Gather Round
Arthur Lee/Love Lyrics
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And then you can ring it and go fair thee well
And the leaves don't fall on my grandfather's grave
‘Cos the trees have been replaced with the city buildings
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
I'm gonna tell another story ‘bout an animal called man
Well, he struts all around with his tailor made suits
But his mind is all filled up with bullshit
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Join in singing and feeling this place
I'd like to be in a lifetime that you can't erase
If you don't like my story then don't buy my songs
‘Cos I wouldn't want you to listen to anything wrong
Take a while, take, take a while
Take, take, take a while, take a while
Take a while
The lyrics to Arthur Lee/Love's song "Gather Round" are a call to gather and listen to a story about the flawed nature of humanity. The song begins with an invitation to the listener, symbolized by the giving of a bell, to participate in the storytelling. The haunting refrain of "hmm, hmm, hmm" punctuates each verse and creates a sense of urgency in the call to gather.
The second verse delves into the main theme of the song, which is an indictment of humanity's arrogance and self-importance. The imagery of the man in his tailor-made suit strutting around is juxtaposed with the reality that his mind is filled with nothing but nonsense. Through this contrast, the song highlights the emptiness of appearances and stresses the importance of substance.
The final verse is somewhat self-referential, with the singer acknowledging that not everyone will appreciate his story or his songs. However, he stands by his message and would rather people not listen at all if they cannot connect with the meaning.
Overall, "Gather Round" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of being too wrapped up in oneself and neglecting the importance of meaning and substance in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I will invite you, I'll give you my bell
I am welcoming you and offering my help
And then you can ring it and go fair thee well
You can use my help and then leave on good terms
And the leaves don't fall on my grandfather's grave
The natural beauty of the trees has been lost to urbanization
‘Cos the trees have been replaced with the city buildings
The city has replaced the beauty of nature with man-made structures
Gather ‘round people as fast as you can
Come together quickly to hear my story
I'm gonna tell another story ‘bout an animal called man
I'm going to share a tale about humanity
Well, he struts all around with his tailor made suits
Humanity presents itself with expensive clothing
But his mind is all filled up with bullshit
Humanity is full of lies and deceit
Join in singing and feeling this place
Come together and connect with the environment
I'd like to be in a lifetime that you can't erase
I want to live a memorable life
If you don't like my story then don't buy my songs
If you don't appreciate my message then don't support me
‘Cos I wouldn't want you to listen to anything wrong
I don't want to spread misinformation or negativity
Take a while, take, take a while
Take some time to reflect and think
Take, take, take a while, take a while
Allow yourself the time to contemplate and analyze
Take a while
Take as much time as you need to understand
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ARTHUR TAYLOR LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind