journey.

    To pull it all down and start again From the top to the bottom and then I'll have faith or, I prefer To think that things couldn't turn out worse

    This band has gone through many And then...This song has saved me in my young loner years.

    annaliza10on December 13, 2022   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    Not Environmental Issues - that line is a prequel to People are people.

    This is an awesome song - Take a map and tear it to pieces and let the kids put it back together - they just do it without regard to borders or cultures or religions.

    I think it is about the youth taking over and remaking the world - Could it get any worse? (I guess we know the answer to that now)

    Lostmycapoon September 15, 2010   Link

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