Big Head Todd and The Monsters – singer-guitarist Todd Park Mohr, bassist-singer Rob Squires, drummer-singer Brian Nevin and keyboardist-guitarist-singer Jeremy Lawton -- could have begun resting on their laurels back in 1993, when their Top 10 singles “Bittersweet,” “Broken Hearted Savior,” “Circle” and “It’s Alright” pushed the album Sister Sweetly to platinum certification. However, Mohr says, “I’ve fought throughout our career not to be a one-trick pony, to be the kind of band that has depth and diversity in its catalogue. I’m a fan of this band, and I’m constantly looking forward to what comes next.”
The essence of Big Head Todd and The Monsters – a rootsy, emotionally direct variety of rock ’n’ roll that lends itself particularly well to a live setting – has been winning fans since Mohr, Rob Squires and Brian Nevin started playing together in high school (Jeremy Lawton joined in 2004). Needless to say, the three never expected to be in the same band at this late date, but, as Mohr points out, “It was a really fortunate combination of musical personalities, and we’re still partners in every sense of the word.”
The band spent seven years developing their chemistry and amassing a following, boosted significantly by the independent releases Another Mayberry (1989) and Midnight Radio (1990), before being “discovered” by the listening public at large with 1993’s Sister Sweetly. After a major-label stint (Sister Sweetly, 1994’s Stratagem, 1997’s Beautiful World), during which the trio increasingly found itself frustrated artistically, they reclaimed their independent status (2001’s Riviera, 2004’s Crimes of Passion). “If it were not for our ability to do things for ourselves, we would have disappeared a long time ago,” Mohr allows.
Beautiful World
Big Head Todd and the Monsters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you let ambition decide
Everything has went up and gone
And all your money left you alone
[Chorus]
We made a planet, a beautiful world
Let love surround it, and give it a whirl
This beautiful world living and free
Time to let the watch unwind
Tell your heart to make up your mind
We can't wait to give at the end
Wasting all the time we can't spend
[Chorus]
Running after things you don't need
Is bound to trip you up with your greed
Stop your hand from lifting its load
Tell that traveler 'come on home'
The lyrics to Big Head Todd and the Monsters' song "Beautiful World" seem to be about reflection and the importance of appreciating the world and the people around us. The song opens with the lines "Seems you let a lot pass you by / When you let ambition decide," suggesting that the singer is addressing someone who has been too focused on their own goals to notice the beauty of the world around them. The next line, "Everything has went up and gone / And all your money left you alone," further reinforces the idea that the pursuit of wealth and status has left this person feeling empty and disconnected from those around them.
The chorus of the song is a call to action, urging listeners to "make a planet, a beautiful world" by surrounding it with love and keeping it living and free. It seems that the message is that it's not enough to simply exist in the world - we have a responsibility to actively cultivate and nurture it.
The second verse continues the theme of the importance of time and the danger of wasting it. The line "Wasting all the time we can't spend" suggests that the singer is aware of the finite nature of life and wants to encourage listeners to appreciate every moment.
The final lines of the song are perhaps the most poignant: "Running after things you don't need / Is bound to trip you up with your greed / Stop your hand from lifting its load / Tell that traveler 'come on home.'" Here, the singer urges the subject to let go of their material desires and instead find peace in simply being. The suggestion that the "traveler" (perhaps a reference to the soul) should "come on home" is a reminder that our time on earth is fleeting and that we should prioritize the things that truly matter.
Overall, "Beautiful World" seems to be a song about the importance of living in the present moment, appreciating the beauty of the world, and cultivating a sense of connection and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Seems you let a lot pass you by
It appears that you have missed out on many things
When you let ambition decide
This happened when your ambition took control
Everything has went up and gone
Everything has risen and disappeared
And all your money left you alone
And now you are alone after your money left you
We made a planet, a beautiful world
We created a planet and it is beautiful
Let love surround it, and give it a whirl
Let love surround the planet and let it rotate
I can't understand why it's so hard to keep
I don't comprehend why it's tough to make this last
This beautiful world living and free
This beautiful planet, alive and unrestricted
Time to let the watch unwind
It's time to stop worrying about time
Tell your heart to make up your mind
Tell your heart to decide
We can't wait to give at the end
We cannot hold on to the end to give
Wasting all the time we can't spend
Wasting all the time that cannot be used
Running after things you don't need
Chasing after things that you do not require
Is bound to trip you up with your greed
It is guaranteed to cause problems due to your greed
Stop your hand from lifting its load
Stop yourself from carrying burdens
Tell that traveler 'come on home'
Tell that wanderer to return home
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GERALD V. CASALE, MARK MOTHERSBAUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ldolphin34
Those whom have never heard of this band, take a listen to this dandy of an album, start to finish. There's even a couple better singles on the rest of their albums, but from top to bottom, this is truly a great rock album.
ShdwmnkyX
Love this whole album.
skry717
what a cool song!!!
Joseph Farrell
this is the best song I have ever heard.
Charlie Apple
Pulling out of the work parking lot on Friday at 2 p.m. with the windows down...
Stephen Cade
Love the monsters y'all!